Weber State University Athletics
Wildcat Insider: Jordan Richardson
1/23/2014 6:36:00 PM | Athletics, Men's Basketball
OGDEN, Utah – Having the right attitude in response to a challenge is an important lesson in life.
It's one that Jordan Richardson learned quickly.
After beginning the season in the starting lineup for the Weber State men's basketball team, the senior guard hit an early slump.
Over a five-game span leading up to the start of Big Sky Conference play, Richardson hit just 7-of-31 shots from the field (22.6 percent).
“At the start of the season, I was thinking too much and not really playing my game,” said Richardson, a native of Lewisville, Texas. “In the last few games, I've let the game come to me and it has helped me out a lot.”
With Richardson's shooting touch missing, the Wildcats' coaching staff made the decision to try bringing him off the bench for a few games in order to create a spark to help him get going.
“(Jordan) went through a stretch earlier in the year where his shots weren't falling, and I think that affected his defense,” Weber State coach Randy Rahe said. “We decided to bring him off the bench for a couple of games so he could see the game differently and maybe get going a little.”
Instead of letting it frustrate him, Richardson doubled down his efforts and refocused.
“He had a great attitude about it, and when he came in the games he was ready to play,” Rahe said. “When we put him back in the starting lineup his confidence was up and he's been playing really well since. He looks like the defender he used to be.”
Since returning to the starting lineup, Richardson is averaging 13.3 points per game and shooting 50 percent from the field. His perimeter prowess, where he is 10-for-17 in the last three games, has added a critical piece of the puzzle for the Wildcats, preventing teams from simply clogging up the paint all game long.
“It starts on the defensive end for me. That's what gets our offense going,” Richardson said. “I've been here four years so I think the guys look to me and the other seniors for leadership. I know our program and can help out the younger players and that's my role right now.”
Richardson is coming off his best overall game of the season as he splashed in a season-high 18 points on 5-for-11 shooting with four 3-pointers and three assists in a 65-59 win over Idaho State on Monday night. It was Weber State's third straight Big Sky win, a streak that perhaps not coincidentally started when he returned to the starting five.
“I played well on the defensive end (against Idaho State), and that was my main focus, then my shots started falling on offense,” Richardson said. “Our team goal is to win a Big Sky Championship. No one on our team has done that yet so that is our main focus right now.”
The Wildcats are 5-1 in Big Sky play (8-6 overall), sharing the league lead, and will face a pair of crucial home games this week against Montana State and Montana.
“Jordan is a leader by example but he's been giving us more vocal leadership this year,” Rahe said. “He's not an overly vocal kid at all times, but he leads by how hard he plays in practice and the effort he gives. All of our seniors have pitched in, in different ways, to provide great leadership.”
Wildcat Insider is a weekly feature series looking at various athletes, coaches and key administration personnel involved with the Weber State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. It is written by the Athletic Communications department and will run each Wednesday throughout the school year.
