Lance Jones 'Excited to See' Mackey Arena Environment for Purdue-Indiana Rivalry

Purdue senior guard Lance Jones has already experienced the rivalry game against Indiana at Assembly Hall. On Saturday, he'll get to see what the matchup is like at Mackey Arena. He expects the atmosphere to be "way better" in West Lafayette.

After Purdue defeated Indiana 87-66 at Assembly Hall in January, graduate transfer Lance Jones was asked about the environment in Bloomington. His response was applauded among Boilermaker fans and hated by the Hoosier faithful.

"It was cool," Jones said. "It was nothing like Mackey though. That's all I gotta say."

Saturday night, Jones will get to experience the second part of the rivalry — the return game at Mackey Arena. With the Boilermakers owning a 21-2 record, sitting atop the Big Ten standings and riding a seven-game winning streak, he's looking forward to the environment.

"I don't know, because I feel like (the) Northwestern (game) was — I mean, I feel like that was crazy," Jones said in a video posted by GoldandBlack.com. "But I mean, I shot with (graduate assistant) Tommy (Luce) this morning and he said it's a different level. So, I'm excited to see it."

Jones was then asked a follow-up question about how he believes Mackey Arena will compare to the environment at Assembly Hall.

"Way better. Way better," he said.

Since his arrival, Jones has provided the Boilermakers with a huge spark on the floor. He's capable of pushing the ball in transition while also knocking down open shots. Defensively, he's been a menace for opponents.

Because of his success and energy in West Lafayette, Jones has become a fan favorite at Mackey Arena. He's incredibly thankful for all the love he's received since joining the Purdue roster.

"Yeah, it feels like I've been here all five years," Jones said. "It just gets better and better every time I go out there and see the fans and having them embrace me. I'm just so grateful for them."

Jones is averaging 13 points per game. In the first matchup against the Hoosiers, the senior guard scored 17 points in a lopsided victory. 

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