Jackson Set for More Court Time Amidst Team Adjustments
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Ian Jackson may see additional playing time in his preferred role thanks to Dylan Darling’s impressive performances.
Jackson’s minutes have notably dwindled in recent games, largely due to Darling’s emergence as a reliable player.
He has logged only 26 minutes across the last two games.
“In the last game, we were really just trying to secure a win, which put Ian in a tough spot,” coach Rick Pitino remarked as the No. 17 Johnnies gear up to take on Providence this Saturday. “It’s important for us to give Ian more minutes, especially in the two-guard position. He deserves more opportunity rather than just playing behind Dylan.”
“We need to integrate Ian more into the two-time setup. He’s an excellent shooter, but last game we couldn’t make that happen due to a number of reasons. We were focused on defense and rebounding. It’s time to prioritize getting him more involved.”
Standing 6-foot-5, Jackson took over the starting position for Darling on December 13 and has established himself there consistently.
Though typically a shooting guard, this season he’s been adapting to the point guard role. However, Dillon Mitchell has stepped up as a strong ball handler of late, especially over the past five weeks.
Despite being one of the Red Storm’s top shooters, Jackson has struggled with his long-range accuracy recently, hitting only 26.9 percent (14-of-52) in the last three games.
Darling has also proven crucial for the team, particularly in a recent victory over Xavier where he contributed 16 points, five rebounds, and four assists.
“That’s what a point guard is meant to do,” Darling stated. “Having played that position, I try to stay composed amidst the chaos and help everyone maintain their focus during the game.”
Looking ahead, a win for the Red Storm next will secure them a first-round bye in the Big East Tournament, with the top five teams moving on without needing to play a match. It’s noteworthy that the Johnnies currently boast the longest active winning streak, spanning ten games, among power conference teams.
