Gold and Black���s Men���s Hoops Lineup
The
Starters
A.J. Hammons 20
C ��� 7-0 ��� Fr.
There was a point in time
this season where Hammons looked like Purdue���s
most indispensible player,
its most important cog
on offense and its gamechanger on defense. But
the young center���s consistency issues
worsened as he seemed to wear down
through the course of the year. Consistency problems and their root causes are his
greatest obstacle right now, from game to
game, sometimes within games. Against
Santa Clara, he missed a couple makeable
shots early, then was never a factor from
that point on. That Purdue turned the
ball over a bunch of times passing to him
didn���t help.
Terone Johnson 0
G ��� 6-2 ��� Jr.
The junior battled
through some minor injuries to enjoy a pretty solid,
All-Big Ten-caliber season.
He led the Boilermakers
in scoring and was their
top perimeter defensive
player. His shooting improved, both from
long range and the foul line. He���ll be the
first to tell you, though, that more should
be expected next season. His biggest role
in 2013-14 might have to be that of leader,
as he would seem to be this team���s alpha
male leading into next season. He must
be positive and lead by example with his
work. That much is obvious.
Ronnie Johnson 3
G ��� 5-10 ��� Fr.
The light came on for the
freshman point guard
late in the season, highlighted by his 27-point
eruption in defeat against
Santa Clara. The rookie
made better decisions,
knocked down jumpers and just played
with far greater understanding to finish
the season than he did to begin it. He���s
not arrived yet, but he���s well on his way to
becoming an outstanding player. Playing
within a team concept is an area he must
improve in, and he literally can���t shoot
too many jump shots this offseason.
How hard will he work this summer? That
might tell the tale.
D.J. Byrd 21
F ��� 6-4 ��� Sr.
Byrd���s senior season did
not go as hoped in a very
different situation than
those he performed in
his first three seasons,
but it should not tarnish
the memories of what he
brought to the Boilermaker program. He
was a key component to some very good
teams and a player who played in a lot
of different capacities due to his team���s
needs. When hot, he was a tremendously
impactful shooter who played hard most
of the time. Sometimes, his greatest failings came in being too emotional or too
competitive, if there���s such a thing.
Rapheal Davis 35
G/F ��� 6-5 ��� Fr.
The freshman was phenomenal for a stretch late
in the regular season but
quiet in the postseason.
That said, his freshman
season was an unqualified
success and his future is
bright, to put it mildly. His ability to get
to the basket sparked Purdue offensively
at times, his rebounding was excellent all
season for a 6-foot-5 guard-type playing
in the frontcourt, and his work ethic and
passion are ideal examples for teammates,
something this team needs even more of.
He���s worked tirelessly on his jumper and
will continue to do so.
The
Reserves
Sandi Marcius 55
C ��� 6-9 ��� Jr.
Marcius became so much
more than just a big body
late in the season, as his
positive energy and effort
were so vital to the success
Purdue did enjoy in the
back half of the schedule. The Boilermakers need him back. He can graduate,
though, in the summer and move on if
he so chooses. His post-college life is the
most important consideration, but Purdue
will certainly hope he decides to put off
the real world a few more months and be
part of what could be a pretty good Boilermaker team.
Donnie Hale 15
F ��� 6-8 ��� R-Fr.
The redshirt freshman fell
off the map late in the season, seeing his minutes fall
off for a variety of reasons.
Davis became Purdue���s primary ���power forward��� and
Hale struggled against certain matchups,
his lack of strength not helping matters.
That said, the wiry forward shouldn���t be
given up on. Yes, he���s 21, but he���s only a
sophomore and shows signs of untapped
potential, especially physically. That he
can make a jump shot is certainly a check
mark in his favor moving forward.
Anthony Johnson 1
G ��� 6-3 ��� So.
This will be interesting. It���s
no secret that the sophomore���s not always been on
the same wave length as
his coaches. No one���s taking sides here, but coaches
usually win such situations. Purdue had
few options at guard this season, so Johnson was part of the rotation, some games
more than others; we���ll see about next
season. We���ll see if he remains.
Travis Carroll 50
C ��� 6-9 ��� Jr.
Carroll was more or less
Purdue���s third option at
center, a role that would
get him on the floor mostly
when Hammons would get
in foul trouble and Marcius
would need a rest. That may not change
if Marcius returns, especially with redshirt
freshman Jay Simpson now joining the
mix in the post, too. Barring an astonishing offseason, Carroll projects to be much
the same player next season. He is what
he is. But there���s nothing wrong with having a good teammate who tries hard providing depth off the bench and pushing
others in practice.
Jacob Lawson 34
F ��� 6-8 ��� So.
Matt Painter has been critical of the forward���s effort
and work ethic, and his
productivity in Big Ten play
in what opportunities he
did get didn���t do anything
to buy him more playing time. The North
Carolina native���s role moving forward
is very much in doubt, considering the
depth Purdue should have at the 4 and
post in general next season. We���ll see
what the future holds for him.
The
Deep
Bench
Jay Simpson* 32
F ��� 6-8 ��� Fr.
Dru Anthrop 14
G ��� 6-0 ��� Sr.
Neal Beshears 30
F ��� 6-6 ��� So.
Stephen Toyra 11
G ��� 6-3 ��� Fr.
* Simpson sat out the rest of the season
while recovering from a foot problem that
plagued him through the first 10 games of
the season. He���ll pursue a medical redshirt.
��� Brian Neubert
GoldanDBlack express ��� volume 23, express 27��� ������ 19
