Introduction to a Comeback
Sometimes a dunk is not just a dunk. When Terrance Arceneaux went in for a dunk in the University of Houston’s eighth game of the season, he wasn’t just taking off. He was leaving plenty behind – doubts, hesitations, fears. That dunk was a significant milestone in his comeback from an Achilles tendon tear that ended his season last December.
The Significance of the Dunk
Arceneaux tells us, “That was my first dunk since being back, since the injury. So I was happy it happened in a game.” It turns out you can flush a lot with a slam dunk. Even most hardcore University of Houston basketball fans missed the true significance of that Arceneaux rim attack in a dominant win over Butler. But it quietly turbocharged Arceneaux’s already rolling comeback.
Gaining Confidence
“That gave me a boost to want to go dunk even more,” Arceneaux says. “Even during practice today, I dunked a couple of times. Just because… It definitely gives me confidence. It makes the game exciting again.” Terrance Arceneaux makes an already elite UH basketball team more exciting. A lanky 6-foot-6 guard with an athleticism that jumps out, Arceneaux can raise the ceiling of what this Kelvin Sampson team can ultimately do.
The Road to Recovery
Arceneaux’s gaining more confidence by the game, in his health and the strength of that surgically repaired tendon. In the plan he and UH’s invaluable associate AD for sports medicine John Houston have tweaked and honed to make sure he can perform at his best. In his own game, which appears to be evolving faster than expected. Houston associate head coach Quannas White tells us, “I think Terrance is having a really good season. I talk to him about continuing to elevate. Coach has been on him since he got here, but he’s maturing. And he’s been showing the type of productivity he can have for us offensively.”
The Plan
Part of that comfort level comes from The Plan, the keeping his right leg healthy guidelines that Arceneaux, John Houston, and Kelvin Sampson lean on and revise regularly. Tweaks in The Plan have allowed Arceneaux to become much more effective in the second half of games. “That was the biggest struggle at first,” Arceneaux tells us. “I would have like a great first half, a good warm down and then come out the second half and have like no push or pop or anything. Knowing that I’ve got that down now and seeing that it’s actually working — because at first I really didn’t know, I was like ‘Man, what am I going to be able to do?’ — that definitely gives me confidence.”
Ceiling Raisers
On a now 15th ranked Houston team that is full of veterans, sixth man Terrance Arceneaux and second-year forward JoJo Tugler are the ceiling raisers. The players who could jump this group to a national championship contending level again. UH starting point guard Milos Uzan says, “I’ve seen Terrance play in high school and he was elite. And he’s getting more and more into that. He looks a lot more explosive. It looks like he has a lot more confidence in his leg. You definitely can see him playing at a higher level right now.”
The Anatomy of a Slam Dunk
Many of Terrance Arceneaux’s teammates and even some of the coaches missed how big that flying breakaway dunk against Butler was to Houston’s No. 23. Arceneaux didn’t make a big deal about it. That’s not in this kid with an easy smile’s nature. But Arceneaux’s parents and his older brother Byron sensed it immediately. Sometimes a slam dunk is not just a slam dunk. Sometimes it’s more of an exorcism. A rebirth at the rim.
Trusting the Process
Sampson is still trying to keep Terrance Arceneaux’s minutes per game into that 20 to 24 range, not wanting to stress that right leg too much too early. That is part of The Plan too. Every college basketball season is a long game. There’s no need to flash all your aces at the table this early. But Terrance Arceneaux’s ability to get to rim, to deftly slice through a defense and score in traffic, using his long arms and quick moves to frustrate a defense, are going to be key for a UH team that can sometimes otherwise be very jump shot dependent.
Conclusion
Terrance Arceneaux’s comeback is a story of perseverance and trust in the process. With his confidence growing by the game, he’s becoming a crucial part of the University of Houston basketball team. As he continues to work on his game and trust his abilities, the sky’s the limit for this talented young player. With his unique blend of athleticism and skill, Arceneaux is poised to make a significant impact on the court and lead his team to new heights.
