Auburn basketball’s head coach, Bruce Pearl, is making sure his senior guard, Denver Jones, gets the respect and attention he deserves. Following Auburn’s impressive upset over No. 2 Alabama, Pearl was quick to highlight Jones’ critical contributions, both on and off the stat sheet. While Johni Broome grabbed headlines for his standout performance with 19 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists, Jones proved to be just as impactful, showcasing his defensive prowess.
Jones put on a masterclass guarding Alabama’s star player, Mark Sears. Despite Sears’ impressive season averages of 18.5 points, 4.8 assists, and a 39.7% shooting rate, Jones held him to just 23.5% shooting on the night, limiting his scoring and disrupting his distribution. Sears, who typically averages almost five assists per game, managed only two against the Tigers.
“How do you stay in front of Mark Sears? Hardly anybody can,” Pearl emphasized in his post-game press conference. “Denver Jones did.”
Pearl didn’t shy away from expressing his frustration over the lack of recognition for Jones’ efforts, especially as one of the best defenders in college basketball. “I don’t know when somebody in the media’s going to talk about him being one of the best defensive players in college basketball,” Pearl said. “We’ll do the research for you if you look at his matchups night in and night out.”
Jones’ contributions extend far beyond basic statistics. While his season averages of 10.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 0.9 assists may not stand out, his ability to shut down top scorers and deliver under pressure makes him invaluable. Against Alabama, Jones scored 16 points, with 13 of them coming in the second half. He was 3-of-4 from beyond the arc and perfect from the free-throw line during that stretch, propelling Auburn to victory.
Pearl believes Jones belongs on the Naismith All-Defensive Team and is determined to make his case known. “Nobody talks about it. He doesn’t have enough block shots or enough steals, but he’s one of the best defenders in college basketball,” Pearl stated.
As Auburn gears up to face Georgia on February 22, Jones remains a key player to watch. His blend of defensive intensity and timely scoring could continue to fuel Auburn’s success as the season progresses.
