Jan. 22, 2002

By Kevin Zeise, Sports Information Intern

Though his career at UWM could easily be described as a roller coaster, Ronnie Jones seems okay with going along for the ride.

Jones, who, along with Clay Tucker, was brought to Milwaukee by former coach Ric Cobb, redshirted his first year before exploding onto the scene under Bo Ryan as a redshirt freshman. Jones started every game that year and averaged nearly 10 points and just over two rebounds each game. He established most of his career highs that year, highs that would stand until this year. But when his second year saw him shifting out of the starting lineup and into a reserve role, Jones' numbers dropped.

But when Bo Ryan left for Madison and Bruce Pearl stepped in to replace him, Jones' career was back on the upswing. He just didn't quite know it yet.

Jones started out slowly under Pearl's offensive style, as his average was still under six points a game before the road swing to Louisville, Ky. But he said he was really starting to get his feel for the offense, especially after two years under Bo Ryan's ball-control offense.

"I grew up playing that way, so it's easier to adapt to it," he said of the fast-paced Pearl game. "But you have to have more skills because it's more open floor and more open court stuff, on both ends of the floor, so you need more skills."

Jones worked his way into the starting rotation on Dec. 8 against Virginia Tech. There, Jones led the biggest comeback in UWM's Division I history. With the Panthers down 58-37 with 10:27 remaining in the game, the Panthers just started clicking. Jones exploded for 25 points, a new career high, and nailed a three with 1.9 seconds remaining in the game to force overtime. In the extra session, Jones drilled another three, this one with 1:31 remaining in to put UWM on top to stay. So where did the 25 point outburst come from, especially from a player who entered the season averaging just 7.8 points per game?

"I've always had it, but I guess I'm just more focused now," he said. "I didn't want to leave my team short of my skills. I guess that was the perfect time to step up, I suppose, but I should have done it earlier."

Then, nearly four weeks later, Jones made the 25 points against Virginia Tech seem like it was only the beginning. Jones nailed 10-of-12 three pointers on Jan. 2 at Youngstown State in the Horizon League opener and re-set his career high with 33 points.

"The game's coming a lot easier, and I'm getting a lot more comfortable with the team and the coaching," Jones said. "The style of play has come more natural to me and that has been a big key in me playing better."

After the performance at Youngstown, Jones became something of a media sensation. He was featured by a local television station, who wanted to see a repeat performance of his hot shooting night. Jones, who is from Las Vegas, had no problem with the television camera in his face as he duplicated the feat. So what's Jones' thought on all of the media attention the Panthers are starting to receive?

"You don't do well for the press or anything, you do well for yourselves," he said. "You can't let that distract you, but at the same time it can motivate you because it's fun and good to stay on their good side and have them write good things about you."

Jones scored 23 points Thursday night against Loyola, but the Panthers suffered a disappointing loss to the Ramblers that left UWM in second place. But, Jones remains high on what the Panthers can accomplish in 2002.

"Now's the best time for this team to come together and play our best basketball because it's the conference season, and this is all that matters now," Jones said.