Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/317739
GoldanDBlack express • volume 24, express 28 • 2 a very tough schedule, and we've been in games with the best in the country. We've won a few of those, which is awesome. I wish we could have won a few more. But it's been a great year." The Boilermakers' five All-Big Ten picks were the most in the program's history, led by first- team selections Andie Varsho (.416, 74 hits, 16 doubles) and Ashley Burkhardt (.346, 10 HR, 43 RBI). Varsho leaves Purdue as one of the best hitters in its history, leading the program in career hits and average. Burkhardt will return next season to anchor the middle of the order. — Stacy Clardie No. 8: JohNsoN TraNsfers After playing in 59-of-66 games as a freshman and sopho- more, Ronnie Johnson appeared to have Purdue's starting point guard spot locked up and had shown glimpses of being one of the league's more dynamic play- ers at the position. But that wasn't enough. Johnson decided after Pur- due's second consecutive losing season to transfer, and he ulti- mately chose Houston and for- mer IU coach Kelvin Sampson as his destination. Johnson told the Indianapolis Star that Purdue's system didn't fit him and that he needed to play through his mistakes "like every other guard in the Big Ten was." Johnson averaged 28.2 min- utes per game last season, in which he started 31-of-32 games. "Kids always used to leave that didn't play. Now you see more guys leaving that played and that were productive for their teams," Coach Matt Painter said recently. "Now they want more or want a different style or to get closer to home, which there's nothing wrong with. It's their choice. But with transfers, your positives go with you when you go to anoth- er school, but your negatives go with you, too." Without Johnson, the Boil- ermakers will be forced to start likely either sophomore Bryson Scott, who needs to considerably improve his decision-making, or true freshman P.J. Thompson. "When you commit to a guy and he plays a lot, it hurts you (when he leaves) because you want experience and that's something we've tried to work toward in the years past," Painter said. "When we've played a lot of juniors and seniors, we've been pretty good. But we've stayed young here about three years, and we need to get old. When you commit to guys and then they leave, it does hurt you unless you can get a guy that can impact your program at that position." — Stacy Clardie No. 7: Big ClimBers As is often the case, the coach of the winning team in a league championship is named coach- of-the-year. For outdoor track, that was the case, as Wisconsin's Mick Bryne took the men's award and Penn State's Beth Alford-Sullivan took the women's. But the honor just as easily could have been Purdue's Lonnie Greene. Although the Boilermak- ers didn't take the top spot on either the men's or women's side at the Big Ten Outdoor Champi- onships held on the Purdue cam- pus this month, both made huge Purdue The men's and women's track teams' finishes jumped significantly at the Big Ten Championships — Raheem Mostert's titles helped — and delivered the Governor's Cup to the Boilermakers. CERAMIC • ENGINEERED HARDWOOD LAMINATES • MARBLE CARPETING Specializing in • Homes • Businesses • Churches • Schools Where Contractors Buy Their Flooring Builders! Call our Contract Department and ask for our Contract Specialist 3437 State Road 26 E. 765-447-9393 800-403-6889 FAX 765-448-9978 Across from the Post Office GO BOILERS 7