Jacob Toppin, right, will get a chance to show today if he can defend a future NBA player. (Vicky Graff Photo)
How good is UCLA senior guard Jaime Jaquez Jr.?
If Kentucky assistant coach Orlando Antigua is right, he’s really good.
“He’s one of the top 10 players in college right now,” Antigua said Thursday.
He is averaging 17.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.8 steals per game going into this afternoon’s game against Kentucky in New York. He is a four-year starter for UCLA and was part of the 2021 UCLA Final Four team along with UK transfer Johnny Juzang. He had 14 points and seven rebounds Wednesday when UCLA routed Maryland.
“Jaime is an extremely talented young man. You can see over the years his growth in terms of his ball-handling ability now,” Antigua said Thursday. “Last night they actually had him playing some at the point — defending fours, but he was playing at the point.
“He’s been great on the block, he’s got great footwork, knows how to play, he’s a tough matchup.”
Kentucky coach John Calipari called him a “first-round draft pick” who can get baskets.
“Jaquez is a first-round draft pick. He can go get baskets and is really good,” head coach John Calipari added.
This gives UK senior Jacob Toppin, who wants to be a NBA draft pick, to showcase his defensive versatility because he’ll likely get the first shot at defending Jaquez.
“Jacob is one of our best defenders who can move with him and utilize his length a little bit on him,” Antigua said. “I think Jacob will take some pride in that kind of matchup, but we’ll probably have to put a couple of guys on him.”
That could mean both Chris Livingston and Daimion Collins will also get a chance to defend Jaquez, who is also a two-time all-Pac 12 defensive team selection.
Jaquez said after the Maryland win would be ready for the CBS Sports Classic matchup with Kentucky.
“I think that’s something that as a team we’ve been good at for a really long time. I know since I’ve been here all four years we’ve never looked ahead any game since I’ve been here,” he said.
“It’s always one step at a time, and eventually you take the steps all the way hopefully all the way to another Final Four and hopefully a national championship.”
The Bruins are No. 16 in the Associated Press rankings but are No. 4 nationally in the KenPom ratings.
“I’m anxious to see how we perform,” Calipari said. “I think we’re better than we were three weeks ago. We execute better. We’re playing more together, instead of, ‘OK, all we can do is throw it to you, and you try to get a basket.’ We’re doing things together better. I think there’s less confusion on what we’re doing.”
One player who continues to get better each game is freshman guard Cason Wallace.
“We knew Cason was a competitive, great spirited, well-rounded basketball player,” Antigua said. “We knew that he was a little bit more mature, but not to the point that we know now of getting the chance to work with him daily.
“How emotionally mature, how physically mature he is. How his game is a little bit even past his age in that way. That’s a blessing.”
Antigua knows this game is “important” for Kentucky. It’s a chance to get a win that will look good when NCAA Tournament seedings are made and help UK’s confidence after earlier losses to Michigan State and Gonzaga.
“The arena, the stage, all that is on the periphery early on. Going to the O2 Arena (London) and getting the chance to play in that facility, you walk around and you’re in awe,” Antigua said.
“You’re going to have that same effect in the Garden. But ultimately the baskets are 10 feet, you gotta go play and once you get into the sweat of competing all that stuff is going out the window and it’s Kentucky versus UCLA.”
6 Responses
I had to take a break from the first half. We look lost on offense and can’t guard anyone, except for Oscar. Can we trade coaches at halftime?
This guy is a basketball fraud. He is destroying the once great UK basketball program.
He started 4 seniors today. Youth and inexperience is not an available excuse.
12 turnovers in the half on only 35 possessions, that coupled with 33% shooting is a recipe for disaster.
UK is lucky to be only down 8 points.
So, I guess holding UCLA to 35 points in a half when they average 82 ppg, could be called "slowing them down"
What a joke of a coach
It looks like another double digit loss season.
Every team is going to front Oscar and double him if he gets the ball. Will Calipari EVER run more than that tired, worn out dribble drive offense. Wheeler was a defensive liability. He can’t guard bigger players in pick and rolls. All Wheeler does is look for his own shot or make a last second wild pass…yet he is Calipari’s pet. The offense is so dominated by Wheeler that Toppin has stopped looking for a shot. I like playing Ware with Oscar but Ware is going to have to score at least 6 or 7 points to be out there. Livingston has earned more PT. If this team doesn’t do anything else before Christmas, they need to shoot 200 foul shots twice a day. Coach Hall would run a drill where each player had to single handedly make 3 baskets in the lane with 2 managers beating them with blocking dummies…even the starters. We got bitchslapped big time today. It’s time to toughen up. No more pets. No more whining about players not doing what they are told. Learn how to play a zone just to disrupt the other team’s offensive flow. Did I say shoot 200 free throws twice a day?
Tom Izzo showed the basketball world how to beat this UK team, and every worthy opponent will follow that blue print.
Calipari has always had pets, and there is nothing new in that regard.
But, never fear, UK will have a huge showing on Draft night in June, and that is the most important date on the UK basketball calendar.
How do I know this? John Calipari told all of us basketball bennies that in 2010.
Is there a transfer portal for fans?
Comments are closed.