Redshirt Jasper?

[Wildcat5369]

If Bily G redshirts Jasper this year, I wonder if it will impact GJ or KC decision to come to UK.

[teamchemistry09]

If Jasper can go anytime in the next month or so we shouldnt redshirt him. I doubt he will get redshirted because he is practicing and Billy G has said amazing things about his defensive ability and the ability to read the floor like no one he has seen in a while. I look for Jasper to start when he is healthy and have Jodie Meeks or Joe coming off the bench.

[chworld22]

If Jasper can go anytime in the next month or so we shouldnt redshirt him. I doubt he will get redshirted because he is practicing and Billy G has said amazing things about his defensive ability and the ability to read the floor like no one he has seen in a while. I look for Jasper to start when he is healthy and have Jodie Meeks or Joe coming off the bench.

Or you could sit Bradley and start Joe and Meeks. Then have Coury and Patterson as your F/C

[Rockober]

I would redshirt Jasper if he is not ready by the end of January.

Kentucky is a better team with Jasper but a Jasper at 70% speed might not help the team very much. Heres hoping he gets healthy very soon because teh kid has loads of talent.

[lighthouse]

If Jasper can go anytime in the next month or so we shouldnt redshirt him. I doubt he will get redshirted because he is practicing and Billy G has said amazing things about his defensive ability and the ability to read the floor like no one he has seen in a while. I look for Jasper to start when he is healthy and have Jodie Meeks or Joe coming off the bench.

I can't imagine Meeks coming off the bench.

[Bombastic Blue]

I can't imagine Meeks coming off the bench.


I'm with you lighthouse! The best Player on the team needs to start!!!

[teamchemistry09]

Jodie is good I agree. But lets put this in perspective. He had 1 very good game. He scored 34 and was 7 of 9 from 3 I know. But hes already shown he cant do that every game by scoring 11 on Saturday. I dont believe Jodie is the best player on the team and I dont believe he should start over Joe, Ramel, or a healthy Jasper. I think he is perfect coming off the bench with Alex Legion to keep the momentum going and just run the other team out of the building. I honestly believe that. Jodie has already said he is comfortable coming off the bench and playing his role. Let him play his role this year and start and be an AA next year and win the championship his senior year. IMHO Jodie is a very good player and has the potential to be one of the best in UK history when all is said and done, but I dont think he has taken away Joe or Ramels starting jobs. And I dont think Ramel has taken away Jaspers starting PG spot. So as Ive been saying all summer, the starters will end up being Jasper, Bradley, Crawford, Patterson, and Stevenson/Carter

[chworld22]

Jodie is good I agree. But lets put this in perspective. He had 1 very good game. He scored 34 and was 7 of 9 from 3 I know. But hes already shown he cant do that every game by scoring 11 on Saturday. I dont believe Jodie is the best player on the team and I dont believe he should start over Joe, Ramel, or a healthy Jasper. I think he is perfect coming off the bench with Alex Legion to keep the momentum going and just run the other team out of the building. I honestly believe that. Jodie has already said he is comfortable coming off the bench and playing his role. Let him play his role this year and start and be an AA next year and win the championship his senior year. IMHO Jodie is a very good player and has the potential to be one of the best in UK history when all is said and done, but I dont think he has taken away Joe or Ramels starting jobs. And I dont think Ramel has taken away Jaspers starting PG spot. So as Ive been saying all summer, the starters will end up being Jasper, Bradley, Crawford, Patterson, and Stevenson/Carter

I am with you that Joe probably deserves to start because he is a SR and he has put in his time to get the role. But Jodie is the best offensive threat we have on the team right now if not a close second to PP. Joe has been off and on so far this year as well so you can't really say that about Jodie without pointing out Joe for the same thing.

I like Joe and I like his game but it will be hard to keep Jodie out of the starting lineup. As far as Bradley he plays too out of control for me and throws too many TO's. Bradley has lead the team in TO's two straight games. The first he also led in Asst. as well so that sort of balanced it out but the last game he was tied for second in Asst and worst by far in TO's. I know it is the first two games but like I said before it would be different if this was the first time that was a problem but it is the same as it has been for the past three years. Bradley just needs to some off the bench and let Jasper start when he comes back.

The starting line up should be Jasper, Meeks, Crawford, Pat, and Coury.

