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Whitney Hand's return after a 14-month absence has inspired the Sooners.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:09 pm

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Jan 16, 2011 6:59 PM CDT

Oklahoma Sports Staff

NORMAN, Okla. -- They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder - even when that fondness is for an inanimate object.

It had been 14 months since OU guard Whitney Hand had gotten to pick up a basketball in a real college game.

But when she returned, she said it was with a new perspective.

“When your absent from it for so long you realize, ‘I do love this game and I love these people and I want to play with them,’” Hand said. “You’re just so thankful just to be on the court.”

On Nov. 27, 2009, Hand tore her ACL, sidelining her for the rest of the 2009-10 season. She was ready to return to start this year, but suffered another setback: another surgery to repair cartilage damage in the same knee.

Hand made her return in a 76-69 loss to TCU, but scored 24 points and grabbed 11 boards in her first game back.

On Jan. 12, she made her home return in front of the OU crowd in Norman.

Although she scored just eight points, the Sooners picked up a 52-45 victory and Hand said her own production didn’t really matter.

“It wasn't quite the homecoming you want with the shooting performance I had, but it's so great to play here in front of the fans that have loved you through everything.”

Following Hand’s initial return against TCU, OU rattled off three straight victories to lift the Sooners to 3-0 in Big 12 play.

OU coach Sherri Coale said having Whitney Hand back for a run at a conference title is more important than what shows up on the stat sheet.

“Her presence on the floor makes everyone else better,” Coale said. “They say that's the difference between the good ones and the great ones. She has that and whether she's making shots or not making shots we seem to be better around her as a result of that.”