Yes, I know what you're thinking.
How could you even ask that question? Isn't it obvious that Will Sheehey should be starting over Verdell Jones III? Isn't it clear that IU offense runs with more fluidity when Sheehey is in instead of Jones?
Up to this point in the season, that has been the case. But let's look at some of the facts as to why Tom Crean has been so loyal to Jones.
Jones is obviously the only senior left in IU's starting lineup and has averaged double-figures in all three seasons---the only player in the Crean era to do so. Crean is especially loyal to one of the only guys he had in 2008 that looked like he could physically be on the floor at 6-foot-5.
Let's not forget that Jones chose IU over Minnesota and wasn't just somebody that Crean picked up at Gresham.
Jones was one of the very few players that could be relied on to create his own shot. That meant that while IU ran its little three-man weave (shameless plug) around the perimeter until the shotclock winded down, Jones was actually able to get a shot off.
That's probably more than Tom Pritchard and Daniel Moore could say.
And although IU wasn't necessarily winning these games, Jones was at least keeping them in the gym. But you know all of this because you've witnessed the last three years of IU basketball.
Having said that, Jones' role this year is miles away from what it was in the past three.
In non-conference play, Jones was adjusting to his new role nicely. Believe it or not, he actually had an assist to turnover ratio of 1.31, the best of his career. Jones didn't have double-digit field goal attempts in any non-conference game.
Jones was leading the team in assists and was partially responsible for the emergence of Sheeladipo. If Jones had played the same way he had in his first three seasons, IU wouldn't have gone undefeated in non-conference play.
But that was then and this is now.
Jones returned to his old ways in Big Ten play and it hurt IU down the stretch in these conference losses. He struggled with on-ball defending, he made ill-advised passes and was part of the reason as to why a certain freshman on the Wooden Award list didn't get a basket in the final 15 minutes of last night's loss at Nebraska.
Make no mistakes about it, Sheehey and Jones were both in down the stretch last night and shared blame for that defensive collapse.
But Crean has never had to face the Sheehey/Jones dilemma because before Sheehey got hurt, IU was undefeated. In these three games that Sheehey has been back, Crean has kept him on a short leash with his minutes.
That needs to end.
It's understandable that Crean wants to make sure one of his "starters" is fully healthy. Sheehey showed he was healthy a week ago when he was the only offensive spark last Thursday against Minnesota. For much of the first half last night, Sheehey was once again that guy.
Crean is so intent on having Sheehey come in off the bench because of the spark he provides for the bench. The truth is, a starting five is an overrated concept. Crean likely isn't going to bench Jones unless he has a couple more goose eggs like he did against Minnesota.
(For the record, shooting hoops after a scoreless game for all the media to see doesn't make it newsworthy. Jordan Hulls and Maurice Creek are well known for shooting in Cook Hall after a loss, no matter what their stat line read. There's no reason Jones couldn't have gone to Cook Hall instead of trying to make a statement to the students that booed him.)
All that matters is who finishes games. It's clear that with IU's other scoring options (some 6-foot-11 freshman?), Jones role has diminished down the stretch. He hasn't taken care of the ball, he can't knock down his mid-range jumper with consistency and he has been sub-par defensively. And, he still doesn't believe in dribbling with his head up.
Crean hinted after last night's loss that personnel changes would be made in the final minutes. If Crean wants to give his senior the starting nod out of respect for what he's done for the program, fine. Let Sheehey continue to provide the boost off the bench. But by no means should Jones be getting quality minutes over Sheehey in crunch time. After all, this isn't 2009.