[lighthouse]

Jodie is good I agree. But lets put this in perspective. He had 1 very good game. He scored 34 and was 7 of 9 from 3 I know. But hes already shown he cant do that every game by scoring 11 on Saturday. I dont believe Jodie is the best player on the team and I dont believe he should start over Joe, Ramel, or a healthy Jasper. I think he is perfect coming off the bench with Alex Legion to keep the momentum going and just run the other team out of the building. I honestly believe that. Jodie has already said he is comfortable coming off the bench and playing his role. Let him play his role this year and start and be an AA next year and win the championship his senior year. IMHO Jodie is a very good player and has the potential to be one of the best in UK history when all is said and done, but I dont think he has taken away Joe or Ramels starting jobs. And I dont think Ramel has taken away Jaspers starting PG spot. So as Ive been saying all summer, the starters will end up being Jasper, Bradley, Crawford, Patterson, and Stevenson/Carter

It's time for a history lesson. He had 1 awesome, and 1 consistant game this year. But, remember last season? I would say Meeks has more than earned his way into the line-up, and as long as he continues to earn it in practice, he will keep his spot.

I'm certainly not down on any of our players, but Meeks will leave a major mark on UK basketball history before he's through.

[Mark Blueblood]

Hopefully Jasper comes back - if not, that will hurt, big time.

Don't know who would be the best choice between Meeks and Crawford - I see advantages in each one.

As far as Bradley goes - Gillespie has already - beyond a doubt - tabbed him as "team leader". Team leaders don't come off the bench. Bradley will start and, if any shuffling takes place, it will be between Meeks, Crawford and Jasper.

[TrueblueCATfan]

I can't imagine Meeks coming off the bench.

me either

[TrueblueCATfan]

I thought Crawford did very well coming off the bench Saturday night..just a thought

[UKfaninCO]

I thought Crawford did very well coming off the bench Saturday night..just a thought

I thought so as well and the TWO(2) "games" that we have played this season he has performed consistently. We will need a lot of Joe this year to be successful. Jodie is too good to keep on the bench, but I dare say he'll have some ups and downs this year. A consistent inside game will contribute heavily to the success of the guards this season. Not sure we'll see that. I think we'll see consistently some 3 guard lineups and occasionally 4 guards. But we have some athletic 3's that'll see some PT as well. Patterson will likely play every minute that he can. The other front court will likely rotate between Stevenson and Coury until Jared is ready. Not sure when that will be. This team will be good, but I sure do wish Jasper was healthy because he would make it better for sure. He has a good deal of versatility as a player and has great court vision. His defense and size out front will be sorely missed if he can't go at all this year. But first and foremost is his health. The surgery he had is not something quickly healed. He and the staff need to be careful not to try to bring him back until he's healthy. That could just lead to further time gone from the team.

[chworld22]

Hopefully Jasper comes back - if not, that will hurt, big time.

Don't know who would be the best choice between Meeks and Crawford - I see advantages in each one.

As far as Bradley goes - Gillespie has already - beyond a doubt - tabbed him as "team leader". Team leaders don't come off the bench. Bradley will start and, if any shuffling takes place, it will be between Meeks, Crawford and Jasper.

I don't agree that he has been "tabbed team leader." What makes you think that. I see him on the court a lot running point but I have seen many players do that.

But, if Bradley is going to be our team leader he needs to start showing it on the court in the form of playing under control and cutting down on TO's.

[Coldstream]

I don't agree that he has been "tabbed team leader." What makes you think that. I see him on the court a lot running point but I have seen many players do that.

But, if Bradley is going to be our team leader he needs to start showing it on the court in the form of playing under control and cutting down on TO's.

BCG has been quoted as tabbing Bradley as the floor leader, offensively. He has been screaming on the court at times: Who's Our Leader!!?? when KY is getting in their offensive set. I think that is what the above poster meant.

[chworld22]

BCG has been quoted as tabbing Bradley as the floor leader, offensively. He has been screaming on the court at times: Who's Our Leader!!?? when KY is getting in their offensive set. I think that is what the above poster meant.

Well I guess that answers that.

Oh well I don't see the leadership in Bradley maybe he will change my mind this year but I don't see it yet.

[teamchemistry09]

It's time for a history lesson. He had 1 awesome, and 1 consistant game this year. But, remember last season? I would say Meeks has more than earned his way into the line-up, and as long as he continues to earn it in practice, he will keep his spot.

I'm certainly not down on any of our players, but Meeks will leave a major mark on UK basketball history before he's through.

