Terrence Jones scored nine points in his first game back after suffering a dislocated finger in a win over Chattanooga on Dec. 17. (Sun photo by Bill Thiry) |
LEXINGTON — Terrence Jones is glad to be back on the court.
Jones, who missed Kentucky’s two previous games because of a dislocated finger, scored nine points to help lead the third-ranked Wildcats to an 86-64 victory over Lamar Wednesday night at Rupp Arena in his first appearance in more than a week.
Jones injured his finger in Kentucky’s 87-62 rout of Chattanooga on Dec. 17 and missed the team’s two victories over Samford and Loyola of Maryland last week.
Immediately after the injury, Jones shifted out of “basketball mode” and turned his attention to his finger instead of padding his statistical sheet.
“That’s all I was worried about,” he said.
Although he’s not 100 percent, Jones added that his finger is “getting better” and was simply glad to be back on the floor instead of watching from the bench.
“I’m just to be back out there playing with my team is just a great feeling,” he said.
Jones scored seven points and grabbed five rebounds after checking into the contest at the 17:31 mark of the first half. Jones missed his first field goal attempt, but settled in and converted three of his next six shots of the half. Jones had a pair of turnovers, but managed an assist and a block despite playing with his injured finger taped on his left hand.
It was hard for Jones to look past his injury.
“Ever since I’ve been back, I have been (hesitant) and that’s what I’m trying to get back to, is not trying to protect it as much,” said Jones, who finished with three turnovers and grabbed six rebounds.
The preseason all-american selection scored just two points in the second half, but more importantly got back into the flow of the game. Jones added that the injury and watching the previous two games from the sidelines proved to be “aggravating” at times and hard to swallow.
“It’s been different and difficult,” he said. “I’ve just been fighting and working hard to get back. It’s just been different with the injury, not being able to go out and play like I want to. I’m back playing now and I’m just hoping to get better. It’s the worst thing that could happen.”
The Kentucky sophomore forward didn’t start the second half against Lamar, but made a quick return to the lineup less than two minutes into the final half. Jones logged 27 minutes of action in a reserve role.
Jones showed flashes of his past form at times and led an impressive break for the Cats, capped by an Anthony Davis slam on an assist from Michael Kidd-Gilchrist in the second half. The passing sequence drew an applause from the Rupp Arena contingent. He even pumped his first after making his first basket in the first half.
“It was exciting,” he said.
Before the injury, Jones wanted a chance to prove himself following the loss to Indiana on¿Dec. 10 and “wanted to play harder” to make a point.
“It didn’t happen because I couldn’t play,” he said.
Even though Kentucky coach John Calipari welcomed Jones’ return to the court, he didn’t “baby” his sophomore player or the rest of his squad for that matter.
“He did OK,” he said. “I got after him late (in the game), because I don’t want him making excuses.”
Calipari also wants Jones to respond to the injury with a sense of urgency.
“Like I told Josh Harrellson (last year) — work like you have accomplished nothing,” the Kentucky coach said. “I tell Terrence the same thing.”
Now that he’s back in the floor, Jones is looking forward to Saturday’s showdown against instate rival Louisville.
“That’s the next game,” he said. “Once this game was over, that where the focus moved to.”
Jones, who missed Kentucky’s two previous games because of a dislocated finger, scored nine points to help lead the third-ranked Wildcats to an 86-64 victory over Lamar Wednesday night at Rupp Arena in his first appearance in more than a week.
Jones injured his finger in Kentucky’s 87-62 rout of Chattanooga on Dec. 17 and missed the team’s two victories over Samford and Loyola of Maryland last week.
Immediately after the injury, Jones shifted out of “basketball mode” and turned his attention to his finger instead of padding his statistical sheet.
“That’s all I was worried about,” he said.
Although he’s not 100 percent, Jones added that his finger is “getting better” and was simply glad to be back on the floor instead of watching from the bench.
“I’m just to be back out there playing with my team is just a great feeling,” he said.
Jones scored seven points and grabbed five rebounds after checking into the contest at the 17:31 mark of the first half. Jones missed his first field goal attempt, but settled in and converted three of his next six shots of the half. Jones had a pair of turnovers, but managed an assist and a block despite playing with his injured finger taped on his left hand.
It was hard for Jones to look past his injury.
“Ever since I’ve been back, I have been (hesitant) and that’s what I’m trying to get back to, is not trying to protect it as much,” said Jones, who finished with three turnovers and grabbed six rebounds.
The preseason all-american selection scored just two points in the second half, but more importantly got back into the flow of the game. Jones added that the injury and watching the previous two games from the sidelines proved to be “aggravating” at times and hard to swallow.
“It’s been different and difficult,” he said. “I’ve just been fighting and working hard to get back. It’s just been different with the injury, not being able to go out and play like I want to. I’m back playing now and I’m just hoping to get better. It’s the worst thing that could happen.”
The Kentucky sophomore forward didn’t start the second half against Lamar, but made a quick return to the lineup less than two minutes into the final half. Jones logged 27 minutes of action in a reserve role.
Jones showed flashes of his past form at times and led an impressive break for the Cats, capped by an Anthony Davis slam on an assist from Michael Kidd-Gilchrist in the second half. The passing sequence drew an applause from the Rupp Arena contingent. He even pumped his first after making his first basket in the first half.
“It was exciting,” he said.
Before the injury, Jones wanted a chance to prove himself following the loss to Indiana on¿Dec. 10 and “wanted to play harder” to make a point.
“It didn’t happen because I couldn’t play,” he said.
Even though Kentucky coach John Calipari welcomed Jones’ return to the court, he didn’t “baby” his sophomore player or the rest of his squad for that matter.
“He did OK,” he said. “I got after him late (in the game), because I don’t want him making excuses.”
Calipari also wants Jones to respond to the injury with a sense of urgency.
“Like I told Josh Harrellson (last year) — work like you have accomplished nothing,” the Kentucky coach said. “I tell Terrence the same thing.”
Now that he’s back in the floor, Jones is looking forward to Saturday’s showdown against instate rival Louisville.
“That’s the next game,” he said. “Once this game was over, that where the focus moved to.”
