We are still a couple of months away from the tip-off of a new college basketball season, which means that we have plenty of time to start preparing for the action ahead. We will do so via a series of season previews featuring the best players/coaches in the country. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel commences our coverage with new Furman assistant coach Jordan Lyons, who talked about his NCAA-record-tying game with 15 3PM back in 2018 and his expectations for this season.
You were born/raised in Georgia: what made you choose Furman? Throughout my recruiting process at the time coaches Niko Medved/Bob Richey did a great job of building relationships with me and my family. Furman checked all the boxes: education/location/basketball/etc. The program was clearly ascending and I wanted to be a part of that.
In 2017 you were named to the conference All-Freshman team: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? I just bought into the culture even though I knew my role would be different than what I was accustomed to in high school/AAU. I wanted to help the team win so I took care of the ball, defended, and made sure I had good looks from 3-PT range. I felt like I would have a chance to contribute as a freshman and the staff trusted me to be part of the rotation.
Take me through that magical month of November 2018:
You tied an NCAA record with 15 3PM in a win over North Greenville (www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOjELpI4YXQ): was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? It was a special night. I always tell people that it was a program night: it was not just about me. My teammates poured a lot of confidence into me and Coach Richey was able to inspire all his players. I felt really good during warmups, found my rhythm early, and it just translated into the game. My teammates kept finding me and putting me in spots to be successful.
Your 54 PTS that day tied for the 10th most in conference history: what is the secret to being a great scorer? First, you have to be an obsessive worker and live in the gym the right way by working on shots that you will actually take during a game. You also need a certain level of swagger in yourself that if you do things the right way then you will be able to perform when the lights come on.
You had a pair of road wins over 2018 Final 4 teams Villanova/Loyola Chicago: what was it like to finish the month undefeated and then be ranked in the top-25 the following month? It was a special start to the year after working so hard during the spring/summer. We had an unbelievable senior class the previous year who graduated so a lot of people wondered how we could replace their production. We all had that mission and carried that edge into the season while trying to get better every day. To start 12-0 and then be favored to win on the road at LSU showed all the work that we had put in: we started to put the program on the national scene.
After graduation you played pro basketball in the US/overseas: how did basketball here compare to basketball in other countries? Ball is ball: there are a lot of very good players all over the world. It was a blessing to play in different countries: in Europe the game is super-fundamental because they are taught how to play the game from a young age. There is more athleticism in America but the game is more tactical abroad.
You were inducted into your high school’s Hall of Fame in 2022: where does that rank among the highlights of your career? It is definitely up there and was a special evening for me and my family. It shows that you left a legacy that people around you view as everlasting. We energized an entire community for 4 years and for people to recognize that is something I am very grateful for.
You returned to Furman last May to become an assistant to Coach Richey: why did you take the job, and how is it going so far? The opportunity to come back to my alma mater is special because the school means a ton to me. Anytime you can give back to the next generation of guys, it is something that I could not pass up. I previously coached at the Naval Academy, which was another 1 of the biggest honors of my life: everything is about something bigger than yourself. When Coach offered me an elevated role here it made a ton of sense: he is like family to me.
You lost each of your top-7 scorers from last season: has that just become the norm for teams outside the Power 5 in the era of the transfer portal? We won the league last year and some of our great players had other opportunities elsewhere. However, we were able to keep many great players who will play pivotal roles for us this year due to our retention. We brought in a couple of transfers and 3 high school seniors, so we have a lot of depth/skill.
What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? We have a chance to be special. The goal every year is to “win on Monday night”, which is the night of our conference tourney. We want to get back to the Big Dance and play on the biggest stage: we talk about it every day and do not shy away from it. Our “best” is still TBD…but if we improve every day then there is no ceiling as we try to become the last team standing.
