Jeff Goodman questions whether JQ should even come back

bkimrey2

Sophomore
Apr 11, 2024
90
129
33
I feel like expectations continue to rise for JQ and the public assumption is he could be the piece to turn this season around.

While I'm sure he's a good player, I think expectations for him will be higher than his contributions if he plays.

Hell he might not try either. Who knows.
 

JPFisher

Heisman
Jul 24, 2013
6,412
11,865
113
I hope the kid plays but he’s going to be viewed as the savior. That’s really not fair to an 18 year old coming off ACL surgery.
At this point, I suspect fans will just shrug it off if he doesn't live up to half the expectations. Would be about par for the season thus far.
 
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megablue

Heisman
Oct 2, 2012
14,243
14,079
113
If healthy, I suspect he will take most of Garrison's minutes and some of Moreno's.
I do not expect the 5-spot production to be significantly better statistically, but I hope his defense, physicality, energy and attitude raise the overall level of team play. It is interesting to note that JQ averaged 29.5 minutes and around 10/8 ... while playing in 24 games.
 
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One2Three

All-Conference
Nov 15, 2025
785
1,841
93
Why risk reinjuring yourself for a team that might not even make the tournament?

If you’re guaranteed a lottery pick, I’d just enjoy the free money and healthcare. It’s not entirely JQ’s fault he was recruited while injured. Pope knew what he was getting himself into when he signed him up. Pope’s a smart guy, he should be familiar with the phrase, caveat emptor.
 

Seth_C

All-American
Mar 12, 2017
4,107
7,320
96
If he’s physically ready to play and refuses to do he should be kicked off the team and the reason should be made public. I’m guessing his draft stock wouldn’t look good if he’s the guy who takes a paycheck bur refuses to play.
 

UKBB4Ever

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
1,009
1,600
113
If he’s physically ready to play and refuses to do he should be kicked off the team and the reason should be made public. I’m guessing his draft stock wouldn’t look good if he’s the guy who takes a paycheck bur refuses to play.
Wouldn't make one iota of difference to the NBA. He is pretty much locked into the top 7 or 8 picks without playing. Doubtful he could up by playing. But he could fall way down.

Playing will be completely on JQ because any advisor is going to tell him to not.
 

preston-lemasterpiece

All-Conference
Apr 15, 2025
1,057
1,931
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Why risk reinjuring yourself for a team that might not even make the tournament?

If you’re guaranteed a lottery pick, I’d just enjoy the free money and healthcare. It’s not entirely JQ’s fault he was recruited while injured. Pope knew what he was getting himself into when he signed him up. Pope’s a smart guy, he should be familiar with the phrase, caveat emptor.
Because you're getting paid millions to play? Surprised to see how many of you would take the money and run
 

Hitman206

Sophomore
Jul 11, 2009
95
118
33
Because you're getting paid millions to play? Surprised to see how many of you would take the money and run
His agent will advance him money until the draft. He doesn't need the money from UK if he decides to sit out and wait for the draft.

Nick Bosa didn't come back to play for Urban Meyer and Ohio State after an abdominal injury because he knew he would be the first pick in the draft and didn't want to jeopardize getting injured again. And Ohio State was a national championship contender.
 

UKFootball78

All-Conference
Sep 1, 2013
739
1,112
56
Goodmans right. I had hope he would play but one can’t blame him if he doesn’t. This is an absolute disaster. I don’t see any way to fix it. Sad Time Being a Cat Fan!
He is getting paid to play..if he refuses, then you he has to be kicked off team and not get paid
 

Kentucky15

All-Conference
Mar 29, 2013
2,033
4,220
108
Why risk reinjuring yourself for a team that might not even make the tournament?

If you’re guaranteed a lottery pick, I’d just enjoy the free money and healthcare. It’s not entirely JQ’s fault he was recruited while injured. Pope knew what he was getting himself into when he signed him up. Pope’s a smart guy, he should be familiar with the phrase, caveat emptor.
Again some have got to stop approaching this how regular people approach it. From thinking coaches run from pressure and should just retire out, to players having no competitive nature and willing to take money, lie, and run.

Just because some of us would do that doesn’t mean they’re built that way. These guys love to compete. And turning this UK team around looks excellent for him with NBA execs, taking money and sitting and running does not.

Gotta stop approaching these guys the way a regular joe would who just thinks about money and *** sitting. I just see this too much man, people have to stop projecting their own thoughts onto these types of guys.

Projection is a real thing and if you’ve never learned about it you really don’t realize it. confirmation bias, projection, and cognitive dissonance are absolutely ingrained in the human condition and if you look around, man, it’s everywhere here.
 

bbnkat02

Heisman
Nov 14, 2017
46,033
68,134
113
Leave it to Goodman to bring this question into the light (not that it isn't true). This is something you'd never hear ESPN and other media members talk about if it's a Duke player..
Tbf where’s the last time Duke really sucked? I can only think of a couple of times in the past 20 years where they just weren’t one of the top teams. And one of those years was the year nearly every blue blood, us included, weren’t in the T25.
 

KyKevin

All-Conference
Dec 28, 2021
633
1,100
93
I hope the kid plays but he’s going to be viewed as the savior. That’s really not fair to an 18 year old coming off ACL surgery.


What's more fair, getting a million or two million dollars and setting the season out, or trying to be the savior for this team, and earning your money.
 
