Texas' Andrew Jones getting widespread support after leukemia diagnosis

There are stories in sports that are easy to get excited about when it comes to matchups of intriguing players, coaches and teams.

Then there are stories that just tug at your heart — make you want to root for someone, support them as they go through something nobody should ever have to experience.

Texas guard Andrew Jones announced last week he had been diagnosed with leukemia, and he immediately began cancer treatment.

Jones, the brother of Lynx and former Baylor guard Alexis Jones, was the Longhorns' second-leading scorer, a former McDonald's All-America and an NBA prospect. Basketball, though, took a back seat obviously to his long-term health and well-being.

The vast support Jones and his family received from the Longhorn community and from around the country was moving. As of Thursday, nearly 1,400 people donated more than $130,000 on a fundraising site set up by the Texas athletic department to aid the sophomore's medical expenses, as permitted by NCAA rules.

College basketball players and teams from the Kentucky Wildcats to the Kansas Jayhawks issued statements of thoughts and prayers on Twitter to Jones and family.

Texas Tech even went a step further, wearing warmup jerseys honoring Jones with his name and No. 1 on their backs before Wednesday's game in Austin. Red Raiders coach Chris Beard and Jones are both from Irving, Texas.

On the court, the Longhorns have been riding emotion and winning big games for their teammate, wearing their own warmups dedicated to Jones and patches that read "AJ1" on their game jerseys.

A day after Jones' announcement, Texas upset No. 16 Texas Christian at home 99-98 in two overtimes. Former Cristo Rey Jesuit star Jericho Sims hit one of two free throws to seal the victory with 5.6 seconds left in the second OT.

"We were just out there trying to play for someone who couldn't be with us," said Sims, who made his first Big 12 start.

Jones and Sims have lockers next to one another. Jones was a believer in Sims' ability and showed leadership and a humorous side helping a talented but quiet freshman from Minnesota adjust to college and bond with teammates.

"Me and him have a good relationship," Jones said of Sims in November. "I kind of force him to talk to me every day. We go into the locker room. I'll say something funny to him. He has a great personality."

On Wednesday, Sims and Co. bounced back from a one-point loss at Oklahoma State to beat another ranked opponent, No. 8 Texas Tech 67-59. The Longhorns face another big challenge Saturday, at No. 6 West Virginia.

If Texas coach Shaka Smart and his team continue to rally and become contenders in the Big 12, it's a great story. But it's more about the Jones story bringing everyone together.

BIG TEN POWER RANKINGS

Marcus Fuller's rankings, with five teams to watch:
1. Purdue (18-2, 7-0): Find me a more balanced team right now than the No. 3 Boilermakers, who have won 14 consecutive games entering Saturday.

2. Ohio State (16-4, 7-0): Who thought the Buckeyes would be undefeated in the Big Ten at this point under first-year coach Chris Holtmann? You're lying if you say so.

3. Michigan State (17-3, 5-2)

4. Michigan (16-5, 5-3)

5. Maryland (15-6, 4-4)

6. Nebraska (14-7, 5-3): Tim Miles has a team now on the NCAA tourney radar after upsetting No. 23 Michigan by 20 at home.

7. Indiana (11-8, 4-3)

8. Penn State (13-7, 3-4)

9. Northwestern (11-9, 2-5)

10. Minnesota (14-7, 3-5): Yes, the Gophers won Monday at Penn State, but that was in overtime. And they are 1-4 without Reggie Lynch and Amir Coffey.

11. Rutgers (12-8, 2-5): The Scarlet Knights have been one of the Big Ten's top defensive teams and nearly pulled off an upset at Michigan State.

12. Wisconsin (9-10, 2-4)

13. Iowa (10-10, 1-6)

14. Illinois (10-9, 0-6)

Fuller's three-pointers

PLAYER TO WATCH

Deandre Ayton, C, Arizona

A freshman considered by many analysts as a better NBA prospect than Oklahoma's Trae Young and Duke's Marvin Bagley III, the 7-1, 260-pounder faces DeLaSalle product and Stanford big man Reid Travis on Saturday.

Game of the weekend

No. 11 Xavier at No. 19 Seton Hall,

2:30 p.m. Saturday, Ch. 9: After a home loss Wednesday to Creighton, the Pirates can bounce back vs. another Big East contender. Lake­ville North's J.P. Macura (right) ended a three-game slump with 16 points Wednesday as Xavier beat St. John's.

Final thought

Remove the transfer year?

Twitter was buzzing this week about reports that NCAA meetings included discussion on a future proposal allowing transfers in basketball and football to leave without sitting out a year (at least once). Coaches can do it. Why not try giving athletes that freedom and see what happens?