He averaged 12 PPG the last 8 games. IMHO, that isnt enough to take the starting spot from Joe or Ramel. He is a very good offensive threat, and would keep the momentum going coming off the bench. He will have his time to shine next year and the year after

[Jazz]

Jodie is good I agree. But lets put this in perspective. He had 1 very good game. He scored 34 and was 7 of 9 from 3 I know. But hes already shown he cant do that every game by scoring 11 on Saturday. I dont believe Jodie is the best player on the team and I dont believe he should start over Joe, Ramel, or a healthy Jasper. I think he is perfect coming off the bench with Alex Legion to keep the momentum going and just run the other team out of the building. I honestly believe that. Jodie has already said he is comfortable coming off the bench and playing his role. Let him play his role this year and start and be an AA next year and win the championship his senior year. IMHO Jodie is a very good player and has the potential to be one of the best in UK history when all is said and done, but I dont think he has taken away Joe or Ramels starting jobs. And I dont think Ramel has taken away Jaspers starting PG spot. So as Ive been saying all summer, the starters will end up being Jasper, Bradley, Crawford, Patterson, and Stevenson/Carter
i think coach should let jodie start in front of joe until joe truely earn th e starting job back because at this point (cant tell that much about ex. games but ) jodie is playing better than joe at least shooting better

[sardiscat]

Harris's injury means both Crawford and Meeks start now.

[Mark Blueblood]

I don't agree that he has been "tabbed team leader." What makes you think that. I see him on the court a lot running point but I have seen many players do that.

But, if Bradley is going to be our team leader he needs to start showing it on the court in the form of playing under control and cutting down on TO's.

Billy Gillespie makes me think that. All I know is what I read in the papers and Gillespie expounds at length about Bradley being the leader. "Team leader" means much more than just running the point and it doesn't necessarily mean you gotta log 40 minutes a game.

He's vocal, he's got moxie, he's a senior and, again, Gillespie has tabbed him his "leader". So...that's what makes me think that.

In his defense, he's learning a new system and both he and Gillespie admit that it's a big change and he's taking on a lot. He'll do it. But it will take some time. The entire team has a long way to go, not just Bradley.

[chworld22]

Billy Gillespie makes me think that. All I know is what I read in the papers and Gillespie expounds at length about Bradley being the leader. "Team leader" means much more than just running the point and it doesn't necessarily mean you gotta log 40 minutes a game.

He's vocal, he's got moxie, he's a senior and, again, Gillespie has tabbed him his "leader". So...that's what makes me think that.

In his defense, he's learning a new system and both he and Gillespie admit that it's a big change and he's taking on a lot. He'll do it. But it will take some time. The entire team has a long way to go, not just Bradley.

I think you should read the other posts since mine before you type it was already pointed out that Billy tabbed him the team leader.

If he has been tabbed the team leader he needs to start acting like it! The team leader tab doesn't mean you suppose to lead the team in TO's.

[countrycat]

Crawford has had 3 years to shine and we haven't even seen very many sparkles. Meeks or Patterson will be or next all americans, book it. Probably Meeks and then Patterson. Crawford still wants to duck his head and drive aimlessly to the basket. The problem is that ever now and then he will make one of those shots. No doubt in my mind Meeks should start IMHO. But there is only one opinion that counts anyway but it fun to debate.
Lets just pray for Jasper, that he gets back as quick as posible and is healthy.
GO UK. GO BIG BLUE.

[Mark Blueblood]

I think you should read the other posts since mine before you type it was already pointed out that Billy tabbed him the team leader.

If he has been tabbed the team leader he needs to start acting like it! The team leader tab doesn't mean you suppose to lead the team in TO's.

Well, you probably need to take that up with Billy Gillespie, not me.

Besides, while I appreciate the fact someone answered your question, I usually feel it best to clarify my own thinking. Sorry if you find that redundant.

[lribookend]

Personally, I wonder if the ageless arguments about who should start will ever end. Does it really matter who starts? Gillispie seems to freely substitute throughtout the game. Back in the days of Rupp, it mattered. He normally played 5-7 players, and only went deeper into the bench if they had serious foul trouble. During the last 30 years, 9 or 10 players normally see plenty of PT. So to me, it matters very little who starts.

[chworld22]

Well, you probably need to take that up with Billy Gillespie, not me.

Besides, while I appreciate the fact someone answered your question, I usually feel it best to clarify my own thinking. Sorry if you find that redundant.

Not taking it up with anyone I am simply stating my opinion from what I have seen so far this season and last.

[Mark Blueblood]

Not taking it up with anyone I am simply stating my opinion from what I have seen so far this season and last.

Works for me!

[jtt97mmt]

I'm with you lighthouse! The best Player on the team needs to start!!!
I agree that Jodie Meeks is our best player right now and whether he starts or not, he will play a LOT. Anyone down on his numbers since the 1st exhibition game needs to realize that he was injured in the Seattle exhibition. He wasn't the same player after that. He's the guy I want taking the shot with the game on the line.

[BigBlueLuke]

I actually kind of wish Coach would just go ahead and redshirt Derrick. I know we could really use him this year. (I mean really use him). But, this is not an injury you can just rush back from. Amare Stoudamire was out a whole year. I would rather for us to be without him this year, than for a basketball career to be ruined by trying to rush back.