The turmoil surrounding Chris Jones and the Louisville basketball program came to an end on Sunday when head coach Rick Pitino dismissed the volatile talent from his team. This came just days after Jones was suspended for the game against Syracuse, then reinstated for the Cardinals’ win over Miami (FL).
Reports have surfaced since the school’s release that Jones was under investigation for two separate incidents on campus, including one that involved a threatening text message he sent to a woman, threatening physical abuse.
Jones has reportedly sought out counsel from John Lucas for anger management and ADHD issues.
On the court, Jones was just as unreliable as he proved to be off the court. While his 13.7 points, four rebounds and 3.6 assists per game will surely be missed, it was his 37.9-percent shooting percentage and even more inconsistent decision making.
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What he was able to do, however, was provide stifling on-ball defense for the full length of the court, often against the opposing team’s best player. In Louisville’s match up against Kentucky earlier this season, his defense was a prime reason for the Cardinal being as competitive as they were. Unfortunately for Pitino’s group, his offense was also one of the main reasons UL wasn’t able to get over the hump for a win.
As for what the Cardinals will do now, it looks like freshman Quentin Snider is the most likely candidate to take over Jones’ spot at the point guard position. In just the third game where he saw truly extended minutes, Snider turned in a quality six points, four rebounds and four assists performance. If he can continue that kind of play, and keep deferring to Terry Rozier and Wayne Blackshear on the perimeter, then Louisville could be in just as good, or better, shape than where they were before.
At this point, one can only hope that Jones finds a way to get the guidance he needs and turn around his recent behavior.
