Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/270685
GoldanDBlack express • volume 24, express 23 • 12 BY STACY CLARDIE AND ALAN KARPICK M att Painter brought Sterling Carter to Purdue to give the Boilermakers a boost in perim- eter shooting. Carter's impact turned out to be much more than that. Despite never really finding an offensive rhythm in his only season with Purdue, Carter's loss for the season with a knee injury still stings. "Probably his attitude and determination are the two big- gest things we'll miss," Painter said after it was revealed last Monday that Carter tore the ACL and lateral and medial meniscus in his right knee against Nebras- ka on Feb. 23. Carter had emerged as Pur- due's best perimeter defender, something Painter said he didn't expect, and it was that trait as well as consistent energy that vaulted Carter into a starting spot late in the Big Ten season. He'd started six consecutive games before his injury. Last week, Carter was learn- ing to adjust to being stuck on the sidelines while the Boiler- makers lost to Michigan and Iowa. But he tried not to change his approach. "I feel like my role is still the same, except for being on the court," Carter said a day after he found out the severity of the inju- ry. "I'm going to be a leader until I leave this place. "It hurts to be done, but I got to play 27 games here, and it was probably the best (experience) of my whole career, getting appreciated by Purdue fans, my coaching staff and teammates. I've nev- er been this appreci- ated in my whole col- lege career and just getting to be a part of this team was won- derful for me." Center exChange After collaps- ing without being touched against Ne- braska, Jay Simpson didn't play in either of Purdue's games last week. But there still hasn't been given a reason why. Painter said after Purdue's loss to Iowa that Simpson still is undergoing tests and wouldn't give any timetable for a return. Good thing, then, that start- ing sophomore A.J. Hammons has surged without the backup center in the lineup. Hammons had perhaps his two best back-to-back games of his career last week, though statistically it may not seem that way at a glance. He admittedly was more locked in — both in consciously trying to move better without the ball and set good screens on offense and following his de- fensive assignments away from Carter Out Tom Campbell Sterling Carter's first stint on the bench was Wednesday against Michigan, only two days after finding out his season was over with a knee injury. vertime ba s k e t ba l l : n e w s a n d n ot e s Saturday, March 15 Semifinals Sunday, March 16 Finals ESPN/ESPN2 Noon #1 Michigan #4 Iowa #2 Wisconsin #3 Mich. State #8 Minnesota #9 Illinois #7 Indiana #10 N'western #6 Ohio State #11 Penn State Friday, March 14 Quarterfinals Thursday, March 13 Round One BTN 6:30 pm ESPN/ESPN2 25 min. after BTN 25 min. after BTN Noon ESPN2 6:30 p.m. ESPN2 25 min. after CBS 1:40 p.m. CBS 25 min. after CBS 3:30 p.m. 17th annual men's BIG ten tOuRnament pROjectIOn Bankers life Fieldhouse Indianapolis All times Eastern #5 Nebraska #12 Purdue BTN 25 min after As of March 3