2. Herb Jones has to reach his potential
Herb Jones has suffered a sophomore slump that has hindered Alabama’s success so far this season. Without Collin Sexton and Braxton Key on the team, many thought that Jones would expand his offensive game and truly be a dual threat this year. However, he’s only averaging 8.8 points a game.
The part of Herb’s game that has always sparked interest from the fans has been his defense, and it is still strong. Jones can take charges unlike any other. He will sacrifice his body on drives, and he usually can gather momentum and put opposing guards in foul trouble.
Despite this, Herb hasn’t taken the momentum and brought it in transition or on the offensive side of the ball. Alabama has a lot of athletes, but not many outstanding basketball players. They don’t have the luxury of putting defensive specialists on the court, because they don’t have enough offensive firepower to make up for it. Because of this, every player has to contribute, and Herb needs to be one of the bigger ones to do so.
Herb Jones came into this year with ideas of being a pick in the NBA draft. He still has that potential, but his stock is dropping. If he wants to work his way into the draft (or even the first round), he has to expand his game, and his team will need him to do so in this game.
There are gaps in Arizona’s defense that Herb could exploit, but it will take a better effort than in previous games. With many scouts watching and the game airing on ESPN, this game will be a great opportunity for him to get his season on track.