Jones silences critics in return

Verdell Jones III had a message for his haters Wednesday night.

The senior captain scored six of IU’s (20-6, 8-6) last eight points after missing two games with a shoulder injury to help cement the Hoosiers’ 71-66 win against Northwestern (15-10, 5-8) on Wednesday at Assembly Hall.

Jones, who has been booed by the IU student section, said all those comments did was provide the fuel to his fire.

“I’ve been doubted and hated on ever since I was a little kid,” Jones said. “It motivated me to go beyond what people expect. People say I’m too skinny to play big D-1 basketball. I’m proving them wrong. People say I can’t go a game without a turnover. Well, that’s two games now I’ve proved them wrong. Everything I hear with boos and all that, it motivates me to a level you don’t even understand.”

Jones, who played for the first time since IU’s 68-56 loss Feb. 1 at Michigan filled the stat sheet with six points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals.

IU Coach Tom Crean said while Jones’ offensive performance was important, his success was triggered by his defense.

“As impressive as his scoring was, the eight deflections for us were even more impressive,” Crean said. “He did really good things defensively in a really tightly contested game.”

However, Jones did not get off to the start he wanted. The senior guard was scoreless after a first half in which he admitted he felt invisible.

“In the first half, I was just another guy out there,” Jones said. “I didn’t give the team anything.”

With the injury on his shooting shoulder, Jones said he passed up some looks he’d normally take.

“I felt like in the first half, I was just too passive,” Jones said. “I think I was a little nervous. But in the second half, I definitely wanted to be more assertive.”

That assertiveness kicked in during the final minutes. With the Hoosiers knotted at 63-63, the senior caught fire.

With the shot clock winding down, Jones hit his trademark mid-range jumper to give IU the lead. Jones showed off his assertiveness a minute later with a driving layup to give IU the two-possession lead.

With IU clinging to a four-point lead in the final 31 seconds, Jones provided the dagger. The deep two-point shot closed a second-half performance that Jones said helped get his legs back under him.

“In the first half, I was a little fatigued,” Jones said. “But to get in a little groove at the end of the game really gives me some confidence moving forward.”

In a night during which IU junior guard Jordan Hulls didn’t score a point, Jones provided the offense down the stretch. Though Jones applied the offensive pressure, he finished without a turnover, which he said is another silencer to his critics.

“Hearing in the papers every day about how bad of turnovers I had, it definitely motivated me to keep going,” Jones said.

The highly debated senior guard provided IU with what it needed to squeak out the five-point win. IU sophomore guard Victor Oladipo said Jones’ performance was a special one to witness.

“He’s been through a lot,” Oladipo said. “He’s probably the one person in this program that’s been through the most. He’s had his share of ups and downs. It’s sad when he gets hurt and he’s down and you know he wants to play. To see him come in and blossom like he did was a blessing.”