You're not replacing either of them by the time those decisions get made. My point was more that, come mid-to-late May when the portal has more or less been picked dry, it will be easier to find someone that can improve UConn defensively than it will be to find someone capable of doing the things Tristen did at the end of a clock the last two months of the season, especially with some of the long, athletic wings already on the roster.
From a lineup construction basis, I agree that Tristen is more important than Jackson. I don't actually care about Newton's late clock stuff, because while I agree someone has to do it and that person should not be Jackson, over the season Newton wasn't especially efficient at it to begin with, and I'm confident Castle will be able to do it as well or better (the bar isn't especially high and from what I've seen he should be able to get to the rim or draw fouls if he needs to).
But Jackson instead of Newton means you're trotting out 3 below average or bad shooters in every lineup, possibly 4, depending on who we replace Newton's scholly with and how the freshmen translate as shooters. A Castle, Transfer/Diarra/Ball, Jackson, Karaban, DC lineup would be a potential disaster from a spacing perspective. Just swapping Newton for Jackson means you've at least added a little bit more spacing, on top of whomever else we bring in. Not to mention, Jackson's cutting from the high post or dunker's spot only really works because opponents couldn't sag off our other guard/wing shooters to help. If they're cheating over on the cut when DC gets double and not super concerned about closing out in recovery, Jackson is pretty screwed. And losing Jackson's passing is a loss, but we still have a passing rich lineup without him; Castle, Tristen, and Karaban are all very good passers... even DC I think will be a plus passer for his position, plus whomever you bring in or start at the 2.
However, all of that notwithstanding, the big Jackson benefit isn't really about the lineup. It's his intangibles, leadership, and captaincy. None of that is likely replaceable in the lineup or through a transfer, he's 1 of 1 in that regard. I would love, love, love if these 5 recruits coming in got at least 1 year under him to learn the ropes of the program. The answer of course is hoping both Jackson and Newton come back which obviously is the dream for UConn fans (but perhaps disappointing for those guys). Or maybe getting Jackson back and getting a poor or average-mans Newton-esque guy in the portal.
