GBI Express

The Authority on Purdue Athletics volume 22, EX 22 • FEB. 20, 2012 In this issue: • Pages 1-3: Opening Tip • Page 14: Coaches View With Christy Smith • Pages 20-22: Football Notes Moving Forward Purdue adjusts without Barlow BY STACY CLARDIE SClardie@GoldandBlack.com I f Purdue is going to make a push into the NCAA Tournament — and have any kind of run in it — it'll have to do so without athletic, defensiveminded Kelsey Barlow. And not everyone minds. "I think we're going to come together as a team better," said senior Ryne Smith, one of three captains on the team. "Honestly, I think it's addition by subtraction." Barlow had a history of behind-the-scenes issues and was suspended for last year's NCAA Tournament in one such case. But after he was involved in an incident in the early morning hours outside a local bar on Friday, Coach Matt Painter opted to cut ties. After Purdue's loss to No. 7 Michigan State on Sunday, its first game without Barlow, Painter indicated he may have made a mistake by not dismissing Barlow last year. "It's disappointing because when you put in time with guys and you give guys a second chance, that's what it's all about. You think about somebody sticking by you," Painter said. "I know I had people stick by me maybe when they shouldn't have done it. GBIprint.com GoldandBlack.com "I stood by somebody, and it didn't pay off and I feel like I let our team down by doing that, because I think I made a decision that was best for an individual and in the long run wasn't best for our team. "When something happens and you have to part ways with guys, it doesn't make you feel good. Because in a way I failed also because you're trying to reach people. That's our job. That's what we do. But you wish him well and you hope things work out. If this decision helped him in life, then so be it." The Boilermakers will have to replace Barlow's 8.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and nearly 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. But at least they'll have D.J. Byrd with them in the final run. And that's huge. Byrd, who Tom Campbell If Purdue wins its final two home games against Nebraska and Penn State, it likely will be enough to secure an NCAA Tournament berth. With Robbie Hummel playing his best basketball of the season, the Boilermakers' chances of doing so would seem strong. missed the game against the Spartans after Painter suspended him for getting arrested on suspicion of public intoxication on Friday, has been arguably Purdue's best player in Big Ten play. He's averaging 12.2 points and shooting 50 percent on three-pointers in 13 league games. And few doubt Byrd will bounce back from his mistake. "D.J. is going to come back in full force," Smith said. "He's a great player for us. I'll tell you one thing: When he comes back on Wednesday night (against Nebraska), he's going to be ready to go." Purdue needs him to be. Most projections still have the Boilermakers in the NCAA Tournament, but it's likely they must take care of business in their final two home games to secure that at-large berth. Both of Inside The Numbers 8-21 0-1 52/22 The combined conference record of Nebraska and Penn State, the final two men's opponents in Mackey Arena this season. Purdue's record against Nebraska and Penn State as of Feb. 20 Lewis Jackson's shooting percentages between the first and second halves, respectively, of the past five games. The number of road games the men's team has won since 2007-08, one ahead of Wisconsin for the conference lead during that stretch. The average points given up by the women's team in the last six games (they've won one). In the previous eight Big Ten games, they'd allowed only 57.1. 30 73.6 those games are against the bottom two teams record-wise in the Big Ten: Nebraska on Wednesday and Penn State on Senior Night Feb. 29. Purdue also still has a chance to boost its résumé with a big victory or two on the road. It heads to 11th-ranked Michigan Saturday and finishes the regular sea- Gold & Black IllustrateD • volume 22, express 22  •  1

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