BY AUSTIN MONTEITH | SPORTS EDITOR
Butler junior forward Roosevelt Jones will miss the 2013-14 men’s basketball season due to a wrist injury sustained during the team’s recent trip to Australia.
The injury occurred during the Bulldogs’ first exhibition game when Jones fell awkwardly on his wrist. He did not play in the team’s final three games in Australia.
“Roosevelt suffered an injury that resulted in ligament damage to his left wrist, and he’ll undergo season-ending surgery,” Butler head athletic trainer Ryan Galloy said in a statement released by the athletics department. “His prognosis is good, and he’s expected to make a full recovery for next season.”
The injury was further evaluated when Jones returned to Indianapolis with the team earlier this week, and surgery was found to be necessary.
First-year coach Brandon Miller said in the statement that Jones will still have an impact on the Bulldogs in the upcoming season, despite the injury.
“First and foremost, our thoughts are with Roosevelt,” Miller said in the statement. “He has worked very hard to position himself to have a terrific junior hear. Having said that, Roosevelt is a tough-minded, determined young man, and I am confident he will return from this adversity an even better player and person.”
Jones commented on the reaction he has received from fans on Twitter Friday afternoon.
“Thank you everybody for your prayers it is really appreciated.. But I’m not counting out our team to still do big things this year #GoDawgs” Jones posted on the social media site.
Teammates reacted with support for Jones on his healing and expressed hope for what could still be accomplished in the coming season.
“Obviously Rose was going to be a key part to the team,” junior guard Alex Barlow said via text. “It’s tough to lose a guy like Rose. Hopefully he has a good recovery. We all have to step up to try to replace what Rose brings.”
“Prayers go out to Rose for a speedy recovery.. we all got his back no doubt. But don’t count us out by any means.. Mark my words well [sic] be good” freshman guard Elijah Brown posted on Twitter. “We got other players who are more than capable of stepping up and making big impacts. Bring it on.”
Jones led the Bulldogs with 3.5 assists per game last season while averaging 10.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per contest. The 6-4 forward was the only player to start all 36 games for Butler last season and he had made 67 consecutive starts for the team dating back to the 2011-12 season.
The Bulldogs will miss Jones’ defensive prowess. He was selected to the 2012-13 Atlantic 10 Conference All-Defensive Team and was named to the Sports Illustrated All-Glue Team. College basketball fans nationwide likely remember him most for his last-second steal and game-winning shot against No. 8 Gonzaga last January.
Jones has the option to redshirt this season and have two more years of eligibility upon returning next year.
Butler begins play in the new Big East Conference this season with new coach Miller.
