Kam Jones - a "walking bucket" and maybe NPOY leader

[MU82]

Ben Steele did a nice piece on the national reaction to Kam's game yesterday.

https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/marquette/2024/12/07/kam-jones-32-points-marquette-vs-wisconsin-social-media-reacts/76840228007/?

Jeff Goodman said Kam might be the NPOY frontrunner ... Seth Davis said he was obviously the best PG in the country ... Jon Rothstein, lauding Kam's assist-to-turnover ratio, called him the "best guard in the sport" ... etc.

I've seen similar praise elsewhere, too. I liked when the play-by-play guy, Jeff Levering, called Kam "a walking bucket."

Of course, those of us who have been watching all season already knew all of this. What has most impressed me has been Kam's ability to recognize when he needs to take over as scorer and when it's best to set up others. That's something that many PGs never really learn (or don't have the ability to execute).

As Marquette fans, I hope everyone realizes how lucky we are to go from one All-American PG to another.

[tower912]

Coach said he wasn't going to get a point guard in the portal because he knew I could do it.  So I worked all summer and my teammates worked all summer.  (Paraphrasing, not quoting)

[DoctorV]

Kam is amazing. He's always been so much fun to watch, but this season he's taken it to another level.

That over the head pass to Benny is a newer wrinkle that shows he is continuing to get better.

He's always been one of my favorites at MU because of his craftiness and ability to finish creatively around the hoop, but now he's just starting to see and read the game better and better.
It's incredible when someone so good finds yet another level.

It's also wild to think that he has a better chance at National PoY than TyKo had.
In the last half decade we've gotten Markus, Tyler, and Kam.
That's 3 All Americans.
We are blessed.

[PGsHeroes32]

Kam is amazing.

One random tangent I do want to say though, the term "walking bucket"

Of all the sports cliches/terminology, this might be the most egregiously overused one.

It absolutely applies to Kam. But I also see it constantly used for guys like Wade Taylor, Jayden Epps, Caleb Love.

Basically if a guy can toss a ball into the ocean they are a walking bucket as the term currently stands.

[Herman Cain]

Skills and Team Leadership wise , Kam is an Excellent candidate for NPOY

I think final result of award vote will come down to MU team performance over course of season relative to Duke and Cooper Flagg.

[CountryRoads]

NPOY is pre tourney?

[MuggsyB]

That kiss the sky, off the glass, finger roll did not suck yesterday. 

[MU82]

Kam is amazing.

One random tangent I do want to say though, the term "walking bucket"

Of all the sports cliches/terminology, this might be the most egregiously overused one.

It absolutely applies to Kam. But I also see it constantly used for guys like Wade Taylor, Jayden Epps, Caleb Love.

Basically if a guy can toss a ball into the ocean they are a walking bucket as the term currently stands.

Fair enough. My favorite hoops cliche to hate is "score the ball." That doesn't mean anything!

Unlike the others you named, Kam really IS a walking bucket! Yesterday, he could have gotten off a very make-able shot any time he wanted to. Poor Madison didn't have a single player who could even hope to stop him.

There must be some pretty intense practices with Chase or Stevie defending him!

[MU82]

NPOY is pre tourney?

Yes.

https://apnews.com/article/ap-college-basketball-player-of-year-b2820fee259952b664327b49a112f193

Voting is done at the conclusion of the regular season and before the NCAA Tournament starts. Voting is based on regular season performance ...

[Goose]

IMO, how Kam has taken the leadership role on this team is more impressive than his play. I have loved watching him his whole career, but was a bit nervous on the leadership side going into the season. That was simply based on what appears to be a very happy go lucky personality. He has delivered the goods on all fronts.

[tower912]

The current basketball cliche that hurts my ears is 'young freshman'.  How many old freshman are there?

All of the local weather people have started using 'stackable snow' this season.  Ugghh.

[Jockey]

The current basketball cliche that hurts my ears is 'young freshman'.  How many old freshman are there?

All of the local weather people have started using 'stackable snow' this season.  Ugghh.

There are definitely old seniors - looking at you, Chris.

[dpucane]

OT but is there an accurate height measurement on Kam? I highly doubt he's 6'5"

[Afroman]

Thanks, Woj!

[Jockey]

OT but is there an accurate height measurement on Kam? I highly doubt he's 6'5"

We won't know exactly till the combine, but he is taller than I originally thought. I'm thinking somewhere around 6'4".

[DoctorV]

OT but is there an accurate height measurement on Kam? I highly doubt he's 6'5"

If memory serves, several of MUs recent NBA guys have come in 1-1,5in shorter than their listed height.
Those measurements are without shoes.

We will know at the combine for certain, but I would guess 6'3 and a half-6'4.
Plenty tall for an NBA pg, should hopefully get him drafted inside the top 20 if his trajectory continues

[MuMark]

Broomie from Auburn is probably the slight favorite right now......but Kam and Flagg certainly in the discussion by the talking heads.

Lots of season left........just enjoy watching the last half of his senior season.

[wadesworld]

The current basketball cliche that hurts my ears is 'young freshman'.  How many old freshman are there?

All of the local weather people have started using 'stackable snow' this season.  Ugghh.

BYU freshman are usually pretty old.

[Billy Hoyle]

Coach said he wasn't going to get a point guard in the portal because he knew I could do it.  So I worked all summer and my teammates worked all summer.  (Paraphrasing, not quoting)

Kolek's injury last year was a blessing for Kam and the team this year. Kam showed he could run the team from the point and assume the leadership role (especially in the game at X), and it showed Shaka he didn't need to go get a PG, he had one already.

[WhiteTrash]

The current basketball cliche that hurts my ears is 'young freshman'.  How many old freshman are there?

All of the local weather people have started using 'stackable snow' this season.  Ugghh.

I'm guilty of listening to sports talk radio; you can't go 5 minutes without cringing at the mixed metaphors or gaffes in grammar.

[Billy Hoyle]

I'm guilty of listening to sports talk radio; you can't go 5 minutes without cringing at the mixed metaphors or gaffes in grammar.

The one that irks me these days is referring to "rooms" in football, e.g. "Running Back Room."

[MU82]

Kolek's injury last year was a blessing for Kam and the team this year. Kam showed he could run the team from the point and assume the leadership role (especially in the game at X), and it showed Shaka he didn't need to go get a PG, he had one already.

Agree.

[BLWarrior91]

OT but is there an accurate height measurement on Kam? I highly doubt he's 6'5"

Jim Jackson is 6' 6" and seemed several inches taller in that postgame interview.
Kam is no taller than 6' 3". 

[GB Warrior]

Jim Jackson is 6' 6" and seemed several inches taller in that postgame interview.
Kam is no taller than 6' 3". 

Maybe he was wearing lifts

[Shooter McGavin]

Kam is special.  If this year turns into a deep tournament run like I think it will he becomes legendary and his number will be retired.  He has the "it" factor.  He is approaching Wade levels (final four) of impact on this team and season.