Jan 25, 2025; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Curtis Jones (5) shoots against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the second half at Desert Financial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

PETE: Curtis Jones is on an All-American path most recently taken at Iowa State by former great Melvin Ejim

Randy PetersonRandy Peterson

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January 26, 2025

Jay Bilas said it (again) during the Auburn-Tennessee broadcast. Fran Fraschilla did, too, while working Houston-Kansas. So did the folks on Saturday national halftime and postgame shows, about something Iowa State fans have been saying for a long time.

If there was a vote today, the Big 12’s Player of the Year Award should go to Iowa State’s Curtis Jones. And if there was a vote today, Jones also could be Iowa State’s first, first-team All-American since Melvin Ejim in 2014.

The 6-foot-4 senior guard is on a roll right now. He’s carrying his team through stretches of greatness, while also showing the college basketball world that he’s worthy of being mentioned right along with the nation’s top handful of players for the 2024-25 season.

Sure, there could be an off game. Someone else might be the star when Iowa State looks to complete a Desert Sweep during Monday’s 9:30 p.m., game at Arizona. Heck, his hot streak can’t last forever.

Or can it?

I wrote a column a few weeks ago, wondering if the Buffalo transfer just might be the Big 12’s top player. It was early – about the time he was transitioning from sixth player to starter, after Milan Momcilovic hurt his hand.

Well, he’s played between 34 and 40 minutes during those ensuing four games. He’s averaged 23.8 points, seven rebounds, and three steals. In those four games, he’s making just a smidge shy of half his shots, and that includes 45% from 3-point range.

Absolutely, Curtis Jones is the Big 12’s best player at the almost halfway point this season.

Sure, West Virginia’s Javon Small and Kansas’ Hunter Dickinson (whether you like him as a player or not) are candidates. They’re having nice seasons, too.

But, the reason for Iowa State’s 76-61 victory at Arizona State Saturday, the reason T.J. Otzelberger’s team was able to rally from a seven-point second-half deficit, and the Cyclones’ key performer during a game-winning 19-3 finish – you betcha, it was the unflappable Jones.

A game’s on the line? CuJo to the rescue.

Need a steal or a rebound? Ditto.

Need a steal?

See above.

And if Saturday’s great stat line of 33 points, seven rebounds and three steals don’t impress you, then you’re just a hater. Don’t gloss over the fact that he played the entire 40 minutes (minus a few ticks) during what started out to be a very physical game.

“Defense was the biggest difference,” Jones said on the radio postgame show, pooh-pooing his career-best scoring game. “They had 11 turnovers in the second half. We got runouts after those turnovers.”

Jones helped make sure loose balls went Iowa State’s way, during the Cyclones’ head-spinning late-game barrage, after trailing 58-57. He was part of a reason Arizona State missed 5 of its last 6 shots and committed three turnovers during the game-changing last 5 minutes and 14 seconds.

“His energy, and how he moves without the basketball – we needed it, especially that first half when we struggled scoring,” Otzelberger told reporters after the game.

“He’s had so many of those games, where he carries us through some rough stretches. In tough patches, he makes tough, contested shots. He gets us a steal. He’s just tough to account for.”

First-team All-Big 12 stuff for one of the nation’s best teams?

Absolutely, but here’s more convincing evidence.

During the first half of Iowa State’s 17-point win against Kansas on Jan. 15, Jones scored 20 of his 25 points. He made his first six shots, and eight of his first 11 (including 4 of 5 from three-point range).

He had half his team’s 40 first-half points, while making as emphatic an early-game statement as we’ve seen in a long time.

“They had a player play like a first-team all American -- and he’s terrific,” Kansas coach Bill Self said about Jones after the game. “He’s playing downhill, to the point where, where he’s got you retreating in many ways.”

How’s he doing during this current eight-game stretch that will define Iowa State’s regular season?

More confirmation.

Jones is averaging 36 minutes a game, 24 points, two assists, six rebounds, and is shooting 48%, including 45% from the arc. The Cyclones are 4-1 during this important run that still has at Arizona, home against Kansas State, and at Kansas to go.

If that’s not conclusive first-team resume material, then I guess I don’t know basketball.

(Randy Peterson can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close)