David Jenkins Jr. finds shooting touch as top-seeded Purdue heads to NCAA tournament

WEST LAFAYETTE – The case can be made that Purdue doesn’t win the Big Ten tournament title without David Jenkins Jr.

The numbers back up the statement. His overall play outside of shooting 3-pointers was also an important element in the Boilermakers beating Rutgers, Ohio State, and Penn State in Chicago. And don’t forget about his veteran presence around a young backcourt.

While Jenkins blistered the nets from beyond the arc, making 8 of 12 in the three games, he transferred to Purdue for one reason – to win. And he’s contributed to coach Matt Painter’s team earning the program’s first No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament since 1996.

Winning is happening for Jenkins and his teammates who have cut down two sets of nets in a span of a week after claiming the conference regular season and tournament championships.

“I came here just to win at the end of the day. This is exactly what I came for,” Jenkins said outside Purdue’s locker room following Sunday’s title game. “I didn’t come for individual statistics. I didn’t come here for points or anything like that. I came to be part of a rich, winning culture. It’s everything that I thought it would be.”

That included being a part of a team that moved to the top of polls for the second straight season. But Jenkins wasn’t with the Boilermakers last year, and when the program reached No. 1 in December, he was giddy.

He was so excited that he called his dad to share the news.

“You think about it, there’s not too many players who can say they’re on a No. 1 team in the country and I’m part of that,” Jenkins said. “For some of the guys, it didn’t mean as much because they were there last year, but to me, it’s crazy, especially coming from where I came from.”

ANOTHER NCAA APPEARANCE

This weekend will be Jenkins’ second appearance in an NCAA tournament. He was a member of the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, who played Ohio State in the 2018 tournament and scored 16 points.

Five years later, he’s back for one final run through the postseason.

“I want to make sure we reach our potential,” Jenkins said.

Although Jenkins didn’t make the Big Ten All-Tournament team, his performances were more than worthy. He totaled 29 points in the three games, including reaching double figures against Rutgers and Penn State and moved within 11 of reaching 2,000 for his career.

He sparked a struggling offense in the win over the Scarlet Knights and delivered 11 first-half points in the championship game. Jenkins drained a late 3-pointer to close the first half to give the Boilermakers an eight-point lead against the Buckeyes in the semifinals.

“I came off the screen, and seeing that I’m open, Paint says if you come off a screen and you’re open … “it’s just really confidence at that point,” he said.

Painter had a conversation with Jenkins as the two walked to the locker room.

“ ‘Man, that’s what I told you would happen,’ ” Jenkins recalled.

The Utah transfer, who also played at UNLV, isn’t the only Boilermaker stepping up during the five-game winning streak.

Brandon Newman has rejuvenated his career at both ends of the floor, Mason Gillis continues to play like a warrior, Caleb Furst is bringing a different level of physicality, and Trey Kaufman-Renn keeps the inside production going with Zach Edey on the bench.

“His contribution is huge,” Gillis said of Jenkins. “Coach always tells us it can be anybody’s game. It’s your job to be ready to do your job and if you get the ball and you make the shots, great. If you don’t, then it’s just the next person up. That’s just how we play.”

Although the Boilermakers lean heavily on Edey, the play of Jenkins, Newman, Gillis, and others will help determine how far this team’s postseason run lasts. The journey starts Friday (6:50 p.m., TNT) against the winner of Wednesday’s play-in game between Texas Southern or Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round in Columbus

“I thought Brandon Newman played really well down the stretch of the season,” Penn State coach Micah Shrewsberry said. “David Jenkins came here and shot the ball really well from 3. Now if they can get Fletcher (Loyer) going again if they can get Braden (Smith) and those guys playing well around (Edey) they at least have alternatives now.

“They’re going to will themselves through some games when they don’t shoot it well because of how they defend, because of how they rebound.”

‘IT’S GO TIME’

All shooters gain confidence when the first one goes in but the second successful shot is what propels Jenkins. And assistant coach Terry Thompson seems to be aware of who’s found his stroke on the court.

“For me, usually if I hit my second one the basket gets huge,” Jenkins said. “Even when I made my first one, ‘it’s go time.’ Credit to coach T; whenever he sees a player make one or two shots, he always calls the next play for them just to get them going a little bit more.”

Jenkins started to find his touch before the Big Ten tournament, going 3 of 7 from 3-point range against Wisconsin and Illinois. That followed a stretch where Jenkins made just 2 of 12 from beyond the arc.

Offense is his strength, but Jenkins understands playing defense is what will keep him on the court.

“It starts on the defensive end, and he trusts me on the defensive end, and sometimes I mess up,” Jenkins said. “But I think that helps me stay in the game and keep the rhythm of the game that leads to my offense.

“I’m really feeling good about it. Paint’s giving me a little more opportunities. Every opportunity he gives me, I’m going to take advantage of it because I want to be out there helping my teammates.”