Toggle sidebar

The JQ debut...St. Johns, Bellarmine, Alabama, later

theBlues

theBlues

All-Conference
Oct 18, 2025
869
1,875
93
I was gonna post a poll with the options in the title but was too lazy to learn how so I just made a regular post.

I saw one of the talking heads on Youtube last night saying he thought JQ would have played against IU if it was a tournament game and that he expected him against St. Johns. That makes some sense as it's about 2 weeks after his rehab officially ended combined with unconfirmed reports of him looking great in practice. One has to think he's in pretty good shape from the work he put in with his rehab.

But that's another HUGE game so the next game at Bellarmine makes more sense to me. I'll predict we see JQ in the Bellarmine game. What say you Cat fans?
 
  • Like
Reactions: *Fox2Monk*, Skyguyb27 and akaukswoosh
Rainmaker

Rainmaker

All-Conference
May 13, 2015
484
1,027
93
JQ is ready to go. Coaching staff doesn’t want him to go yet for their own reasons (which I understand), he could have played yesterday if they let him. I expect to see him in a game before SEC play starts. I’m thinking at this point he gets 8-12 minutes against Bellarmine though I’d love to see him come in first round of subs against St Johns. That would ignite the crowd for sure.
 
  • Like
Reactions: storm1507, *Fox2Monk* and theBlues
S

Skyguyb27

All-American
Feb 12, 2008
4,442
7,414
113
Rainmaker said:
JQ is ready to go. Coaching staff doesn’t want him to go yet for their own reasons (which I understand), he could have played yesterday if they let him. I expect to see him in a game before SEC play starts. I’m thinking at this point he gets 8-12 minutes against Bellarmine though I’d love to see him come in first round of subs against St Johns. That would ignite the crowd for sure.
Click to expand...
Can you explain why the coaching staff wouldnt want their best player to play?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bigbluegoo, kywildcat1021979, *Fox2Monk* and 1 other person
BlueBlood96Cat

BlueBlood96Cat

All-Conference
Jan 5, 2022
2,679
4,721
113
TFCat11 said:
Pope needs to debut JQ in a game at Rupp, for the home fans, and not for Pitino in Atlanta!

But that would make too much sense, wouldn’t it.
Click to expand...
Debut him the second he tells coach he’s good to go. Idc if it’s in Egypt all of Big Blue will see it. If we was gonna debut him at Rupp throw him in last night with a minute left like the walk ons.
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: mattrudd, MbergCat, phunterd and 3 others
theBlues

theBlues

All-Conference
Oct 18, 2025
869
1,875
93
BlueBlood96Cat said:
Debut him the second he tells coach he’s good to go. Idc if it’s in Egypt all of Big Blue will see it. If we was gonna debut him at Rupp throw him in last night with a minute left like the walk ons.
Click to expand...
I don't know it for a fact but I'm pretty sure if it was just up to JQ giving the go ahead we'd have seen him in November. They're being really careful with him, perhaps overly cautious, because they know our year's end ceiling is up to him.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rainmaker and BlueBlood96Cat
NociHTTP

NociHTTP

Heisman
Mar 8, 2023
11,085
17,416
113
BlueBlood96Cat said:
Debut him the second he tells coach he’s good to go. Idc if it’s in Egypt all of Big Blue will see it. If we was gonna debut him at Rupp throw him in last night with a minute left like the walk ons.
Click to expand...
I'm jaded by the SS situation. This last game tells me that Pope is shedding the nice guy image and taking control of the reins. It needs to be up to him to debut JQ, because otherwise I don't see it happening.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BlueBlood96Cat
Rainmaker

Rainmaker

All-Conference
May 13, 2015
484
1,027
93
Skyguyb27 said:
Can you explain why the coaching staff wouldnt want their best player to play?
Click to expand...
This really comes down to risk versus reward. Being cleared to play doesn’t mean the risk is gone. Practice speed isn’t game speed, and the explosiveness JQ plays with puts added stress on his body.

So the decision is simple, rush him back for a mostly meaningless December game, or give him another week or two to let his body further adapt to full speed, live action and significantly reduce the overall risk.

This is a long term play, not a short term gamble. An extra week or two of conditioning alone, especially building game endurance can make a real difference. It’s a chess move, not a checkers move.

I’m not saying everyone has to agree with it, but it’s a logical decision. He’ll be back soon, and when he is, he’ll be a difference maker for us.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rivercatinfl, BlueBlood96Cat, theBlues and 1 other person
theBlues

theBlues

All-Conference
Oct 18, 2025
869
1,875
93
NociHTTP said:
I'm jaded by the SS situation. This last game tells me that Pope is shedding the nice guy image and taking control of the reins. It needs to be up to him to debut JQ, because otherwise I don't see it happening.
Click to expand...
Different coach, different player, different injury situation, different draft situation. JQ will run as soon as Pope flips the starting gate switch.
 
