By Brandon Davis

A couple of weeks ago, something happened to University of Louisville freshman forward Terrence Jennings.
Not even head coach Rick Pitino fully understands exactly what had prompted the Sacramento Calif., native to improve his game so rapidly, but he sure is enjoying it.
“Whether he was embarrassed or watching Patrick Patterson on film, I’m not sure what it was,” Pitino said. “The light switch went on with that young man and from that point on in practice I’ve seen a different player. I didn’t even know he was of this level until the last 10 days to two weeks.”
In his first 12 games as a Cardinal, Jennings averaged just 3.6 minutes per game and didn’t even make it off the bench in four of the teams’ games. But in the Cards’ first three Big East conference wins over South Florida, Villanova and Notre Dame, Jennings played an average of 16 minutes, including a career high 19 in U of L’s win over the Irish.
“The day after (the Kentucky game) is when I started turning it up,” Jennings said. “I think by me practicing harder that got me to be more productive on the court. I don’t like sitting on the bench and I knew whatever time that I did get, whether it be two minutes or three minutes, I just had to be productive.”
Since the game with the Wildcats, Jennings has averaged more than three blocks per game.
Last week against Notre Dame, Jennings was able to use his length and athleticism to disrupt forward Luke Harangody. Though Harangody finished with 28 points, Jennings played a key role in holding the reigning Big East Player of the Year scoreless throughout the final 11 minutes of the game while grabbing a career high six rebounds.
“To see guys like Terrence Jennings step up into a role and get key block after key block, it just shows that we’ve got guys that’s ready to step up,” Terrence Williams said. “By the time the tournament comes around, TJ’s going to be a heck of a player.”
Athletic ability has never been the question for the highly touted prospect, who won the slam-dunk contest in the 2008 Adidas Derby Festival Classic; it has just been a matter of making the transition from high school to major college basketball.
Early on in the season, Jennings was called out on several occasions by Pitino for not studying the scouting report and understanding the offensive plays. As a result, Pitino was hesitant to play the highly touted recruit because he was frequently out of position.
“He just couldn’t grasp anything mentally, but I told him that Earl Clark couldn’t grasp anything as a freshman at all,” Pitino said. “It just takes time and repetition, don’t get discouraged.”
After coming to U of L as one of the top recruits in the country and a McDonald’s All-American, Clark spent a lot of his time as a freshman watching from the bench during the first half of the season. Having gone through a similar set of circumstances, Clark has been able to provide Jennings with an example of how patience along with hard work can have its benefits.
“(Clark) just told me that he didn’t start playing really until like late January,” Jennings said. “So I know that I just got to pay my dues and my time will come.”
Though Jennings still has a long way to go, his increase in production over the last few weeks has added another dimension to the Cards’ front court, especially on the defensive end.
Not only does Jennings’ 6-foot-10 frame and ability to get off the floor make him a quality shot blocker, but his emergence has added more depth center for the Cards that should be useful as they begin to make their way through a conference loaded with first-rate interior players.
As Jennings continues to improve, he should also give the Cards a quality replacement for fellow freshman Samardo Samuels, should he find himself with a difficult match up or in foul trouble.
“I’ve defiantly improved,” Jennings said. “Most of it’s just my confidence level and just getting to know the system. Now I’m figuring out how the system works and everything I can let my talents show.”