The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
The longest year
01.08.2010 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 8, 2010
Georgia Latcham, Texas Media Relations
Transferring and transitioning to a new university is tough, but University of Texas junior guard Jai Lucas discovered that not being able to compete in his sport for a year was even tougher.
Lucas decided to transfer from Florida to Texas following the Fall 2008 semester. NCAA rules dictate that any player who transfers schools can practice with the team but can't participate in games or travel with the team until he has completed an academic year-in-residence.
So Lucas, who has spent his whole life playing basketball (his father, John Lucas, Jr., played in the NBA for 15 years), had to sit out for a year.
"It was hard," Lucas said. "When I first did the transfer, I didn't think it would be that hard. But once you actually do it, and go day after day of not being able to play in games and not get that emotion and feeling you do on game days, it's tough."
This proved to be a learning experience for Lucas, though. From the bench, he was able to observe and understand more about the Longhorn playing style.
"Sitting out helped me a lot," Lucas said. "It was good way to get used to a new system. Watching how things go in a game was good. You really don't get to see certain things while you're playing because you've got so much going on in your mind. On the sideline, you can pick things up, so when you are able to play, it can really help you."
Sitting out also allowed Lucas to identify areas where he could contribute to the Longhorns.
"We're a good team, and with as good as we are, everybody has to be guarded," Lucas said. "There are going to be a lot of opportunities for open shots and opportunities to get the ball in the paint to our post players. I can bring a steady pace and can hit shots and score."
Hitting shots is something Lucas certainly brings to his team. He scored a season-high 15 points, all behind the 3-point line, in his third game as a Longhorn against Gardner-Webb on December 29.
"Maybe the fact that he had to break in with two difficult games against North Carolina and Michigan State helped him," Texas coach Rick Barnes said. "The more he plays, the more he'll settle in."
Lucas also thinks there is more settling in for him to do. While practice has helped him, he feels the true way of getting back in the game is playing it.
"I feel like I'm getting a rhythm and a better pace about my game. But, it's been tougher than I thought because in games things move so much faster than in practice," Lucas said. The more you play, the more you get used to it and the more comfortable you get."
One of the biggest differences Lucas has noticed going from only participating in practice to logging minutes in games, is the amount of energy exerted.
"You get tired a lot easier it seems," Lucas explained. "You exert so much energy, because you want to do everything well. All the emotions and the excitement can zap you quickly. The first two minutes are the most tiring, but after that, your wind gets back under you steadily."
Helping Lucas transition from the bench to several minutes of playing time are some familiar faces. The Houston native grew up playing basketball with teammates Dexter Pittman and Gary Johnson.
"It is fun. I've seen them grow, and I've grown with them," Lucas said. "I think it's just something amazing because I've been with them since we were so little."
Growing up together on the court has many advantages, one of which is a stronger team chemistry, Lucas observed.
"You get more used to what they do and some of their tendencies, so you know when to give them the ball and when not to give them the ball."
Adjusting to a new team in the middle of a collegiate career can't be easy, but Jai Lucas used the time wisely and has learned much through the process.
