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ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 25, ISSUE 2 33 f giving it your all the whole time … then still having more (is a challenge). Me, I would give it my all, then at the end of practice, we'd still have one more drill and I wouldn't be ready. I'd let my team down at some point. You have to push through the fatigue." That's what Kendall Stephens had to do last sea- son. Not only did he come to Purdue last summer young, untested and unaware of what exactly was waiting for him, but also hurt, coming off major shoulder surgery. So when the process began for him, his adjust- ment curve was that much steeper. Stephens, now a sophomore and one of Pur- due's best players: "That's what's fun about basket- ball. Most guys aren't going to be great right away, so it's about whoever can improve the most and whoever's going to enjoy the journey of putting in the work and perfecting their craft. Most guys start off on the same slate when you're a freshman — of course there's go- ing to be exceptions — but it's about whatever you do with your talent and the ability you have. That's how you're going to end up." Stephens was needed to play a prominent role for the Boilermakers last season, with mostly pos- itive results, but plenty of ups and downs. When the season tips off in November, multiple new Boilermakers will find themselves in those same shoes. What words of advice would those who came before them in such situations have? Kramer: "Do what you do offensively, but on de- fense you have to play hard, know what's going on, know who can shoot and who can't, know rotations, everything like that. It's got to be the leaders, too — Rapheal and everyone down the line — holding people accountable. When things aren't going right, you have to get in peoples' faces. They may not like it. They may cry about it or whatever, but if it's going to help your team win, you have to do what it takes." Hummel: "Get in the best shape of your life and get ready for an unbelievable grind of a season. Your conditioning is going to prepare you for anything that comes at you." Jackson: "I'd just tell them to stay together and make sure they're being a family. They have the talent and they're going to get the experience. It's all about staying together and not worrying about what the out- siders say." Davis: "I told (a freshman) in the locker room, 'You have to pray for heaven but prepare for hell.' You have to go out and play hard, prepare for the worst, but ex- pect the best. It's about staying the course. Coach tells us to never jump over the fight. If you stay the path, you'll be all right." Smith: "It's going to be a roller-coaster. Some days you're going to go out there and have the greatest practice of your life and the next day you'll come out and get dogged. That's how it's going to be. You have to stay the course, do things the right way, do what the coaches say and you're going to have success and maybe put a ring on your finger." That's the goal for Purdue's five freshmen, for which the process begins now. It will not be easy. j 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 go boilers