MILWAUKEE -- Sometimes it's the little things that turn a good team into a great team. For eighth-ranked Marquette, that lesser-known but ultra-important aspect to becoming one of the nation's best teams may be sophomore forward Jamail Jones.
Affectionately known as "Mellow" to his Golden Eagles teammates and coach Buzz Williams because of the 19-year-old's calm demeanor, Jones is far from Marquette's best player statistically. He plays less than 10 minutes per game and has taken a total of 22 shots in 17 Big East games.
But the area in which Jones adds such great value to the Golden Eagles is in his preparedness, even when he barely plays at all.
"Mellow played no meaningful minutes through the first 24 games and he still is a good enough person that he wants to be coached," Williams said last week. "He's still a smart enough player that, whether I sub him at the 3, 4 or 5 (positions on the floor), he knows every single thing that's going on."
The ability to guard multiple areas on the court is especially important this season for Marquette as the team continues to play without both of its big guys, Chris Otule and Davante Gardner, due to injury.
That is where the 6-foot-6 Jones' versatility comes into play -- when Williams is looking for a spark on a roster where every healthy player is 6-6 and under.
"Growing up, I wasn't always the most talented guy," Jones said. "With my dad being my coach then, he told me to out-think my opponent. I felt like I needed to be focused on and off court, so I just try to lock in and make sure I'm always following what Coach Buzz is saying because you never know when your name is going to be called."
In 30 games so far for Marquette this season, Jones has really only played important minutes in three of them. The first of those three opportunities came on Feb. 11 at home against Cincinnati, when Jones entered during a critical moment of the game and connected on two 3-point shots after not making any in conference play to that point.
"I just think that (game) speaks to who he is, what kind of teammate he is that he's engaged every day in practice, that he allows me to coach him the way that I do, knowing that he may not get to play," Williams said. "I think that's an unbelievable story. I think that that sort of experience (against Cincinnati), I think that will help continue to mold and mature him throughout his life.
"I think that example that he sets every day is seen by our team, and that's why our guys were get excited for him. A lot of those guys get to play over 30 minutes (each game), and he may not get to play at all. I just think that's big-time."
It's not as if Jones' minimal playing time is due to a lack of talent. Coming out of high school, Jones also received scholarship offers from Georgia, Alabama, Clemson and Xavier, to name a few. Given that level of interest, plus his mental focus, Jones didn't think his minutes would be so sporadic in his first two seasons at Marquette.
"Coming into this season, I expected to get more playing time," Jones said. "It's tough, no doubt. But seeing as it's been like this, I accepted my role and I'm willing to do whatever Buzz wants me to do. I bring a lot of energy.
"I just come in every situation of every game with the same mindset that my name is going to be called and that I can go out there and help the team."
As Marquette has continued to climb the charts this season behind the strong play of former junior college players Jae Crowder and Darius Johnson-Odom, Jones has stayed a relative unknown. The Georgia native, who has not been red-shirted, considers his strengths on the floor to be primarily defensive, especially in help situations.
"Playing for Coach Buzz, he's a real defensive-minded type of guy," Jones said. "I've gotten better at other aspects, too, but there's always room for improvement."
Even though Jones' role has not been exactly what he hoped for, many of the top Golden Eagles players believe they wouldn't be in the hunt for a top-three seed in the NCAA Tournament without him.
"Mellow, he gives us a boost of energy that we definitely need off the bench," Johnson-Odom said. "Even though he hasn't played a lot, he's a great kid, his basketball IQ is at a high level and he knows everything we're doing, whether he's in or out."
With Johnson-Odom and Crowder both seniors, Jones' opportunity to be in the game more than out could come next season.
"I feel like with my opportunities, I can come in and work hard and continue to get better," Jones said. "As the opportunities continue to open up, I'll be ready."
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