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LineSkiCat14

Heisman
Aug 5, 2015
38,300
59,920
113
Tbf where’s the last time Duke really sucked? I can only think of a couple of times in the past 20 years where they just weren’t one of the top teams. And one of those years was the year nearly every blue blood, us included, weren’t in the T25.

It's more so that the media never has a problem with a question like this for Kentucky, in the same way ESPN didn't seem to think it was a bad idea to have Jay Williams call our games and just trash us the whole time. Things like that you'd never see happen to Duke (or Kansas or UNC).

Duke has a great team again. They will for sure pad to their NCAAT resume and inch closer to our records.
 

Bill_the_cat

Junior
Nov 17, 2025
216
287
57
If he’s physically ready to play and refuses to do he should be kicked off the team and the reason should be made public. I’m guessing his draft stock wouldn’t look good if he’s the guy who takes a paycheck bur refuses to play.
That’s not how it works.
 

Bill_the_cat

Junior
Nov 17, 2025
216
287
57
It's more so that the media never has a problem with a question like this for Kentucky, in the same way ESPN didn't seem to think it was a bad idea to have Jay Williams call our games and just trash us the whole time. Things like that you'd never see happen to Duke (or Kansas or UNC).

Duke has a great team again. They will for sure pad to their NCAAT resume and inch closer to our records.
When Kyrie Irving was hurt the same questions came up by much of the media.
 
Jan 14, 2002
710
454
63
If healthy, I suspect he will take most of Garrison's minutes and some of Moreno's.
I do not expect the 5-spot production to be significantly better statistically, but I hope his physicality, energy and attitude raise the overall level of team play. It is interesting to note that JQ averaged 29.5 minutes and around 10/8 ... while playing in 24 games.
What does your comments have to do this year? He was 17 years old last year.
 

Kentucky15

All-Conference
Mar 29, 2013
2,033
4,220
108
Tbf where’s the last time Duke really sucked? I can only think of a couple of times in the past 20 years where they just weren’t one of the top teams. And one of those years was the year nearly every blue blood, us included, weren’t in the T25.
Duke has a huge backing within the northeast media and a massive bandwagon fanbase that’s interjected all over. Mix in the huge Nike influence which is a real thing and this is what you get. Look at officiating, Duke has won half of their games the last 20 years on bias officials as well. The always have momentum and wind at their back and they ride it. coach K was a goat floor coach, who his guys always played to perfection for. I will give them that.

But it’s got a massive following globally because Duke has a massive bandwagon following. I was saying the other day, Kentucky, STL Cardinals, KC Chiefs, even Kansas, they are only followed by people raised in this from those areas, or people who went to college there and became a fan. If you don’t fit into those categories you’re not really BBN , a true fan of the others. Duke isn’t like this, Alabama, the Yankees, Cowboys, etc these are bandwagon bases. So they have a ton of support from all over. Duke has a lot of money coming in from guys that really have nothing to do with Duke. Were a natural base, you are either born here, went to school here, were raised in it by Kentucky men, or you don’t follow.

That helps them, but I wouldn’t trade. I follow no bandwagon teams (maybe the Celtics) but even then LA is far more bandwagon. Might not get the national media support of the others which helps them but I can’t stand T-Shirt fanbases. I like that if I pass a Kentucky fan, we’re either from Kentucky or were raised in it, or went to school there. Same with the STL Cardinals, KC Chiefs, I’ll give Kansas the same respect. Bandwagon fans aren’t part of this and I find it much more appealing. Even if we don’t get the national push. We’re real, and we know what it means. Those others jump pretend and therefore to me their success is irrelevant. You bought a Duke tshirt, tell me again you’re bought by media brainwashing. I’ll take the others who’s families are ingrained in this for 100 years. You can’t jump on those and be legit.
 

CatBearPig

All-Conference
Apr 26, 2024
560
1,082
93
What's more fair, getting a million or two million dollars and setting the season out, or trying to be the savior for this team, and earning your money.

We don’t know what he was paid or what the agreement was. But in principle, I agree. If he doesn’t play he should pay it back. He still may choose not to play and my guess is; he gets paid either way.
 
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Jan 14, 2002
710
454
63
Why risk reinjuring yourself for a team that might not even make the tournament?

If you’re guaranteed a lottery pick, I’d just enjoy the free money and healthcare. It’s not entirely JQ’s fault he was recruited while injured. Pope knew what he was getting himself into when he signed him up. Pope’s a smart guy, he should be familiar with the phrase, caveat emptor.
I ate some of that Caveat Emptor. It was good.
 

Yardeth

Heisman
Jan 2, 2007
13,169
17,165
67
If he’s physically ready to play and refuses to do he should be kicked off the team and the reason should be made public. I’m guessing his draft stock wouldn’t look good if he’s the guy who takes a paycheck bur refuses to play.
What if he says he is still hurt, and at the end of the year declares. S. Sharpe did pretty well with his decision to not play (but he is coming back next year)
 

One2Three

All-Conference
Nov 15, 2025
785
1,841
93
Leave it to Goodman to bring this question into the light (not that it isn't true). This is something you'd never hear ESPN and other media members talk about if it's a Duke player..
Duke isn’t looking at a possible losing season on their hands, either.
 
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KyKevin

All-Conference
Dec 28, 2021
633
1,100
93
We don’t know what he was paid or what the agreement was. But in principle, I agree. If he doesn’t play he should pay it back. He still may choose not to play and my guess is; he gets paid either way.


At least a million or more, and I'm pretty sure the agreement was to play basketball for Ky, not to sit it out if we were losing when he is cleared to play.
 
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