BB- Jasper Johnson, it's time.

[bleedsblue5]

I think Denzel is fine but much better at the 2. We need Jasper to step up and run this team, HE HAS to be better handling the ball and we do not need him to score every time down the court.
Get the ball moving, and when you are open do what you do best.

Lowe was probably faster with a bit better handles, but Jasper is pretty fast and has a much better shot along with the creativity.

JASPER, work on those handles and take this team to the next level.

 

[TFCat11]

I really wished JJ would have (and still could because he’s eventually going to have to) worked on being a PG… Unless he never plans to play professionally in the NBA, because he’s never going to be a serviceable 2G in the pros, sans some kind of specialized PED regiment.

I’ve noticed a lot of players who fall short of their playing goals tend to want to play how they envision their style of play in their minds, versus playing to their natural body types/ strengths/ limitations, and working on their games that complement that.

 

[Beatle Bum]

His game against MSU was one of his best against a team with some actual talent. Heard Vaught this morning act like Jasper has not been given a chance to get into a groove and suggest that his mistakes are not worse than others. While I think JJ has a higher ceiling than many of our perimeter players, he has really been hard to watch at times, holding the ball for himself too long, trying to make the star play, and not realizing whether his shots are good. We don’t have to pretend how up and really down he has been (and lost on defense at times) to believe he can end up being special (even this year).

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

He needs to fully buy in and step up now. We need him.

 

[Monday Nitro]

Can he shift to being a pass-first PG?? He has to for us to do anything.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Can he shift to being a pass-first PG?? He has to for us to do anything.

 

[bleedsblue5]

I never watched much of his HS game tapes. Was he more of a 2? Always thought he was intending on being a PG.

SURELY, someone in his camp is telling him this will be a longer road than he expected. Clamp down and work hard on your handles and vision and you can easily get to the league. If he thinks he is getting there being a 2 with sus handles and a average 3pt shot someone needs to tell him they are a DIME A DOZEN in the g league.

 

[Anon1739778738]

Through practice repetition he will mentally transform to pass first point guard but it will take a while to be instinctive.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Through practice repetition he will mentally transform to pass first point guard but it will take a while to be instinctive.

We hope. But we need to acknowledge how difficult it is to do drastically change what fundamentally makes you YOU as a basketball player. I’m not holding my breath for Travis Ford 2.0 anytime soon. Just gotta hope Jasper is at least passable

 

[true-blue1]

Jasper is desperately needed.

 

[FLBBNFAN]

I really wished JJ would have (and still could because he’s eventually going to have to) worked on being a PG… Unless he never plans to play professionally in the NBA, because he’s never going to be a serviceable 2G in the pros, sans some kind of specialized PED regiment.

I’ve noticed a lot of players who fall short of their playing goals tend to want to play how they envision their style of play in their minds, versus playing to their natural body types/ strengths/ limitations, and working on their games that complement that.

I agree and think PG is his future if he wants to play at the next level.

 

[UKreturntogreatness]

Yes pass first if he knows how to do that where it doesn't lead to turnovers. P.G. is not just making a pass but knowing how to drive and dish, lob, make bounce and high passes depending upon whom, passing to a spot rather to where a player is currently (thus knowing the intent of a play, timing, etc. So saying he needs to do this and showing the skills to do it are two different things. Hope he can step up.

 

[Cats_2010]

The time was October. We are well past time. Lowe has hardly played at all this year. Aberdeen or chandler was never PG material. It was Lowe and JJ (regardless if he thinks he’s a PG or not). I swear why can’t we get a coach who doesn’t coach without their head up their ***. Popes coaching decisions have been a collassal failure all year long from every angle.

 

[AFKY_Blue_RedsBengals]

It would have behooved Pope to get Jasper Johnson more minutes at PG for moments like this, now that Lowe is done for the season. Once Lowe injured his shoulder, you had to know this was a legitimate possibility. And after last season, we already saw how big of a disadvantage it is when Kentucky doesn’t have a true point guard on the floor after Butler went down. In the nonconference games against mid-majors when Lowe was sitting out entirely, those would have been great opportunities for JJ to get real experience running the point. I thought that much would have been obvious and we’d see him at PG in those games.

