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minutes. It���s hard with the makeup of our team sometimes for that to happen, but if you play that well consistently you���re going to put yourself in position where you���re going to be out there a lot.��� Even with the freshman going off, Purdue never again got within 10, as Notre Dame scored the most points given up by the Boilermakers this season and shot nearly 50 percent overall. Key player Davis has had his ups and downs this season as a rookie, but certainly flashed the ability to score in bunches that caught Purdue���s eye when it recruited him. The powerful young guard has always been able to get to the basket and finish around the rim, but against Notre Dame, the big thing during his second-half burst was that he made jump shots. Key stretch Purdue trailed 39-31 at the half but then went catatonic on offense to open the second, missing its first six shots ��� including a dunk and several point-blank putbacks ��� before Ronnie Johnson���s layup at 15:51. After that bucket, Purdue missed its next eight shots before Davis made one. Key stat Notre Dame shot 57.1 per- cent in the first half, carving up a defense that hadn���t been bad the games��� prior. The Irish shot just 40 percent in the second half, but it hardly mattered considering Purdue struggled so badly to score as the Irish pulled away to lead by nearly two dozen. Takeaways S It���s no secret that poise and patience have been two commodities Purdue���s been lacking in this season, and that���s evident in a sense in its ability to score off putbacks around the basket. The Boilermakers have been a solid rebounding team, including on the offensive end, but too often squander second-chance opportunities by merely throwing the ball at the basket in the lane as opposed to collecting themselves for a better shot or passing out to a teammate when possible. Spotty jump-shooting and erratic decision-making obviously play a role, but given the complexion of Purdue���s roster, one would think it would be shooting better than 41.7 percent overall from the floor. S Point guard play simply has to be better. No one is guiltless in the turnover plague, but freshman Ronnie Johnson���s just barely over even with his assist-to-turnover ratio and Anthony Johnson has struggled since opening the season hot. Those guys, though, are either new or playing new roles. What���s puzzling is Byrd���s 23 turnovers, averaging more than two per game. As a team, Purdue���s committed four more turnovers than it���s handed out assists. Not good. SIMPSON SIDELINED Because of recurring problems with his surgically repaired foot, freshman big man Jay Simpson won���t play again this season and will pursue a medical redshirt. The 6-9 rookie played in 10 games, just under the baseline set forth by the NCAA to remain eligible to earn a medical redshirt year. The move was announced prior to the Ball State game. ���He obviously has to get healthy,��� Painter said. ���It���s unfortunate what happened to him with his foot injury. ��� You can���t improve when you���re trying to get healthy. Guys who try to improve while they���re hurt or not 100-per- cent, it doesn���t work that way. You AROUND THE BIG TEN have to get healthy. Then you can S With conference play apstart to make strides. Hopefully proaching, the Big Ten looks to we can get him in that position be the meat-grinder most beand ready for next year.��� lieve it to be. 2012-13 MEN���S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE Date Game Time/ResultTV Oct. 30 MONTEVALLO (exhibition) W, 70-61 BTN Digital Nov. 3 NEWBERRY (exhibition) W, 109-68 BTN Digital Nov. 9 BUCKNELL* L, 65-70 BTN Digital Nov. 11 HOFSTRA* W, 83-54 BTN Digital Nov. 15 vs. Villanova# L, 81-89 (OT) ESPN2 Nov. 16 vs. Oregon State# L, 58-66 ESPNU/ESPN2 Nov. 21 UNC-WILMINGTON W, 66-40 BTN Nov. 28 at Clemson! W, 73-61 ESPNU Dec. 1 XAVIER L, 57-63 BTN Dec. 4 LAMAR W, 72-39 BTN Dec. 8 at Eastern Michigan L, 44-47 ESPN3 Dec. 15 vs. Notre Dame& L, 68-81 ESPN2 Dec. 18 BALL STATE W, 66-56 ESPN3 Dec. 29 WILLIAM & MARY 2 p.m. ESPN3 Jan. 2 ILLINOIS 8:30 p.m. BTN Jan. 5 at Michigan State Noon BTN Jan. 8 OHIO STATE 9 p.m. ESPN Jan. 13 PENN STATE TBA BTN Jan. 16 at Nebraska 9 p.m. BTN Jan. 19 WEST VIRGINIA 2 p.m. CBS Jan. 24 at Michigan 7 p.m. ESPN/ESPN2 Jan. 27 IOWA 3:30 p.m. BTN Jan. 30 INDIANA 8:30 p.m. BTN Feb. 2 at Northwestern Noon ESPN2 Feb. 5 at Penn State 7 p.m. BTN Feb. 9 MICHIGAN STATE 7 p.m. BTN Feb. 13 at Illinois 9 p.m. BTN Feb. 16 at Indiana 2 p.m. ESPN/ESPN2 Feb. 24 NORTHWESTERN TBA TBD Feb. 27 at Iowa 8:30 p.m. BTN March 2/3 at Wisconsin TBA TBD March 6 MICHIGAN 7 p.m. BTN March 9 MINNESOTA Noon BTN March 14-17 Big Ten Tournament (Chicago) * 2K Sports Classic ��� Mackey Arena # 2K Sports Classic ��� New York City (Madison Square Garden) ! ACC/Big Ten Challenge & Crossroads Classic ��� Indianapolis (Bankers Life Fieldhouse) GoldanDBlack express ��� volume 23, express 15��� ������ 30