  • Like
Reactions: senonesy, BlueBlood96Cat and Rainmaker
A

Aike

Heisman
Mar 17, 2002
75,311
45,919
90
I don’t see him in practice. If the staff thinks he’s ready to go, I would have no problem with running him out vs. St. John’s.

2-3 minute burst in each in half. Protect the rim. Block out and rebound. Get a dunk if you can.

Then maybe you can double that by Bellarmine and feel comfortable having him as a more consistent rotation piece for SEC play.
 
  • Like
Reactions: true-blue1
Ash Williams

Ash Williams

Heisman
Aug 3, 2022
7,759
25,568
113
Rainmaker said:
This really comes down to risk versus reward. Being cleared to play doesn’t mean the risk is gone. Practice speed isn’t game speed, and the explosiveness JQ plays with puts added stress on his body.

So the decision is simple, rush him back for a mostly meaningless December game, or give him another week or two to let his body further adapt to full speed, live action and significantly reduce the overall risk.

This is a long term play, not a short term gamble. An extra week or two of conditioning alone, especially building game endurance can make a real difference. It’s a chess move, not a checkers move.

I’m not saying everyone has to agree with it, but it’s a logical decision. He’ll be back soon, and when he is, he’ll be a difference maker for us.
Click to expand...
How do you know practice speed isn't game speed? Are you saying that the 5 on 5 drills are slower than a game? If that's true, then we know why we're losing games, amirite?
 
  • Like
Reactions: WilmoreCat and BlueBlood96Cat
U

UK_BlueBlood

All-American
May 21, 2002
4,248
9,117
103
I don’t know his status. If we’re debating which game he will start playing, I assume this means he is now “cleared” to play full speed?

If this is the case and he is practicing, then I see no reason why he shouldn’t play at the first opportunity. There is zero reason to delay getting him rolling. He has already missed a third of the season. I’ll let Pope determine how many minutes he gets, etc., but keeping him sitting on the bench waiting for a particular game or opponent is pointless.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Reggie Noble and BlueBlood96Cat
U

UKnVaTech

Junior
Jan 31, 2006
185
238
43
And those highlights are from only a single (shortened by injury) season last year at ASU. Not 2 or 3 years. Not high school. That's a lot of highlight reel stuff for may 20-25 games as a freshman? Great finish inside - leaves no doubt.
 
A

Artlaibesghost

All-Conference
Nov 30, 2022
638
1,215
93
theBlues said:
I don't know it for a fact but I'm pretty sure if it was just up to JQ giving the go ahead we'd have seen him in November. They're being really careful with him, perhaps overly cautious, because they know our year's end ceiling is up to him.
Click to expand...
Could be that. I also think they are thinking of the younger man's future in basketball. Something many fans on here could care less about.
 
  • Like
Reactions: theBlues
T

TheAssignment9

Senior
Apr 8, 2024
289
603
93
Hope it's St. Johns!

If we had Dioubate and a healthy Lowe against UNC, there's no way we lose that game.

Missed opportunity in a big way, can't let the same happen against St. John's!
 
  • Like
Reactions: senonesy and theBlues
kuhlkat

kuhlkat

All-Conference
Nov 17, 2003
2,936
3,286
98
TFCat11 said:
Pope needs to debut JQ in a game at Rupp, for the home fans, and not for Pitino in Atlanta!

But that would make too much sense, wouldn’t it.
Click to expand...
I don't think the venue is part of the conversation
 
revcort

revcort

Heisman
Feb 20, 2003
32,522
30,904
113
I wouldn't be surprised to see him against St John's but I don't think he plays more than 5-10 minutes. If it goes well, we may see him more like 10-15 minutes against Bellarmine. Gotta win these last several OOC games, though. We need every single one.
 
  • Like
Reactions: The Ganner and theBlues
B

bkimrey2

Sophomore
Apr 11, 2024
94
139
33
I'm not sure how good he'll be but I do think that him and mo are going to be a nightmare on the boards for opponents if mo plays like he did last game consistently.

I feel like at this point people are expecting jq to shatter the glass on the backboard on his first possession in the post. Lol.
 
U

UKortho

All-American
Oct 13, 2015
4,549
8,454
77
TheAssignment9 said:
I'm assuming Ortho in your name means you're a doctor of some kind?

Any concerns for a guy coming back from this? I just can't imagine that an extra 3 days of rest will put him at much less of a risk.
Click to expand...

I don’t believe he has practiced full court yet (but I heard he would today- that’s just second hand though). They want to protect him mentally as well as physically (mechanics/ favoring). Not to mention, the risk of reinjury is significant in the first year or so. But no-in general 3 days wouldn’t matter. Less pressure against Bellarmine- easy game- crowd will be helping. That’s when I would play him.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom