By PAUL GOTHAM
Butler’s Roosevelt Jones is nothing if not versatile. The senior guard/ forward ranks top ten in five Big East categories: he’s third in assists at 4.6, fourth in steals (1.6), eighth in assist to turnover ratio (1.9), rebounding (ninth-6.9) and tenth in scoring (14.5).
Jones is also 13th in the conference with a field goal percentage of 50.7. And that’s where things get interesting. For all of his numbers, the O’Fallon, Illinois native has not attempted one shot from behind the arc this year. For that matter, Jones has not let if fly from long range in his entire college career. (Somewhere in there is a Club Trillion reference screaming: “Let me out!”.)
That’s right. When Jones gets the ball, and he gets it plenty (KenPom puts him second on the Bulldogs with touches on 24.6 possessions), opposing defenses can sag off the line on him. When he comes off a screen, his man can go under and take away the dribble. Ball screens? There’s no need to hard hedge. Maybe you want to double him, but given his 6-4, 220 pound frame walling him off in the lane seems a better option.
And yet he still gets to the rim and finishes.
Jones has hit 106 field goals this year or more than five a game. Of those, 13 are putbacks as noted as Hoop-Math.com. Seventy-eight of his remaining makes have come at the rim and of those 26 have been assisted. In other words, Jones has created for himself, without a deep threat, 39 makes at rim – almost two a game.
“His versatility and competitiveness really allow him to impact the game offensively and defensively,” Butler head coach Chris Holtmann said during the recent Big East tele-conference. “That’s what good players do. They find a way to impact the game offensively and defensively. Roosevelt has really done that his entire career.”
Jones has seven double-doubles this season and ranks top ten in Butler history in career assists (401), rebounds (734) and steals (129).
“He just finds a way to make positive impactful plays for his team offensively and defensively,” Holtmann added.
“He’s got a very unique game,” said Marquette head coach Steve Wojciechowski. “I really admire the way he plays. His ball skills, his IQ along with his size and his strength make him a very difficult matchup.”
Wojciechowski’s squad gets the task of trying to slow Jones when the Golden Eagles host Butler on Saturday.
“We have to be ready for a number of different guys to guard him. I don’t think it’s going to fall on the lap of one guy.”
A year ago, Marquette held Jones under his average in both meetings. The Golden Eagles limited him to two points, four assists and two turnovers in a game Butler won in overtime. Jones scored 10 in the later meeting – another Butler win. Senior Derrick Wilson shouldered the responsibility of slowing Jones.
“We’re petitioning for a fifth-year of two-game eligibility for Derrick so he can guard Roosevelt,” Wojciechowski deadpanned. “We don’t have a defensive stopper like Derrick was for us last year. It’s going to fall into the laps of a lot of different guys.”
Teammate Tyler Lewis has missed the past two games as the result of a concussion putting more ballhandling responsibilities on Jones. Something that Holtmann doesn’t take lightly.
“He certainly has had to carry a load right now with Tyler Lewis being out. That’s probably my concern is that wearing on him a little bit. His turnovers have been a little higher than we’d like for them to be in league play right now. We’d like to be able to get Tyler back in the mix where we can have another primary ballhandler on the floor.”
The noon tip will be televised on FS1.
Not one 3 in 4 years for a guard? That is one of the most unique stats I have heard. Certainly not channeling his inner Manute Bol. Great analysis on how to go about defendng Jones.
JD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brotha it is great to see you back on the Pine. NOt shooting a three for any college player is an eye-opener considering every kid 6-8 and above fancies himself a stretch four and the next Dirk. Hahaha. Appreciate the kind words.