Gold and Black is a multi-platform media company that covers Purdue athletics like no one else.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/200613
Jamie Owens The ability for A.J. Hammons to be dominant inside is one of the main reasons for optimism in 2013-14. nior and created a new resolve. "I think we're on more of a mission this year," he said. "I feel like everybody is more in tune with what we came here to do. Last year, we felt like we let our fans down and our coaching staff down. We have a lot to prove this year." Not long after Purdue's forgettable season ended at the hands of Santa Clara in Mackey Arena in the quarterfinals of the College Basketball Invitational — a postseason tournament Purdue more or less bought into — Johnson and fellow senior Travis Carroll called a meeting to get their message across: This is not what Purdue is used to doing. "I think everybody felt that vibe," Johnson said, "and that's not something we ever want to feel again." Whatever turnaround Purdue might be capable of this season will have to start with that returning core. Terone Johnson is the Boilermakers' leading scorer from last season; f its top perimeter defender from a year ago; and Purdue's most experienced player now, having started nearly 50 games to date. The Boilermakers' lone All-Big Ten honoree from last year put needed work into his jump-shooting and, more importantly, foul shooting, and should be on pace for his best season to date at Purdue. "I think Terone as a player needs to do the same thing he did for us last year, but just be better at it," Painter said of Johnson, who averaged a team-best 13.5 points, 14.2 in Big Ten games. "Be better at leading. He's a very emotional guy. Sometimes in leading he needs to be patient with younger guys." Purdue will have more reliable scoring threats than it did last season — that much looks almost certain — but the senior would seem like a safe bet to remain his team's go-to player on the perimeter. "He should have the best year of his career," Painter said. "I think he'll be a guy that will score more, but I don't necessarily think he should shoot more than what he did before. He should shoot a better percentage than what he has. He's a good perimeter shooter when he takes good shots. His percentage drops because he takes too many bad ones. It's going to be important for him to take things in rhythm. When he shoots the ball in rhythm, he's very effective." Flanking his older brother in Purdue's backcourt, Ronnie Johnson might be the poster boy this season for the benefits that should be drawn from experience. As a rookie, Purdue needed him on the floor so desperately that the Boilermakers BY THE NUMBERS 0 65.6 The number of juniors on the Boilermaker roster. Purdue's winning percentage in Mackey Arena the last two seasons, a 25-13 combined record. This, on the heels of the Boilermakers winning 61 of 67 at home the four seasons prior. The number of scholarship players on the Boilermaker roster who've yet to play in a Big Ten game. Redshirt freshman Jay Simpson played 10 non-conference games last season before redshirting. Purdue's aggregate freethrow percentage the past two seasons. Among Big Ten teams, only Wisconsin shot worse than the Boilermakers' 65.3-percent clip last season. Purdue's uncharacteristic ranking in the Big Ten last season in turnover margin, one of its traditional hallmarks under Painter. 6 65.5 12 very often just had to live with the mistakes that came with his youth, whether it was shaky shot selection or his frequent tunnel vision when driving to the basket. Now, with almost a full season of starting experience in the books, the sophomore's mistakes should be fewer and farther between and his comfort quotient increased substantially. "Some people are used to high school, so it takes a while for that to wear off," Ronnie Johnson said. "But experience helps a lot especially when you know what's going on and what's coming at you. … As a point guard, knowing how everybody plays and everybody's game that can help a lot, also." As he started 28 of Purdue's 32 games and averaged nearly 32 minIllustrateD volume 24, issue 2 7