Wow. The good pub continues for JJ.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Justin Jackson, Cincinnati

The Bearcats could not have asked for a better stop to league play in the inaugural season of the American. After knocking off SMU in Cincinnati on New Year’s Day, Mick Cronin’s club went down to Memphis where they laid the wood on the Tigers, whipping then-No. 18 Memphis by 16 points on their home floor. Do the math, and that would be two wins over top five teams in the conference in the span of four days.

The star of the show for Cincinnati was Justin Jackson, who has developed into as much of a centerpiece as there is on this roster. Nothing that the Bearcats do this season is going to be pretty. They are the nation’s second-most efficient defense, according to Kenpom, and the third-best offensive rebounding team. They win by attacking the glass and swarming defensively. It’s ugly, but it’s effective, which is what makes Jackson the perfect fit.

In the two wins, Jackson averaged 15.0 points, 7.0 boards, 6.0 blocks and 3.0 steals while shooting 11-for-19 from the floor. Cincinnati has now won six straight games, a stretch where Jackson is averaging 15.3 points, 9.7 boards, 4.3 blocks and 2.2 steals.

http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.c...-warriors/

Hard work has paid off--he was a joy to watch Saturday and he appears to be having fun on the court. It's hard to remember any Bearcat that made this much progress in a single season. I think about Kenyon but he seemed to develop each year in the program. For JJ the light came on and he can be a dominating presence.

All of a sudden, the AAC may be winnable in the regular season. Louisville has lost key players, Temple is a dud, UConn is sliding right now and we've already beaten Memphis and SMU.

(01-06-2014 02:13 PM)indycat Wrote:  Hard work has paid off--he was a joy to watch Saturday and he appears to be having fun on the court. It's hard to remember any Bearcat that made this much progress in a single season. I think about Kenyon but he seemed to develop each year in the program. For JJ the light came on and he can be a dominating presence.

Eric Hicks? Or was that more than one season of improvement?

The most dramatic example I can recall is Bobby Brannen's emergence in his senior year.

(01-06-2014 07:53 PM)George Kaplan Wrote:  The most dramatic example I can recall is Bobby Brannen's emergence in his senior year.

In fairness Bobby Brannen was always efficient, just stuck behind Danny Fortson. And the 96-97 team was so ridiculously deep, the subs were Bobby Brannen, Mel Levett, Kenyon Martin, DJuan Baker, Terrence Davis, Ryan Fletcher and Rod Monroe

(01-06-2014 09:11 PM)ucbrownsfan Wrote:  

(01-06-2014 07:53 PM)George Kaplan Wrote:  The most dramatic example I can recall is Bobby Brannen's emergence in his senior year.

In fairness Bobby Brannen was always efficient, just stuck behind Danny Fortson. And the 96-97 team was so ridiculously deep, the subs were Bobby Brannen, Mel Levett, Kenyon Martin, DJuan Baker, Terrence Davis, Ryan Fletcher and Rod Monroe

Really wish we'd had Legree one more year. that team was a pg away from being as good as the 1999-2000 team.