Would Jai have started over Jasper?

[Craig the Blueheart]

I am not so sure that he would have... MJ is currently discussing this very issue.

[crazzedcats22]

I am not so sure that he would have... MJ is currently discussing this very issue.

yes, I think Jai is a better pure point guard. Jasper could start, but he needs to get a LOT better this offseason. Doesn't matter now anyways though!

[Craig the Blueheart]

yes, I think Jai is a better pure point guard. Jasper could start, but he needs to get a LOT better this offseason. Doesn't matter now anyways though!

I know that it doesn't matter, but I thought it was good discussion. I think that Jasper probably would have started for at least the first half of the season.

[DCWildcat]

I don't think so. I think Jasper will emerge next year as a very good guard, and junior year, will emerge as one Kentucky's most talented of all time.

I have very high expectations that I think Gillispie will get him to fulfill.

[Woodgate]

oh oh oh who cares now?

[Josh]

I think that Jai's decision helps Derrick a lot. Now he knows that he is the guy for us at point guard. He doesn't have to worry about a freshman coming in and stealing his spot. I expect and hope that this allows Derrick to play much looser this summer in preparing for his sophomore season.

[SlyClyde]

Per ESPN.com:

"I'm going to Florida because I felt it was the right place for me," Lucas told ESPN.com. "I just felt that they had lost a lot and I can come in and play right away. They've got a great group of guys coming in with this class. I can help them at the point."

..........

Apparently Lucas thought it would be a lot tougher getting playing time at UK than at Florida.

[leroybyrd]

I don't think so, and I don't think we were the best fit for him. We are loaded at the guard spot in general. He wanted to play immediately as he said at his presser. I think PP wants to play immediately too and that is why he will come to UK. He's doing his own thing, hence the waiting by these two. IMO of course.

[matt57]

here's another thing no one is mentioning. jasper is one of our better rebounders. when you couple that with the fact we are hurting inside and jai had to realize he wasn't starting over jasper. no way can he help out on the boards like jasper can.

[Mark Blueblood]

No. Jasper made the all SEC Freshman team and brings a whole lot more to the table. The kid ain't chopped liver. 6'6" at point guard causes a whole match up nightmare for most teams. 5'9" does not.

When Jasper develops a better offensive game - well - it ain't even close.

[DCWildcat]

Matt Jones said about 10 minutes ago that Lucas wouldn't start over Jasper and that Tubby was "crazy" for telling Lucas he would get significant playing time.

He just now said that if Lucas had come to UK, Jasper "probably would have transferred" but now "has the most secure job in America."

Huh?

[Craig the Blueheart]

Matt Jones said about 10 minutes ago that Lucas wouldn't start over Jasper and that Tubby was "crazy" for telling Lucas he would get significant playing time.

He just now said that if Lucas had come to UK, Jasper "probably would have transferred" but now "has the most secure job in America."

Huh?

I think that he perhaps meant for the following year. Besides Porter, we don't really have any "true" PGs. I know Bradley COULD run it, but we saw his production really diminish when he was asked to do so. What could be very interesting is the recruitment of blue chip PGs in 2008. Would Jasper be a starter over some of the names being mentione? In other words, how long lived is this job security?

[teamchemistry09]

Jasper will be a junior when the 08 class comes in and by then he will be more mature and a lot better adapted to the college game. And we all know his jumper can only get better. No way could a 08 kid come in and take his position from him in his junior season. They will be a good back up in case of injury or foul trouble but Jasper will be a four year starter

[countrycat]

I hope little jai does start for uf and BIG JASPER starts for UK and BIG JASPER posts him up about 10 times, then he will know why he couldn't start for UK.

[scfcats]

I think that Jai's decision helps Derrick a lot. Now he knows that he is the guy for us at point guard. He doesn't have to worry about a freshman coming in and stealing his spot. I expect and hope that this allows Derrick to play much looser this summer in preparing for his sophomore season.

Totally agree. I think DJ has a little confidence issue, and a highly touted freshman wouldn't have helped much. BCG will turn DJ into the next AC. He'll be a leader here for the next 3 years, and will own JL on the floor. Go DJ Go CATS!

[WildFan]

Jasper would have been the starter. Jai would have been a nice player to have to backing him up. Would have caused real mis-match problems for an opponent to have to attempt to guard both types of players in the sam game, however Jasper would have started.

[CatFanInTheBathtub]

Totally agree. I think DJ has a little confidence issue, and a highly touted freshman wouldn't have helped much. BCG will turn DJ into the next AC. He'll be a leader here for the next 3 years, and will own JL on the floor. Go DJ Go CATS!

while I agree that DJ will own jai in any potential matchup, first DJ will own calathes, which will be great because that boy's gonna easily be the next gator to hate, ala walsh/noah style.

[Lon25]

Unless Jasper showes a world of improvement from the end of last season I would say that Lucas and Calathes would dominate Jasper. Jasper was sitting for long stretches last year while Meeks and Bradley really outplayed him at the point.

Three things I would like to see JAsper find this off season:
1. A better shooting ability
2. Quickness
3. Ability to be a playmaker.

Jasper does rebound great for a PG that does not show the above skills.

[wildcatnc]

and he will not start at Florida. I have seen their recruiting classes for the past couple of years. They are loaded at the 3 and 2. Nick Calathes starts at the point - Jai plays backup until either Nick goes pro early, maybe the same year Donovan goes, and then Jai as a JR gets his chance. I think he had a better chance with us but time will show us who is right. Also, as a KY player Lucas could have made an impact coaching for us later in life. His loss - our gain...