One of the few new faces in the fold this year, Lance Jones’ positive mindset and on-court selflessness have aided Purdue’s redemption story.
Purdue’s redemption story isn’t complete without the undeniable presence of Lance Jones.
Still reeling from the stunning first-round loss to Fairleigh Dickinson in last year’s NCAA Tournament, the Boilermakers coaching staff made a rare-but-necessary move to bolster the backcourt via the transfer portal.
Final Four previews:
A four-year starter at Southern Illinois, Jones committed to the Boilers three weeks after the FDU upset. The hope was Jones would add experience to a backcourt that routinely lost its composure in high-leverage moments during the ’22-23 season.
“What attracted me to Purdue was being closer to home,” Jones told Heat Check CBB. “They’re one of the best programs in the country.”
Jones had to sacrifice his own personal gain by becoming a Boilermaker. He maintained one of the largest offensive roles in college basketball in a Saluki uniform, ranking 26th nationally in usage rate from 2019 to 2023. This season, Jones has a career-low usage rate and is attempting his fewest shots per game since his freshman year.
But Jones has evolved from a ball-dominant scorer at SIU to Purdue’s defensive sparkplug and offensive energizer. It’s no coincidence that this year’s Boilermaker team has been able to better withstand NCAA Tournament game pressure with Jones in the lineup.
No moment has been larger than Jones’ 3-pointer to extend Purdue’s lead to 66-60 with under 3 minutes to go in the eventual Elite Eight win over Tennessee.
“I think I was 0-for-3 before that, but I stayed the course and my coaches told me to stay ready and Braden told me to stay ready,” Jones told Heat Check CBB. “I’ve been building that confidence over time.”
As a result, Purdue is on an unforgettable Final Four run its fans have dreamed of for decades. However, Jones hasn’t had a perfect season by any means — whether on or off the floor.
Lance’s father, Robert, passed away on Aug. 29. Even before playing a game together, each of Jones’ new Purdue teammates attended the funeral with him to provide comfort. Ever since Jones’ arrival to West Lafayette, his teammates have had unrelenting support for him and vice versa. That unbreakable chemistry has culminated in Purdue’s first Final Four appearance since 1980.
“He’s always going to guard the best player and give us his all,” Braden Smith said of Jones. “That and having a dude that truly enjoys being here, smiling every day, that’s the biggest thing. Him always having a good attitude makes us all realize how lucky we are to be where we’re at.”
Even despite the heartbreaking loss of his father, Jones continues to carry himself with a glowing aura on the floor. Jones is often seen waving both arms to fire up the raucous Mackey Arena crowd or nodding his head to arena music coming out of a timeout.
“I’ve always been positive which is big in a new program with new opportunities,” Jones said. “With everything I’ve been through this year, I’ve wanted to see the bright side in things. Obviously, people have their down days but I don’t want mine to affect my teammates.”
Jones spent the second half of Sunday’s game pestering Tennessee superstar Dalton Knecht. After a flurry of first-half Knecht baskets that had the Vols up by as many as 11 points, Jones’ heralded defensive presence helped set the tone for Purdue’s eventual comeback.
Jones glued himself to Knecht’s shadow. First, he forced the Tennessee guard into nine misses over his first 14 shot attempts in the second half. Then, once it was time to strike the finishing blow, Jones delivered the game-changing 3-pointer. The performance reaffirmed Jones as being the perfect embodiment of what Purdue was seeking in the transfer portal.
“We felt that we needed a combination of some athleticism, some quickness, a guy that can make a shot, and somebody that can guard,” Purdue head coach Matt Painter said.
Above all else, Jones has brought a positive mindset that has elevated Purdue’s chemistry. It was a necessary addition following last year’s disappointment and the expectations — and external pessimism — that followed.
“He competes, but he’s got a smile on his face,” Painter said. “He’s a joy to be around.”
With the school’s first-ever national championship still within their grasp, Jones and the Boilermakers may have even more to smile about in the coming days.