Perhaps something as disappointing and upsetting as a season-ending injury can be a blessing in disguise.
Take redshirt freshman forward Wendlyn Jones as an example.
As a true freshman product of Blytheville High School and resident of Grosnell, Ark., Jones was excited about the upcoming 2001-02 season.
But after spending time on the floor in LSU’s first exhibition game in November 2001, Jones tore her anterior cruciate ligament Nov. 10 in practice and had surgery Nov. 27.
The injury gave Jones the ability to see things from a different perspective on the bench. It also gave her a sense of gratitude for the game.
“You learn a lot from watching,” Jones said. “I think I was really overwhelmed from all of the things I had to learn. I was like ‘I don’t know what I’m doing.’ Being able to sit down and watch everybody else do it made me understand better. So when I came around this year, it was a lot easier for me. It also made me realize how much I love being out on the court. Some times you get discouraged when you’re out on the court and you’re not doing too well, but [sitting out] made me appreciate the game.”
This year Jones has turned her on-the-bench study sessions into success, averaging 4.7 points in 11.8 minutes per contest. She shoots a stout 67 percent from the field
Head coach Sue Gunter said Jones has made a lot of progress in rebounding from her injury.
“I think Wendlyn has come along tremendously,” Gunter said. “People never got a chance to see her play last year. She’s a fine player. To watch her grow and her confidence grow during the course of this year [has been nice] — she’s given us great play off of the bench.”
Jones now plays an even larger role off the bench due to the injury of starting center DeTrina White. Since senior Ke-Ke Tardy has taken over that starting role, Jones has become one of the first players off the Lady Tigers bench.
In the seven games since White’s injury, Jones is averaging five points and nearly three rebounds a game.
“DeTrina brought great qualities to the team,” Jones said. “Her rebounding , intensity and hard work — all of that was great. I knew when she got hurt someone had to come in and replace that. It’s a big role. I just went out there and did the best I could.”
Gunter said Jones has a good frame of mind on the court.
“Wendlyn’s got an attitude; the kind of attitude that we love,” Gunter said. “She’s tough, and she loves to mix it up. We’re very fortunate, she’s got a bright future here.”
Jones is confident this is the beginning of a great run for LSU women’s basketball.
“We’re going to lose five people next year,” Jones said. “The people we have, compared to the people we’re going to lose, we [still] have a great foundation. We’ll be able to go out there and just know we’ve already had the experience and been there. We’ll be strong.”