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IllustrateD volume 24, issue 5
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at Purdue. He didn't meet with players individually or delve
particularly deep into their 2012 performances. Why? No idea.
But now, he and his staff should know exactly what they
have, or those players should know in no uncertain terms
what they are in for. Seemed like there was a glaring discon-
nect between the two sides last season.
Matt Painter will have a group he can essentially start
over with, with at least five freshmen coming in. No, it's not
a good thing to be in that position, but it's Purdue's reality
right now after the past two teams went down in flames.
That group, unlike the last two, has to listen and do what
it's supposed to. Painter, whose program has come full circle
back to last place, has to do a better job getting it to.
But it starts at the most basic levels, part of that being
toughness.
Maybe it comes with experience. Many a player has
walked in the door soft and left entirely different. It's a pro-
cess.
For football, all those freshmen who played last season
should be more equipped to compete. Certainly not finished
products — again, it's a process — but better.
Basketball, who knows? Freshmen are wild cards and
there are so many of them.
But the incoming rookies don't seem casual and Purdue
has saddled itself with far too much casualness.
But it won't happen overnight, in either sport.
Both teams have to grow up quick, whether its quarter-
back Danny Etling — or, I'm sorry, presumed quarterback
— or the second-year sophomores on the Boilermakers'
defensive line.
Or in basketball, Purdue's promising three-man sopho-
more class and bevy of freshmen.
All of them must play, and more importantly, carry them-
selves like older players. Sophomores may have to act like
juniors and juniors may have to act like seniors. Freshmen
just better not act like idiots.
It might not happen overnight, but it has to be better.
Matt Painter always says, "It's hard to be good."
Yes, it's tough.
To be good, that's exactly what Purdue has to be.
j
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