The Indiana Pacers are facing an uphill battle in the NBA playoffs. They are currently down 2-3 to the Oklahoma City Thunder and must win both remaining games to secure their first NBA title. However, Rick Carlisle’s team has had no shortage of stars, one of whom has been TJ McConnell.
Jason Timpf Praises TJ McConnell’s ‘Competitive Energy’
McConnell has received much of the praise heaped on the Pacers by fans and the press. Jason Timpf, his former colleague as a college player, is among those who have highlighted his aggressive play.
The current host of the popular Hoops Tonight podcast was interviewed by ESPN Tucson’s “Spears and Ali” show. In the interview, he discussed McConnell’s qualities as a young player and how they correspond exactly to his performance in the NBA playoffs.
“I was fortunate to get to play in some runs at the Richard Jefferson center with and against him,” he said. “His competitive energy was immediately the thing that stood out to me.
“I remember in the very first game I played against him, in a pickup game…TJ was out there, the same dude you see in the NBA finals, like literally the same dude, just like talking trash, being physical, playing super hard, wanting to win that meaningless pickup game at the University of Arizona rec center, just as much as he wants to win a game for the finals.
“Ultimately, I think that energy is what has carried him to a decade-long NBA career.”
Doesn’t matter if it’s a pickup basketball game at the University of Arizona or the NBA Finals, TJ McConnell’s energy is always the same.
📺 Check out our full interview with @_JasonLT here: https://t.co/cGAQxnXhOk pic.twitter.com/HXsn9KpBdf
— Justin Spears (@JustinESports) June 17, 2025
There’s no doubt that playing against McConnell early in his basketball career gives Timpf a unique perspective on the current Pacers star. This is even more significant considering that his experience was in a much more relaxed environment than official tournaments.
McConnell and Timpf played college basketball around the same time, but their experiences couldn’t have been more different. McConnell was a high-profile point guard, while Timpf carved out his career in a lesser-known program.
McConnell started at Duquesne (2010-2012), where he quickly became a standout, earning Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year honors. After two seasons, he transferred to Arizona, where he thrived under Sean Miller, leading the Wildcats to two Elite Eight appearances.
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His defensive prowess and leadership earned him First-Team All-Pac-12 honors before going undrafted in 2015, but he eventually made his mark in the NBA.
Timpf, on the other hand, played at Arizona Christian University, a small NAIA program. While he didn’t receive national attention, he was a solid forward who contributed to his team’s success in the GSAC conference.
Unlike McConnell, Timpf didn’t transition to the NBA but remained involved in basketball at lower levels, and later as an insider and commentator.
