Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/270685
GoldanDBlack express • volume 24, express 23 • 10 contributions on game days during his Purdue career have been both modest and subtle. The center started his career as JaJuan Johnson's backup and finished it as practice- floor foil to talented younger players A.J. Hammons and Jay Simpson. But there's much to appreciate about Car- roll's career, in spite of his limited productivity the past four seasons and the limitations that have kept him a role player later in his career. "He's done everything in his power to help Purdue," Coach Matt Painter said. At one point this season, Painter called Carroll his team's "best leader," a mouthful for a player that's averaged just seven minutes per game as a senior. As an upperclassman, Carroll's taken pride in trying to help Hammons and Simp- son fulfill their near-infinite potential. Always a player of unrelenting effort, Car- roll's tried to rub off on the two big men, each of which could stand to up their intensity levels. "I've been on teams that made the (NCAA) Tournament and teams that didn't," Carroll said. "When I played with guys like Ja- Juan and Robbie Hummel, they never took plays off. They always played hard. I wanted to give those guys that same (example). When they remember me, I want it to be, 'He never gave up.'" That's what most will remember Carroll for. Carroll's athletic limitations were appar- ent from Day 1 of his career — and often ran him hot and cold with Boilermaker fans — but he's always been productive as a re- bounder; as a "glue" player on offense with his hustle, passing and screening; his effort and unselfishness have defined him. "I've just tried to do anything I can to help the team," Carroll said. "Team goals are more important than any individual goals. I want to be able to win. I just have tried to do every- thing the coaches ask me to do to the best of my ability. "There's certain things I can't do, but that's how it is with anybody. But I just try to do whatever I can to the best of my ability. I've just tried to go hard every day and get better." And make those around him, Hammons and Simpson, better in the process, too. "Coming in last year, I saw how good those two are and you've seen how impor- tant they are," Carroll said. "Our offense goes through them about every play and when it doesn't, Coach Painter freaks out. It's impor- tant for them, being such a vital part of our team, and I just want our team to win." Purdue did that earlier in Carroll's career, making the NCAA Tournament his freshman and sophomore seasons; the past two, it's struggled. That sophomore season was a difficult one, as Carroll moved into the starting five upon Johnson's graduation and struggled. "I put too much pressure on myself that year," Carroll said. "That was a tough year for me. But it was a good learning situation. I im- proved in how I handle things. I know that if I do everything I possibly can, there's no rea- son to stress out or worry." But no matter the situation, the senior center's done everything he could to help. STERLING CARTER It didn't seem like Sterling Carter needed another lesson in handling adversity. The last five years of his life have been full of it. From tearing an ACL before his fresh- man season at Pacific, to getting his scholar- ship yanked and then reinstated after an ACT snafu, to leaving there to head back home to Seattle to help take care of an injured uncle, to getting unceremoniously booted from Se- attle after two seasons without a reason, to becoming a father, to tearing his right ACL in his only season with the Boilermakers, Carter has had much to endure. But, through it all and even until the end in West Lafayette, he's stayed strong and tried to remain positive, appreciating the situa- tions for building the man he's become. "I feel like it's all been a positive," he said. "Coming from my situation at Seattle, not knowing if my college basketball career would continue, to being given an opportu- nity to play here at one of the prestigious col- leges in the country, playing for a great coach, just being able to know they saw something in me to give me this opportunity, that means I did something right along the way. It made me feel a lot better about myself, just know- ing I haven't been dealt the greatest hand, but someone saw something in me to give me another shot, with only having one year especially." Tom Campbell Travis Carroll's role has changed during his tenure in West Lafayette, but his effort hasn't. I've got service, yes I do ... P097275.2 State Farm, Home Office, Bloomington, IL Call me for your insurance needs and see how it feels to be on a #1 team. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. ® CALL ME TODAY. And I am ready to prove it. Trent B Johnson, Agent 249 E State Street West Lafayette, IN 47906 Bus: 765-743-9595 trentismyagent.com