With Zach Edey on Top of His Prowess, How Has the Duo Braden Smith and Lance Jones Sparked the Season?

The Boilermakers have been delivering a strong performance this season. Their season took off with some notable wins against Samford, Morehead State, Xavier, and Gonzaga. Moving slightly on the edge, they bagged a close 78-75 win against Marquette. Moreover, they secured remarkable victories against teams like Texas, Southern Iowa, Arizona, Alabama, Jacksonville, Eastern Kentucky Maryland, and Illinois. However, they did face a significant loss against Nebraska that dropped them from #1 to #2 on the AP Top 25 men’s basketball poll.

Although, that happened after the 8th January poll, however, there exists an unmatched combination on the Boilermakers roster. Let’s find out.

The formidable duo of Smith and Jones

Playing as the second and third fiddle to center Zach Edey are the two Purdue guards Braden Smith and Lance Jones. This season both players have been crucial contributors to the Purdue Boilermakers’ success. Talking about Braden Smith, this season, he has been averaging 12.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game, shooting with a field goal percentage of 47.3%. Moreover, his impeccable confidence and pace have been instrumental in the team’s success. Evidently, in a matchup against Penn State, Braden laid out a career-high 11 assists.

Moving on to Lance Jones, he has made a significant contribution to the Boilermakers by averaging 11.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists, shooting with a field goal percentage of 42.7%. Moreover, his defensive ability, synchronized with toughness and quickness makes him a valuable asset for the team. Notably, he made a significant 14-point contribution in the game against Penn State. Important to note, that Jones is the kind of player who steps up in places when other players are caught up with challenges. For instance, he scored 17 points in a game where Zach Edey was dealing with a lot of foul trouble.

Significant to the conversation here, Smith and Jones together form a formidable duo, as their combined efforts have strongly helped their team secure remarkable victories and maintain a firm performance throughout the season. Moreover, their offensive and defensive gameplay has been instrumental in the Boilermakers’ growth. Their teamwork and individual skills make them one of the key players on the Boilemakers roster.

Along with their skills complementing each other’s gameplay and consistency in performance, several other reasons make Braden Smith and Lance Jones a strong package. First of all, their versatility. Both Smith and Jones have an incredible ability to adapt to different roles while out on the court. As a guard, Smith’s ability in scoring, rebounding, and assists comes in handy. Meanwhile, Jones has demonstrated his excellent defense alongside his scoring ability.

This season, both of them have been delivering a consistent performance with their overall average in points, rebounds, and assists. Reflecting a true teammate’s nature, Smith’s playmaking ability and Jones’ defensive prowess complement each other’s movement on the court. For instance, Smith uses his skills to create opportunities for his teammates and Jones’ defensive skills set the momentum of the game, leading the team to an impressive victory.

Talking about their experience, both players have brought valuable experience to the team. Smith’s insights from his high school days and his time at Purdue have developed him into a reliable player. Similarly, the experience gained by Jones at Southern Illinois along with his time at Purdue has exponentially honed his skills as a refined player.

They display great symphony and chemistry on the court as they understand each other’s gameplay, which in turn has helped them execute some impressive layups.

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Interestingly, a buzz on Zach Edey can never be missed when the Boilermakers are being talked about.

Zach Edey, Purdue’s centrifugal force

Edey can be called a dominant force in a human’s body. This season, he is undoubtedly swinging in his prime as a college basketball player. His magnificent 7-foot-3 stance surely makes the opponent tremble with fear. His height makes him the tallest player in the history of the Big Ten. As 2024 approached, Edey was named the Big Ten Player of the Year along with National Player of the Year.

This season, he has been averaging 22.3 points, 10.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. Moreover, he has been shooting with a field goal percentage of 64.5%, ranking at #8. This percentage includes 73.4% on free throws. Defensively, Edey has been contributing 2.1 blocks per game.

Notably, Edey hooped a double-double score of 30 points and 20 rebounds in a matchup against Penn State. Moreover, he scored 10 points and 15 rebounds against Illinois. However, being on the losing end, Edey scored 15 points in a matchup against Nebraska.

Considering the mock drafts roaming around the internet, Zach Edey has been predicted to be the second overall pick in the 2024 class. Moreover, his outstanding performance in the season has put him under a bright spotlight as a potential prospect for the upcoming 2024 NBA draft. Naturally wonderous with his physique, Edey is a versatile player who defensively performs better outside the paint blocking shots, drawing fouls, and making frequent dunks.

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With these kinds of players on its roster, it is safe to say that Purdue is on the right track to pursue the Big East title.