'No-ego guy' Curtis Jones, nation's top bench scorer, content with 'sixth starter' role for Cyclones
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 on Friday. 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 there's no reason behind Jones' role other than that he likes the spark Jones gives the offense from off the bench. Jones likes it, too.
“Yeah I come off the bench,” Jones told the Minnesota Star Tribune in January. “But it isn’t like I’m missing much once I get into the game. That’s the starting lineup (Otzelberger) rolls with — and that’s fine. The only real thing is you get your name called before the game.”
Jones was at his best during a two-week stretch in January. He scored 26 points against Texas Tech, had 20 of his 25 in the first half against then-No. 9 Kansas and had a career-high 33 against Arizona State — all wins.
“Curtis Jones is an elite, elite, elite playmaking scoring guard," Otzelberger said. "And regardless of what another team does, if the ball’s on the move and we’re playing for one another, Curt is going to be successful.... And it’s crazy to just think of letting the game come to you coming off the bench and score 24. But like, he makes it seem like that’s a common thing to do even though nobody else on earth does that.”
Jones had no Division I offers when he was coming out of high school at Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul, Minnesota. He went to Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa, and averaged 12 points per game as a full-time starter. From there he went to Buffalo, where he was a bench player his first year and a starter his second.
Jones transferred to Iowa State before last season and found himself back to the bench. He scored in double figures in 18 of the last 20 games in 2023-24, finishing with a 26-point outing in an NCAA regional semifinal loss to Illinois that made him just the third player to score at least that many off the bench in the Sweet 16 since 1989.
“He’s a no-ego guy,” Otzelberger said. “There couldn’t be somebody that’s a better candidate for national sixth man of the year.”
___
AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here.
Topics
-
‘No-ego guy’ Curtis Jones, nation’s top bench scorer, content with ‘sixth starter’ role for Iowa State
Curtis 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.Yahoo Sports - 4h -
Curtis Jones on Liverpool’s Title Push and His England Ambitions
Curtis Jones: Rising Star, England Call-Up, and the Mentality of a ChampionRecognition for Hard WorkCurtis Jones’ latest England call-up is the clearest indication yet of his continued rise at ...Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Keshon Gilbert injury update: Iowa State basketball starter to miss NCAA Tournament
Iowa State men's basketball will enter the NCAA Tournament without Keshon Gilbert, who will miss the remainder of the season with a groin injury.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Slot: Curtis Jones Could Start at Right Back on Sunday
Arne Slot’s Tactical Decisions Under ScrutinyLiverpool’s preparations for Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Newcastle have taken a significant hit with the untimely injury to Trent Alexander-Ar...Yahoo Sports - 3d -
10 players primed to become household names in NCAA Tournament
Field Level Media The last time a freshman was the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament was 2015, when point guard Tyus Jones piloted Duke to its fifth national championship. Jones — and ...Yahoo Sports - 2h -
Daniel Jones: Competition brings out the best in everybody
Daniel Jones is officially a member of the Colts and that means the battle for the starting quarterback job in Indianapolis is on.Yahoo Sports - 3d -
Xavier Worthy considers his legal options against Tia Jones
Chiefs receiver Xavier Worthy was arrested nearly a week ago, based on allegations of violence made by his former fiancé, Tia Jones.Yahoo Sports - 3d -
Where did ESPN rank Colts' signing of Daniel Jones among other QB moves in free agency?
Where did ESPN rank the Colts' Daniel Jones signing among the other QB moves in free agency?Yahoo Sports - 2d -
2025 Women's March Madness First Four schedule: Where to watch the NCAA Tournament opening round
After gaining national stardom in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, Audi Crooks leads Iowa State into the 2025 First FourCBS Sports - 3h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Twins’ Royce Lewis will miss start of season after hurting his hamstring
Lewis is coming off a 2024 season that saw him appear in just 82 games due to quadriceps and adductor issues.Yahoo Sports - 2h -
Texans to pick up Derek Stingley's Jr.'s fifth-year option ahead of extension
The Houston Texans will have Derek Stingley Jr. under contract through 2029 after agreeing to pick up one final year on his rookie deal.Yahoo Sports - 5h -
MLB hyped up a video game-like replay view from the Tokyo Dome and fans justifiably hated it
The on-field replay did not go over how MLB expected.Yahoo Sports - 7h -
The Players Championship 2025 prize money: Full payout from the $25 million purse
Here's how the $25 million purse will be paid out this week at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.Yahoo Sports - 23h -
Auburn basketball’s first round opponent revealed ahead of 2025 NCAA Tournament
Auburn basketball will face either Alabama State or St. Francis in March Madness to open its 2025 NCAA Tournament men’s bracket.Yahoo Sports - 1d
More in Sports
-
Shohei Ohtani opens up about being in the spotlight ahead of Dodgers' Tokyo games: 'Don't let those kids down'
Ohtani sat down with CBS Evening News before the MLB opening series against the CubsCBS Sports - 40m -
WVU snub 'robbery' at highest level, gov. says
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey wants his attorney general to investigate and work closely with the NCAA to ensure the men's tournament selection process is transparent and fair.ESPN - 41m -
S. Alabama has NIT invite nixed: 'Unacceptable'
South Alabama had its invitation to the NIT rescinded after the Jaguars were informed they would be playing, a decision the coach called "unacceptable."ESPN - 41m -
Stanley on deal: Happy to give Ravens 'bargain'
Ronnie Stanley chose to re-sign with the Ravens for a team-friendly three-year, $60 million deal on March 8 instead of testing free agency. His decision came down to loyalty, he said Monday.ESPN - 41m -
Deion wants foe for CU spring game; Cuse willing
Colorado coach Deion Sanders wants to save spring football games by having teams practice against another team for a week before playing them in a scrimmage.ESPN - 41m