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GoldanDBlack express • volume 24, express 24 • 7 BY BRIAN NEUBERT BNeubert@GoldandBlack.com P urdue closed the regular season in a distinct nosedive, dropping its last six games, includ- ing a not-as-close-as-it- seemed loss at No. 9 Wisconsin and a hideous home de- feat to a bad North- western team in a battle of squads trying to stay out of last place. And so, Purdue closes the regular sea- son in last place in the Big Ten, a difficult-to- imagine worst-case scenario months ago. S When Purdue's point guard play is er- ratic, it struggles. Ronnie Johnson was productive at Wis- consin, but set a poor tone to the game by settling for early jumpers that all missed and still would have been suspect deci- sions had they not. Against North- western, he played one of the worst games of his career. Backup Bryson Scott has re- gressed from the middle of the Big Ten season, so Purdue's op- tions have been limited. Johnson can be very, very good if he sets his mind to it and possesses some self- awareness. It will be an interesting offseason for him. S On the court, Jay Simpson will be missed long-term more than short-term. The redshirt freshman likely projected as Purdue's 5 man for whenever A.J. Hammons moves on and with normal progress might have been able to give the Boiler- makers a tremendously versatile post player, big and skilled enough to score around the rim and re- bound, but also quick and athletic enough to guard the perimeter and face the basket on offense. Of course, that's of secondary concern considering the gravity of the situation. He is very fortunate to be alive. S Purdue simply can't keep paying the turnover cost of playing through the post on offense. In the second half against Northwestern, the Boilermakers hit Hammons for an and-one on a post-up. Its next two possessions, it turned the ball over trying to get it to him. Turnovers have really under- mined Purdue this season, and the post-entry game has contributed a disproportionate amount to it. Players have to get better at the feeding the post and Ham- mons has to do a better job catch- ing it, carving out position and protecting it. It is a team-wide issue and con- sidering its importance — Purdue has built its offense around it, in a sense — the Boilermakers should be better at it after two seasons of doing it. S Basil Smotherman has started making mid-range jump shots. Not really his foremost role right now, but a positive sign for a player who might be needed to score for Purdue in the future and a pleasant sign to see a player get- ting better in some ways at the very end of the season. What these young players must do most, though, is not ac- cept losing and not allow it to be- come the norm. j Flash Forward Opponent: Ohio State Location: Bankers Life Fieldhouse (Indianapolis) When: 2:30 p.m. Thursday Notables: Purdue opens the Big Ten Tournament as the event's 12 seed against fifth-seeded Ohio State. … The Boilermakers need a victory to avoid exiting the conference season with a losing record and multiple wins in Indianapolis to have any hope of earning an NIT bid, even after finishing last in the Big Ten during the regular sea- son. … Ohio State ended the regular season by upsetting Michigan State at home, snapping a two-game losing streak. … The Buckeyes swept the two-game series this season with Purdue, winning 78-69 in West Lafayette on Dec. 31 and 67-49 in Columbus Feb. 8. … La- Quinton Ross has been virtually unguardable for Purdue. He scored 25 and 17, respectively, in the two wins over the Boilermakers. … The Buckeyes allowed only 62.8 points per game during the Big Ten season, leading the conference in scoring defense. Tom Campbell Drew Crawford's 27-point effort spoiled senior day for Purdue. m e n ' s b a s k e t b a l l g o l d b o x e s l i n k t o g a m e s t o r i e s A Look BACk At the LAst week of BAsketBALL