Following Purdue’s loss to Marquette, coach Matt Painter provided a thoughtful response to the development of Kam Jones and how Shaka Smart runs his program.
Matt Painter has emerged as one of the standout figures in college basketball. His deep understanding of the game and candidness in interviews have given fans some of the sport’s best analysis. This was evident again on Tuesday night when the Purdue coach discussed the program Shaka Smart has built at Marquette and the development of standout Kam Jones.
On Tuesday, Painter’s sixth-ranked Boilermakers suffered a 76-58 defeat to No. 15 Marquette, marking the program’s first nonconference loss in the regular season since 2020, ending a streak of 39 consecutive wins.
Jones delivered an impressive performance, notching the third triple-double in Marquette’s history with 17 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists in the victory.
“I thought he played like a seasoned veteran tonight. He didn’t force the issue early on; he was smart about his shot selection,” Painter said, reflecting on Jones’ game. “We focused a lot of our attention on him, and when the moment was right, he picked his spots effectively and dominated in other aspects of the game, like grabbing 13 rebounds as a point guard and dishing out 10 assists.”
“When he arrived, he was primarily known as a shooter, but now he’s developed into a complete player. He’s really enhancing his game, and he deserves credit for that.”
Painter and Smart have built programs that share many similarities. Interestingly, the matchup between Purdue and Marquette was a top-15 clash that featured no transfer players—a rarity in today’s college basketball landscape.
Painter clearly admires what Marquette has accomplished. While he didn’t explicitly state it, he sees parallels between his own program and Smart’s, believing that this is a significant factor in the success of Jones and others on the roster.
“Marquette has a strong program, and I think it serves as a valuable lesson for many players. Just look at what they’ve achieved and the talent they have—players like David Joplin, Stevie Mitchell, Chase Ross, and Kam. It’s crucial for players to stay committed to a program, even if they’re not immediate stars,” Painter explained.
“Consider the passionate crowd you play for, the vibrant atmosphere, and the excellent education at Marquette. If you can persevere through challenges and work as a team, that’s what it’s all about. Marquette has something truly special.”
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