 

[UKSanders]

It would have behooved Pope to get Jasper Johnson more minutes at PG for moments like this, now that Lowe is done for the season. Once Lowe injured his shoulder, you had to know this was a legitimate possibility. And after last season, we already saw how big of a disadvantage it is when Kentucky doesn’t have a true point guard on the floor after Butler went down. In the nonconference games against mid-majors when Lowe was sitting out entirely, those would have been great opportunities for JJ to get real experience running the point. I thought that much would have been obvious and we’d see him at PG in those games.

I think Pope did not push it earlier with Jasper be he really thought DA could be serviceable long enough to get Lowe back.

So, he went with experience over youth at that spot. Problem is DA hasn’t progressed much as a facilitating PG either.

 

[AFKY_Blue_RedsBengals]

I think Pope did not push it earlier with Jasper be he really thought DA could be serviceable long enough to get Lowe back.

So, he went with experience over youth at that spot. Problem is DA hasn’t progressed much as a facilitating PG either.

I agree. At this point, Kentucky is going to need Jasper to break through in SEC play, and Aberdeen has to step up his game. He needs to build off the Mississippi State performance that gave Kentucky solid minutes.

 

[RedwoodHigh]

JJ - MM - KW - Jelly - Noah - are the core of next years team - Play them NOW.
Today Lowe‘s Dad said he will Med Redshirt & be back at his dream school.?
along with Potter & Hawthorne Who are redshirting.- That’s 8 players
Pope can be very selective to recruit 4 players to fit with that group.4 $tuds are needed.
Mo - BG- OO - JQ - ABERDEEN are gone -

 

[SkyPrince]

JJ - MM - KW - Jelly - Noah - are the core of next years team - Play them NOW.
Today Lowe‘s Dad said he will Med Redshirt & be back at his dream school.?
along with Potter & Hawthorne Who are redshirting.- That’s 8 players
Pope can be very selective to recruit 4 players to fit with that group.4 $tuds are needed.
Mo - BG- OO - JQ - ABERDEEN are gone -

Gotta figure in Chandler.
Also wouldn't count out Garrison being back.
We need to put the majority of the NIL/rev share money into 3 guaranteed starters to put with Kam and MM..

 

[KyWideWes]

If JJ had worked on his strength in the summer like MM and also had his mindset he would be ready. He is just too weak against physical teams.

 

[Farsight Clone]

Like I said all year. I think Jasper is a natural 2 and one of the reason's why he may not be a passed first guy because in his mental, he's still used to shooting first and being the guy.

This is on Pope and Jasper to correct this. Pope needs to keep on pushing Jasper to buy in team play and sell him on being a versatile combo guard which he could increase is draft stock.

Aberdeen needs to also buy in as well and become a pass first.

When this team makes 3 or more passes we have a higher percentage chance of scoring a high quality bucket.

If we play 1v1/hero ball from DA and/or Jasper, Pope better call a TO and rip azz

 

[UKreturntogreatness]

If we play 1v1/hero ball from DA and/or Jasper, Pope better call a TO and rip azz

When has Pope done this?

 

[AJBlue]

I think Denzel is fine but much better at the 2. We need Jasper to step up and run this team, HE HAS to be better handling the ball and we do not need him to score every time down the court.
Get the ball moving, and when you are open do what you do best.

Lowe was probably faster with a bit better handles, but Jasper is pretty fast and has a much better shot along with the creativity.

JASPER, work on those handles and take this team to the next level.

Not sure Id say Denzel is "fine". He struggles pretty bad at point and just doesnt seem comfortable there and lacks the mentality to play it. Jasper does too for now. Both just need to develop a see the floor mentality instead of being lazer focused on how to get a shot off and both have the ability just need to work on it. Jasper has a loose handle as well that he needs to clean up to break people down better. He does that and he can be a DeAron Fox type player for sure.

 

[CatBearPig]

You all are dreaming. We will finish below .500 if JJ is our main PG the rest of the way.

 

[Farsight Clone]

When has Pope done this?

He won't. That's why we will play bad/lose probably