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Sunday, March 23, 2008
RedHawks’ Jones plays with pain, dishes some out
By Rick Cassano Staff Writer
Thursday, March 27, 2008
OXFORD — Ryan Jones is an iron man. Or, as he prefers to view himself, he’s an iron man with good trainers.
Whatever your opinion, there is no disputing that Jones, a Miami University senior forward, is one of the toughest, most physical players in college hockey. And he’s never missed a RedHawk game.
“The main thing is just wanting to be out there all the time,” Jones said. “I’ve had some nagging injuries, but I just kept playing through them. Most of the credit should go to the trainers. They do a great job of making me one piece again.”
There have been times when he was hurt badly enough that he probably shouldn’t have played.
Jones can recall a rib fracture at some point in the last two years and a hip pointer last season. And those were just the most painful injuries. Physical hockey can be an invitation to agony.
“Being physical is just part of my game,” Jones said. “I know I’m not going to be able to score goals every night, but every night I will be able to be that physical presence.
“Other teams, when you’re constantly hitting them, you’re wearing them down,” he added. “Just having them be aware that there’s a physical presence out on the ice has the ability to change the game, even when you’re not scoring. And I take pride in the fact that I like to hit clean.”
He scores a lot. His 30 goals lead the nation this season. But it’s his hit-or-be-hit mentality that often causes fans to roar.
RedHawks coach Enrico Blasi said Jones, a Hobey Baker Award Top 10 finalist, is clearly a different kind of forward.
“He goes into areas that guys don’t normally like to go into,” Blasi said. “Not only does he go in there, but he pitches a tent and stays for a while. He takes a lot of abuse out there. His will to play is unbelievable.”
Jones pointed to a pair of players he’s used as role models — his cousin, John Tonelli, who played for five NHL teams, and former MU All-American Andy Greene.
“People have called me kind of a throwback player,” Jones said. “I kind of play a power forward style that’s not really seen much anymore. Basically that’s just from watching my cousin play in the NHL and seeing what got him to where he was. He was a guy that was always in the corner, always playing physical, always out in front of the net.”
And what if Jones does suffer a serious injury as his Miami career winds down in the NCAA tournament? Blasi said it might take more than a simple statement to keep him on the bench.
“Unless he has two broken legs, he’s playing,” Blasi said. “We’d probably have to hide his equipment, too. Otherwise, he’d still find a way to get out on the ice.”
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2194 or rcassano@coxohio.com.
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(This report comes from Pete Conrad at Bridgeport Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, Conn.)
With 7:30 remaining, Louisville leads Miami 64-49 with three straight 3-point baskets by Brandi Radde in the first round of the Women’s NCAA Tournament.
The RedHawks had been out-hustling the Cardinals, scrambling for loose balls and rebounds and getting their first, but failing to convert on shots and several opportunities to make it a two-possession game.
The RedHawks closed to within eight points, 49-41, with 15:28 left, and to within nine points, 55-46 and 58-49, all three times following 3-point baskets by Amanda Jackson.
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Miami still within striking distance in second half
(This report comes from Pete Conrad at Bridgeport Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, Conn.)
Louisville’s lead has been cut to 11 points, 49-38, with 15:46 remaining in the second half of its game with the Miami RedHawks in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The RedHawks have trailed by as many as 15, but Stephanie Ford has come on strong, scoring eight points over the last five minutes.
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RedHawks getting shots, but not the baskets
(This report comes from Pete Conrad at Bridgeport Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, Conn.)
The Miami women’s basketball team trails Louisville at halftime 41-28 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Although the RedHawks have taken eight more shots than the Cardinals, Louisville has connected on seven more baskets.
In other words, Louisville is hot (17-of-26 from the field for 65.4 percent) and Miami is not (10-of-34 from the field for 29.4 percent).
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RedHawk women trying to stay close
(This report comes from Pete Conrad at Bridgeport Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, Conn.)
The Miami women’s basketball team is hanging on grimly in its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, trailing at halftime 41-28 against the Louisville Cardinals, who have a couple times seemed to be on the verge of blowing the game wide open.
Miami senior Amanda Jackson struggled in the first half until she hit her first basket, a short bank shot, with 3:46 remaining in the period. She follwed with a 3-point basket a half-minute later, but Miami’s defense has yet to find a way to stop Louisville’s Angel McCoughtry, who leads all players with 14 points.
Jenna Schone leads Miami with eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers, which curbed some of Louisville’s early momentum.
The RedHawks are holding their own on the boards, leading in rebounds 18-18.
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Louisville leads Miami by eight
(This report comes from Pete Conrad at Bridgeport Arena at Harbor Yasrd in Bridgeport, Conn.)
The Louisville Cardinals lead the Miami RedHawks 26-18 with 7:37 left in the first half of their first-round NCAA Tournament game.
Jenna Schone has hit a pair of 3-point baskets by the RedHawks, who trailed by as many as 13 points before a 7-0 run got them closer. Chauntise Wright, a hefty, 6-foot-3 center once she has the ball under the basket, has scored three of Louisville’s last four baskets.
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Update from Miami women’s NCAA debut
(This is a report from Pete Conrad at Bridgeport Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, Conn.)
A spurt of seven points in less than 60 seconds by fourth-seeded Louisville, which forced Miami into two quick turnovers, has enabled the Cardinals to take a 13-5 lead with 14:30 left in the first half over the RedHawks in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The 13th-seeded RedHawks, making their first-ever NCAA appearance, have scored their five points on two baskets, including a 3-pointer, by Jenna Schone.
