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m e n ' s b a s k e t b a l l g o l d p r o v i d e l i n k t o g a m e s t o r y A Look Back At the last week of basketball BY STACY CLARDIE SClardie@GoldandBlack.com narrowly beating NorthAfterlast Friday, inPurdue was ern Kentucky its season opener much more solid in Game 2, cruising past Central Connecticut at home. Here are our takeaways from the two games: S A.J. Hammons certainly makes a difference. When Purdue b o x e s defenders got beat off the dribble against Northern Kentucky — and that happened often — it meant points. But when against Flash Forward Opponent: Rider Location: Mackey Arena When: 7 p.m. Sunday Notables: The Broncs will have played only one game this season, a 92-78 loss Tuesday at Lehigh, before matching up with the Boilermakers. … Senior 6-foot-7 forward Daniel Stewart, a preseason All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference selection, led Rider with 24 points in the opener. He made 10 free throws. … Stewart averaged 10.6 points last season for a team that won 19 games. … Two of the top three scorers from that team are back. … Rider has four international players on its roster, two from England, one from Canada and another from Jamaica. … The team's tallest two players, a 6-10 and 7-footer, are ineligible this season while sitting out due to NCAA transfer rules. That could mean either 6-7 underclassman Kahili Thomas or Shawn Valentine could draw A.J. Hammons. Junior Fortunat, a junior, is 6-9 and comes off the bench. Central Connecticut State, guards who got beat simply were able to funnel their guys toward the 7-footer, who blocked a careerhigh seven shots. Hammons' presence helped a little bit in rebounding. After playing even in the first game, the Boilermakers held an 11-rebound edge in Game 2, thanks to a strong second half. Still, it's an area that the team needs to stay diligent, and that includes Hammons, who had five in 17 minutes. S Just because a player is open doesn't mean it's a good shot in the offense. Way too many ill-advised shots for the Boilermakers against Northern Kentucky as, apparently, some players still try to learn their role in this Tom Campbell A.J. Hammons had a nice return to the court after serving his three-game suspension, recording a careerhigh seven blocks to go with 12 points and five rebounds in 17 minutes against Central Connecticut State. new group. Sterling Carter has quickly shown he hasn't met a shot he doesn't like — how about that steal in the backcourt and one-dribble chuck in transition in the opener? — and he needs to learn to find opportunities within the flow of the offense. Ronnie Johnson has made three three-pointers in the first two games — he had six last season — and then took another perimeter jumper late in the opener he missed. Though his jumpshooting may be improved, not sure it is the best shot Purdue has in its offense right now, especially if it's early in the clock. Shot selection may always be a battle with this group. S With the rule changes, it's likely there will be a lot more fouls called. Translated that more opportunities at the line. For at least the first week, Purdue had mixed results. The Boilermakers often didn't take advantage last season, making only 65 percent. It showed improvement in the opener, making 16 of 20 against Northern Kentucky, but then managed only 14of-24 free throws against Central Connecticut. With as much driving to the basket as these guys are doing, they need to be better: Bryson Scott and Terone Johnson were both 2-for-4 in Game 2. j GoldanDBlack express • volume 24, express 10 • 37