‘No-ego guy’ Curtis Jones, nation’s top bench scorer, content with ‘sixth starter’ role for Iowa State

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The best reserve in the country might be a starter for the NCAA Tournament. Iowa State’s Curtis Jones wouldn’t necessarily consider it a promotion.

Jones is the leading scorer in the nation among players who primarily come off the bench. It’s a role he’s embraced since he arrived in Ames before last season.

But with the loss of Keshon Gilbert to a groin injury, it’s possible Jones will be in the starting lineup for the second straight game when the third-seeded Cyclones open the tournament against No. 14 Lipscomb in Milwaukee. Another option would be to have Nate Heise start and keep Jones in his familiar role.

While most players strive to be in the starting lineup night in and night out, Jones honestly doesn’t care.

“It’s win or go home, so gotta put everything out there, you know,” Jones said, “because we ain’t trying to go home.”

Coach T.J. Otzelberger calls him his “sixth starter.” Jones typically enters games before the first media timeout and ends up playing starter’s minutes.

Jones averages 16.9 points per game off the bench and a team-best 17.1 overall. He was called on to start seven straight games when Milan Momcilovic was out with a midseason injury, and he was in the starting lineup for a Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal against BYU. Jones scored 31 points with seven 3-pointers in the 96-92 loss.

The 6-foot-4 Jones, who can play either guard spot, has been the Cyclones’ leading scorer in 14 of his 32 games. He’s first on the team in 3-pointers (83) and free-throw shooting (84%), second in 3-point accuracy (37.2%) and third in rebounds (4.3 per game) and minutes played per game (30.6).

“He really, really shoots it,” Cincinnati coach Wes Miller said before his team played the Cyclones in February. “He shoots it deep, he shoots it off the bounce. I think it’s fascinating that he’s their highest-efficiency player statistically and he’s coming off the bench.”

Otzelberger said…

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Publish date : 2025-03-17 19:49:00

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