David Jenkins Jr. Sparks Purdue Offense to Open Big Ten Tournament Run
CHICAGO — Purdue basketball claimed its 25th Big Ten regular-season championship and a No. 1 seed in the conference tournament largely because of the play of freshman guards Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer.
In the first postseason contest of their young careers, struggles were bound to happen, especially so against a stingy Rutgers defense. But when the Boilermakers needed shots to fall, senior guard David Jenkins Jr. answered the call.
Jenkins was a perfect 4-of-4 from the field on Friday at the United Center, including 3-of-3 from the 3-point line to finish with a season-high 12 points off the bench in a 70-65 victory to advance to the semifinals of the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament.
"No question, David gave us a spark," Purdue coach Matt Painter said. "He's done that three games, where he's been 3 for 3 from three. That's huge at the end of those shot clocks being able to make those tough threes."
The Scarlet Knights brought physicality straight to the young Boilermaker backcourt from the opening tip, forcing three turnovers in the first four minutes of the game. Jenkins made his first appearance on the court with 13:33 left in the first half.
Purdue found itself in a 12-point hole before Jenkins buried a 3-pointer that eventually led to a 14-3 run. During the scoring surge, he knocked down a tough midrange jump shot despite being fouled.
The Boilermakers took a narrow 29-28 lead into the locker room, and Jenkins had six points on 2-of-2 shooting while also recording one rebound in just nine minutes of playing time.
At the break, Smith and Loyer were a combined 1-of-7 with two points and two turnovers.
"Their guards are super long, athletic, super physical," Purdue junior center Zach Edey said. "We need to be there for them to kind of steady them, that's what vets are for. We've been through the ups and downs and we know how to kind of play through those."
In a back-and-forth start to the second half, there were eight lead changes in the first nine minutes, but it was Jenkins who broke that trend by hitting back-to-back shots from beyond the arc for Purdue.
With the shot clock winding down on both possessions, Jenkins wasn't afraid to get to his sweet spots and let it fly. After going ahead 47-44 with 10:13 left in the game, the Boilermakers never gave up the lead.
"I think it's a little opportunity to play a little ISO ball," Jenkins said. "In the early shot clock, we run our offense. Painter says when it's seven or eight seconds below, go and get it. I light up at that and just go get it."
Jenkins didn't attempt a shot for the rest of the contest but continued to play mistake-free and assisted on two more baskets. He was Purdue's only player to play more than 10 minutes without turning the ball over.
Entering the matchup, Jenkins averaged just 3.4 points per game. But with five years of college basketball experience, he's remained steady in his preparation while waiting for the opportunity to have a breakout performance.
And there's no better time than March for the veteran guard to hit full stride.
"It really is just staying ready for when my number's called," Jenkins said. "I feel like half the battle is to be able to stay in the game for coach Painter, to be able to play defensively and be able to get rebounds and do the little things."
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