Ankle Rankles

Brandon Roy is the Huskies' best all-around player, and Jamaal Williams is their best pure scorer. But the team's indispensable player, the one they must have to win big games, is Bobby Jones.

Jones is the Huskies' pacer. His athleticism and energy make for an active defense and a fluid offense.

Which is why we are a little blue after learning that Jones' ankle, injured Dec. 10 against New Mexico, is still bothering him.

Coach Romar assesses the impact of Jones' injury honestly:

"A guy as athletic as Bobby is, you're depending on that athleticism so much to do what you do on the floor. When that's taken away from you, it makes things a little more difficult."

Nagging injuries are the bane of a basketball team. Brandon Roy had one last year--his knee sprain. He tried to come back too early, but it flared up and he had to sit out a few more games, couldn't play consecutive nights, and never really got into the flow of the season--he even lost his starting role to Tre Simmons. After the season it seemed clear that Roy should have rested his knee until it was fully healthy. (Though, if he hadn't come back early, the Huskies would have almost surely lost a key non-conference game to N.C. State.)

But Jones intends to keep his starting role--which may have something to do with the fact that this is his senior season, and best chance to impress NBA scouts.

He tells Mike Allende of the Herald:

"It's something I've just got to play through. We've still got a long conference (season). I wish I could sit out, rest up and get it strong but it's just getting therapy before practice and after. I'm getting better gradually, not as fast as I would like if I could just sit out, but I can't do that right now."