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Coach Mulkey, Brittney Griner and Melissa Jones took their seats at the head table at the post-game press conference after demolishing Kansas 86-51 in Big 12 tournament play.

“Coach, we’ll hear your comments about the game and then we’ll field questions,” said the moderator.

“No, no, I don’t want to do that,” interrupts Mulkey, motioning with her hands as if to say “no deal.”

So the moderator turns it over to the media in attendance to ask questions. The first question was for Melissa Jones about her right eye, which she hasn’t been able to see out of for 10 days. (More about her injury here.) Jones still managed to score 8 points and grab 9 rebounds.

Jones tried to explain the progress she had today, “Well, um, I can kind of tell that there’s light now.” The room is silent, as we all try to understand what she’s going through.

Now Mulkey wants to speak. 

“Can all of you close your right eye right now? Your right eye, not your left. Now try to write on your pad of paper. Some of you can’t write with two eyes, try writing with one eye.”

“Now imagine playing basketball like she did today. I can’t believe what I witnessed today. She’s just a little Catholic girl, she’s going to be at church at 5:30 for Ash Wednesday. What a basketball player.”

Jones when on to say that the sport glasses she wore in the game were for protection so that she doesn’t end up with two impaired eyes.

“I think we should all get a pair, you know, a team effort!” said Griner, when asked if she likes Jones’ glasses.

“I find myself driving down the road closing one eye and wondering, how is this kid doing this?” said Coach Mulkey, “And I think it’s a matter of, ‘look, I’m not going to feel sorry for myself, I’m going to go out there and try my best.’ The agreement between us was if she’s helping us out there and playing well, she plays. She said if she is hurting the team to take her off. Well, I wasn’t going to be taking her off that court today.” 

“It’s been 10 days now that she hasn’t been able to see out of that eye. They have said that her vision will be back. We believe them but until you see progress, your stomach is in knots. This morning when she woke up she says she can tell when light is close to her eye, which is a good sign.”

“If I’m a WNBA scout, I’ve got to give Melissa Jones a look. Melissa Jones is our glue. Melissa Jones’ presence on the floor makes us better. Every coach in American should have the pleasure of coaching a Melissa Jones.”

Check out all of Big 12 Women's Basketball Tournament coverage.

Also follow myself (@anngaff), Cheryl Coward of HoopFeed.com (@hoopfeed) through the final on Saturday.

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