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GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 8 • 36 BY BRIAN NEUBERT BNeubert@GoldandBlack.com New transfer Jon Octeus practiced with the Boilermakers for the first time Tuesday night upon the team's return from fall break. For the time being, of course, he has to be viewed as something of an unknown considering his very unusual circumstances, enrolling a month into a semester and a week after preseason practice started. But the Colorado State transfer's ré- sumé is an impressive one, and though he's going to experience an adjustment period, Purdue is counting on him, it seems like. "I know defensively he's going to be one of our best guys, if not our best, on and off the ball," Coach Matt Painter said after seeing the 6-foot-4 guard practice Tuesday night. "He has the highest level of experience of anybody on our team in the backcourt, averag- ing 14 points in a pretty good league and playing 33 minutes a game. He has the highest level of production in not turning the basketball over." When asked after coaching Octeus for the first time about his point guard position — a topic Painter's fielded ques- tions about since the spring — the Boil- ermaker coach called projections about the position "guesswork," figuring Oc- teus will have a significant say in how it shakes out. "We need a better defender in our backcourt. He gives us that. We need somebody who doesn't turn the ball over as much. He gives us that," Painter said. "He's the oldest guy on our team, the only guy on our team who's played in an BA S K E T BA L L : N E W S A N D N OT E S vertime Tom Campbell Debuting senior Jon Octeus works with assistant coach Greg Gary during his first Purdue practice Tuesday night. 2014-15 PURDUE MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE Date Opponent Time Nov. 2 CALIFORNIA (Pa.) (BTN Plus) 2 p.m. Nov. 7 CARROLL (BTN Plus) 7 p.m. Nov. 14 SAMFORD (BTN Plus) 7 p.m. Nov. 16 IUPUI (BTN) 3 p.m. Nov. 20 GRAMBLING (BTN Plus) 7 p.m. Maui Invitational - Lahaina, Hawaii Nov. 24 vs. Kansas State (ESPN2) 2:30 p.m. Nov. 25 vs. Arizona/Missouri (ESPN/ESPN2) TBA Nov. 26 vs. TBA (ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU TBA Big Ten/ACC Challenge - West Lafayette Dec. 2 NC STATE (ESPN2/ESPNU) 9 p.m. Dec. 6 NORTH FLORIDA (BTN Plus) 2 p.m. Dec. 8 IPFW (ESPNU) 7 p.m. Dec. 10 ARKANSAS STATE (ESPNU) 7 p.m. Dec. 13 at Vanderbilt (SEC Network) 9 p.m. Crossroads Classic - Indianapolis Dec. 20 vs. Notre Dame (BTN) 5:15 p.m. Dec. 22 GARDNER-WEBB (BTN Plus) 6 p.m. Dec. 31 MINNESOTA (BTN) TBA Jan. 3 MICHIGAN (BTN) 2:15 p.m. Jan. 7 at Wisconsin (BTN) 7 p.m. Jan. 10 MARYLAND (BTN) 2:30 p.m. Jan. 17 at Penn State (ESPNU) 1 p.m. Jan. 21 at Illinois (BTN) 9 p.m. Jan. 24 IOWA (BTN) Noon Jan. 28 INDIANA (BTN) 9 p.m. Jan. 31 at Northwestern (ESPNU) 6 p.m. Feb. 4 OHIO STATE (BTN) 6:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at Minnesota (BTN) 3 p.m. Feb. 12 at Rutgers(ESPNU) 7 p.m. Feb. 15 NEBRASKA (BTN) 5:15 p.m. Feb. 19 at Indiana (ESPN/ESPN2) 7 p.m. Feb. 26 RUTGERS (ESPNU) 9 p.m. March 1 at Ohio State (CBS/BTN) TBA March 4 at Michigan State (BTN) 8 p.m. March 7 ILLINOIS (BTN) 4:30 p.m. March 11-15 Big Ten Tournament (Chicago) Octeus Makes Strong First Impression