Aaron Jordan

[skyIdub]

Should AJ be in the starting lineup Friday? (and beyond)

I have decided AJ needs his own thread, at the very least, and probably should be starting Friday.

I am extremely proud of how this young man has risen above the last couple years of trials, challenges, and changes with an off the charts work ethic, character, and now production.

Great job AJ!

 

[Illini_1979]

From the way he has played this year...yes. But, since we don't know all of the behind the scenes info, it really depends on what BU thinks is best for the team so I am not going to vote on this one.

 

[ILL in IA]

Can Rob vote in this?

 

[skyIdub]

Can Rob vote in this?

Of course!

 

[BananaShampoo]

I say yes. He's been our best all-around player so far so he deserves to start, if for symbolic reasons more than anything else. It would be good to show the team that hard work, perseverance, and smart play are justly rewarded.

I think a lineup like the following is probably our best lineup right now:

PG- TJL or Smith
G - Alstork
G - Jordan
F - Black
F/C - Finke

 

[skyIdub]

I say yes. He's been our best all-around player so far so he deserves to start, if for symbolic reasons more than anything else. It would be good to show the team that hard work, perseverance, and smart play are justly rewarded.

I think a lineup like the following is probably our best lineup right now:

PG- TJL or Smith
G - Alstork
G - Jordan
F - Black
F/C - Finke

This is really exactly how I feel.

 

[Illwinsagain]

I went with "no", we need scoring from the bench too. Also, I am no expert, he looks a little slow on defense (I could be wrong). I could see my opinion changing over time though.

 

[blmillini]

After the a$$ chewing he got in the first half for losing the ball 3 times in a row? I don't think it is happening yet. Maybe later. I really don't think it matters anyway. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, he is going to get his minutes. We don't know enough about the emotional makeup of other guys on the team to know whether it would be disruptive or not and only the coaching staff would be able to gauge the impact.

 

[whovous]

I think it is more important that he be on the floor at the end of the game.

 

[zpfled]

No, because I like his scoring punch off the bench.

I want him to get starter-level minutes, though.

 

[helppitch]

I think it is more important that he be on the floor at the end of the game.

You're right. Who starts isn't important. Playing minutes are, & who is on the floor come crunchtime is.

I kind of find it funny that a lot of people who were for Jordan leaving a few months ago. Now, their tune has changed.

 

[FollowTisdale]

Does it really matter? He played 28 minutes last night, second to only Leron. He should be in every minute of the game we're going against a zone, though.

 

[TheLegendaryOne24]

I say yes. He's been our best all-around player so far so he deserves to start, if for symbolic reasons more than anything else. It would be good to show the team that hard work, perseverance, and smart play are justly rewarded.

I think a lineup like the following is probably our best lineup right now:

PG- TJL or Smith
G - Alstork
G - Jordan
F - Black
F/C - Finke

This comes down to do you sit Smith, TJL or Alstork just depends on your flavor

 

[TheLegendaryOne24]

You're right. Who starts isn't important. Playing minutes are, & who is on the floor come crunchtime is.

I kind of find it funny that a lot of people who were for Jordan leaving a few months ago. Now, their tune has changed.

At crunch time last night:
Smith was at PG
D-Will
Jordan
Black
Kipper until the silly TO we were down 4 then Finke came back in

 

[Jon]

Starting is a symbolic award, he gets starter minutes already. in my mind he's a top 3 player right now and should get as much time as he can handle, but I think he should come off the bench. I think we'll see a lot of teams will crumble at the idea of having Alstork/Smith and Leron sub out just to have Kipper and AJ come in. Pick on teams with less depth.

 

[kcib8130]

I think he goes in Alstork's spot. I haven't seen a whole lot out of him so far offensive that puts him ahead, and his defense is downright brutal.

 

[skyIdub]

So if starting is only a symbolic award, as has been mentioned, AJ deserves it over anyone else on the team at this point. He is not making any more dumb mistakes than Smith, Kipper, Te'Jon or Frazier.

As someone earlier said, I don't know what BU's strategy is as far as starting, benching, etc...so this is more of tip of the cap to AJ for a fantastic start to this season and working his butt off.

 

[FiveStar]

Starting doesn't matter. total minutes and minutes played at end of game matters.

 

[Ol Dirty Gamer]

Isn’t the old saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”?
AJ is doing fantastic in his role coming off the bench and punching teams in the mouth. Every team needs that guy with the mentality to do that.

 

[TCTORNADO]

BU has used the same starting lineup every game this year.

 

[ILLHangOut]

I would love to know what the Jordans’ thoughts are regarding AJs progress from last year to this year. It’s a perpetual discussion between talent and coaching, and how the credit for success and failure is divvied up.

Here we have a player that couldn’t get off the bench last year, and is now leading our team in almost every advanced stat and leading the nation in 3pt percent. As an outsider looking in it appears that Groce and his staff were just terrible, and AJs success this year is really making them look worse then they already did.

 

[Thor015]

Not broken. Let it be.

 

[IlliniJim20]

From the way he has played this year...yes. But, since we don't know all of the behind the scenes info, it really depends on what BU thinks is best for the team so I am not going to vote on this one.

Well said.

Production, effort, performance, leadership absolutely.

Chemistry, team needs, bench scoring, I defer to Coach Underwood.

 

[Sal Iacuzzo]

Underwood believes the starters are irrelevant. I think he is right.

 

[Peoria Illini]

I think AJ is doing just fine coming off the bench. Underwood referenced that earlier that some of the guys feel more comfortable coming off the bench. If it ain't broke...