GBI Express

son with a trip to Indiana, ranked 23rd this week. "We know that we have a huge game Wednesday against Nebraska. As far as we're concerned, that's all we're worried about," senior Robbie Hummel said. "We need to keep getting wins and keep building our résumé for the NCAA Tournament. Because I know for the three of us (seniors), it'd be a major disappointment to not make that. We're just focusing on it one game at a time." j presents The Opening Tip The following are our thoughts now, as Purdue enters the last week of February. • Kyle Charters: "With the Big Ten title now having passed them by, Sharon Versyp and the Boilermakers need to focus on NCAA seeding. Two weeks ago, they were solidly in as a No. 4, but now, with losses in five of six, they're dropping. Purdue needs to recover to avoid being a No. 7, or even dropping to the dreaded 8-9 game." • Stacy Clardie: "Kelsey Barlow is a special player, a guy with NBAtype talent and athleticism. It's a shame he never seemed to fully realize that and seemingly so carelessly threw opportunities away at Purdue. I truly hope he uses his dismissal as a wake-up call and has success elsewhere." • Alan Karpick: "Everything and nothing has changed for the Boilermakers in a week's time. What hasn't changed is that Purdue must hold serve at home and win a game in the Big Ten Tournament to find its way to the Big Dance." • Brian Neubert: "Purdue isn't as talented a basketball team now without Kelsey Barlow, but is it a more harmonious one, for whatever that's worth? I hate to keep pounding on the kid on his way out the door, but the program's loosest cannon departing will not come without some modest benefits. Now, does that lead to more wins? There's no telling." Eric Frances/Getty Images Nebraska guard Bo Spencer, a transfer from LSU, averages 15-and-a-half points per game, but Year 1 in the Big Ten has been a long one for his team. GBIprint.com GoldandBlack.com This Week In Purdue Basketball S Well, that was an interesting week. But, thankfully, it's over and Matt Painter and his players can do what they desperately want to: To move on. It'd seem like getting 11th-place Nebraska at home would be a good place to start, coming off a loss to No. 7 Michigan State in Mackey. Though the Cornhuskers did smoke a reeling Illinois team over the weekend, they've still been largely overmatched in their first season in the Big Ten. Purdue had better keep that trend going if it wants to stay a viable option for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. This year's version of the Boilermakers certainly better not be looking past any team, but after the gimme game with Nebraska, they'll travel to Michigan for a Saturday matchup that serves as one of Purdue's few remaining opportunities to get a signature victory. Purdue still hasn't beat a ranked team this season, and it could only have the Wolverines left to get one in the regular season. In the first meeting with Michigan this season — a 66-64 heartbreaker on Jan. 24 in Mackey — Tim Hardaway Jr. dropped 19 points. Terone Johnson will need to do a better job in that matchup for the Boilermakers to steal one on the road. S Sharon Versyp's team is reeling. After starting the Big Ten season 8-0, the Boilermakers have lost five of their last six games. That includes losses to all of the teams it was competing for the Big Ten title with: Nebraska, Ohio State and, most recently, Penn State. In each of those, the opposing team's best players stepped up and carried their teams to victories, first Jordan Hooper, then Samantha Prahalis and then Maggie Lucas. Purdue needs Brittany Rayburn to do the same in these last weeks of her career. Rayburn had 17 points and nine rebounds in a loss at Michigan State, but she also committed six turnovers and made only 4-of-11 shots. Rayburn may be among Purdue's best all-time in several categories, but if she wants to truly be considered one of the best, it's time to take this team on her back and help it grab some momentum. There are only two regular-season games left to do it. After playing at Michigan on Thursday, Rayburn and fellow seniors Alex Guyton, Antionette Howard, Chelsea Jones and Samantha Woods will get Indiana in Mackey for Senior Day on Sunday. There's a good chance it could be idled Drey Mingo's final regular-season game in the arena, too, though she's still waiting to hear on her sixth-year waiver from the NCAA. There must be a sense of urgency — and a renewed commitment to defense — in the final week. — Stacy Clardie Gold & Black IllustrateD • volume 22, express 22  •  2

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