Baker Back with Hoops Team
CHARLOTTESVILLE — He was conspicuous by his absence Saturday in Winston-Salem, N.C., but guard Calvin Baker practiced with his teammates Monday morning at John Paul Jones Arena.
“He’s back, and we’re moving forward,” UVa basketball coach Tony Bennett said.
Baker, one of the team captains, recently lost his starting job to freshman Jontel Evans.
A fifth-year senior from Newport News, Baker didn’t handle the demotion well, and he wasn’t allowed to practice last week. Nor did he travel with the team to Wake Forest, where UVa suffered its first ACC loss.
“Coach’s decision,” Bennett said after the game, without elaborating.
Baker has started six games this season. He’s averaging 3.8 points and has an outstanding assist-to-turnover ratio (3.4), but his role has decreased in recent games.
As a junior, he started 22 games and averaged 8.4 points.
Baker began his college career at William and Mary, then transferred to UVa after the 2005-06 season. He came to Virginia as a walk-on but later was awarded a scholarship.