In his four years in Bloomington, Verdell Jones has heard everything.
He heard praises when he surpassed the 1,000 career points mark. He heard praises when he helped will Indiana to victory. But he’s also heard more than his share of boos.
“Everything I hear, all the boos and everything, it motivates me to a level that you just don’t understand,” Jones said following Indiana’s 71-66 victory over Northwestern for their 20th-win of the season.
It’s very easy for fans in the stands or watching the game at home to voice their displeasure. It’s turned into the popular thing to do with Jones. Some justified. Most over the top.
Verdell does have a habit of turning the ball over, a statistic he leads the team in with 60. He’s played the 5th-most minutes on the team, has missed two games and still leads IU in that category. It irritates the heck out of me, and all of us, when he dribbles up the floor or into the lane with his head down, missing the approaching defender or an open teammate.
Criticism comes with the territory and is nothing new for the senior guard.
“I’ve been doubted and hated on ever since I was a little kid,” he said, like a player who had taken multiple hits in the stomach. “Things like that have motivated me to go beyond what people expect. People said I’m too skinny to play big D-I basketball.”
Let’s not forget what he also has done.
He committed to play at Indiana when the team was shredded apart. He went against the odds for a guy with his body type and no matter how much he eats, cannot seem to gain weight. (I have the same problem and I know in another ten years I will be loving it.) Nobody will ever forget the drive and kick he made to Christian Watford for the game-winning shot against undefeated Kentucky.
In January, the Hoosiers suffered their only home loss of the season to Minnesota, by three. Like the Kentucky game, I’m sure it is a game Verdell Jones will never forget. For a different reason.
He was 0-for-6 and had three turnovers in possibly his worst game for the cream and crimson. Like the boos, he used his poor performance as motivation to get better and not let it happen again. So he stayed after and shot alone until well after midnight. Until he was confident and satisfied
I don’t know how he’s handled it because I’m sure it has torn him up inside during his collegiate career. Publicly, he hasn’t lashed out but kept it internal. Until now, after missing two games with injury and not turning the ball over in his 18 minutes on the floor.
“Hearing in the paper everyday about how bad of turnovers I have, it definitely motivated me to keep going.”
Jones can be frustrating at times with his play on the court but Indiana is a better team with him available. IU has now won four of five and have just five games remaining in the regular season.
How fitting for Verdell and the other seniors, after all they’ve been through, to achieve a 20-win season and make the NCAA tournament. Both goals they have been working for since day one…through the cheers and the boos.