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GoldanDBlack express • volume 24, express 28 • 6 to be in the foreseeable future.'" In the absence of Notre Dame, Purdue is looking to bol- ster its non-conference sched- ule, with the likes of Virginia Tech (2015), Louisville (likely in 2017 in Indianapolis) and Missouri (2017, 2018) in coming seasons, but few will match the tradition of Notre Dame. The game had national ap- peal, provided some in-state bragging rights and brought sell- outs to Ross-Ade Stadium. "I don't think our football program depends upon playing Notre Dame, and I don't think Notre Dame's football program depends upon playing Purdue," Burke said. "Having said that, these two schools have played a lot of games against each other. We have a lot of things in common. We have a lot of respect for each other. I don't like to see traditions broken, which is why we tried to look at it into the future and cre- ate a pathway so people wouldn't think there was some kind of chasm between the schools." — Kyle Charters No. 2: HammoNs returNs When A.J. Hammons chose Purdue, he was expecting to com- pete for championships. The 7-footer's first two sea- sons haven't exactly presented those opportunities, but it's still a goal he'd like to accomplished. And it was one reason Ham- mons opted to return to the Boil- ermakers for his junior season in- stead of leaving for the NBA. "I feel like we owe our fans some better basketball," Ham- mons said in a press release after his decision. The decision to return was the right one, according to Paint- er, whose team gets a significant boost with one of the conference's best centers back in the lineup. Hammons was on the Big Ten's All-Defensive team after leading the league in blocked shots (3.1 per game). He had a league-best six double-doubles during conference play, and he finished the season averaging 10.8 points and 7.4 rebounds. "Once he can average 10 re- bounds per game, I think he's ready for the NBA. I think he has the ability to do that," Painter said. "The one thing you want to be able to do is have a good start in making the NBA. They projected him as a late second-round guy. Most late second-round guys start in the D-League or overseas, and some never get to the NBA. Some take that tough path and still get there. "But it was big for us just because I think we're going to put more skill out on the floor. I think that will really help him." Had Hammons not returned, the Boilermakers only option at center would have been 7-foot-2 Isaac Haas, a true freshman. Now, Hammons and classmate Ra- pheal Davis are the only scholarship upperclassmen on the 2014-15 roster. — Stacy Clardie No. 1: Historic LoW Purdue's football team had finished in last place in the Big Ten before. So had men's basketball. But never in the history of the athletic department had both finished alone in last place in the same academic year — until 2013-14. Football struggle was his- toric in nature, ranking among the worst in the FBS in most major categories and losing its 11 games by an average of 25.7 points, among the worst in recent Big Ten memory. Its only victory was against FCS Indiana State in a game in which the Boilermakers needed a fourth-quarter intercep- tion to silence an upset bid. Only a few years removed from being one of the country's most savvy and sound basketball teams, the recent version was one that generally didn't make sound deci- sions and was the worst free throw shooting team in the Big Ten. Both programs were plagued by youth to a degree. With a depth chart already lit- tered by underclassmen, especial- ly on offense, Hazell made a switch to a true freshman quarterback midway through the season. Danny Etling didn't win a game, and the Boilermakers went winless (0-8) in the Big Ten for the first time since 1993. Painter's team felt the brunt of inexpe- rience mostly late in games when a few heady plays could have turned some of its tight losses into victories. Eight times in league play, Purdue lost games by single digits, including three times by three points or fewer. "What we're going to tell the fans is, 'We think there's a reason for you to give us another chance,' and we hope they'll do that," Burke said recently in response to both programs' struggles. "The best way you're going to make that happen, though, is to show them early and often in the sea- son, 'What we're hoping to see is there.' " — Stacy Clardie Tom Campbell It wasn't an easy season for senior Terone Johnson and his teammates as Purdue finished last place in the league in men's basketball for the first time since 2005-06. But they weren't alone in their struggles: The football team also was last in the league, not winning a game against conference teams. 1