Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/432140
GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 14 • 18 Painter — it was how those missed shots came. Stephens expanded his of- fensive game in the offsea- son, adding a better pull- up and an ability to get to the rim, but Painter said he wanted Stephens to make better decisions using that wider repertoire. Stephens seemed to respond to Painter's pleas this week from the bench. Against IPFW, Ste- phens was 5-of-11 shoot- ing in 22 minutes. Against Arkansas State, he drilled 6-of-7 three-pointers — tying a career high in makes — for a team-high 18 points on what Painter said were all good shots. It's possible, then, Stephens could earn his way back into the start- ing lineup for Saturday at Vanderbilt. But Painter still is try- ing to figure that out. "We have to get the right guys out there. We've got to get every- body right," he said. "For us, trying to get the right group of guys, it's hard to feel good about yourself as a player when you don't play 25, 30 minutes. It just is. But if you don't separate yourself as one of those guys, you're not going to play that many minutes. It's a simple con - cept from afar, it's not simple in their mind when they're actually going through it. We've got to get some guys to separate themselves or get guys to really accept their roles and then still be a good team- mate through that." AN AWAKENING? While missing the N.C. State game earlier this month with an ankle injury, sophomore Bryson Scott said he had an epiphany: He needed to play better. Since returning from that injury three games ago, Scott has done just that. Against Arkansas State on Wednesday, Scott either tied season highs or had season highs in points (eight), assists (four), re - bounds (three). In 17 min- utes. He also had only one turnover. In the last three games, he's had 10 as- sists, eight rebounds and only three turnovers. And he's done a better job of shot selection — instead of lowering his head and barreling to the basket on every opportunity, he's been using his driving ability to get in lanes and then find teammates. "He's been really good," Painter said. "He's done some things for us in terms of breaking down the de - fense and driving the ball and find- ing people. That unselfishness has really helped our team. "He gets into modes where he's going to pass but he's still got to keep the defense honest. I think (Wednesday) he mixed it up and did a good job of getting his own layups but also passing the ball." Scott said missing the game was good for him to "regain my fo- cus." "I tried to get back on track and I feel like it was a good thing," he said after his first game back against North Florida Saturday. "My focus was just coming in the game, bringing energy that we desperately needed and just carry out my assignment. I tried to do that for the best of my ability and it kind of worked for me a little bit." ON THE LIST Linc Darner and Matt Waddell have been selected for the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame's 2015 Silver Anniversary Team. Before they were Boilermakers, Darner and Waddell were teammates on the 1990 Indiana All-Star team. Darner averaged 23.7 points for Anderson Highland and holds the school and county records for single-game scoring with 53 points. Waddell was a first- team all-state selection for Tipton after averaging 32.2 points, 9.3 re - bounds and 7.0 assists per game as a senior. For Purdue, Waddell is sixth on the school's career assist list (460) and is 32nd all-time in scoring (1,170). Darner had 437 points, 160 rebounds and 151 assists in 124 ca- reer games. j Tom Campbell Sophomore guard Bryson Scott has returned from an ankle injury earlier this month a new man, altering his game to be more of a facilitator and energy guy. When I say "good," you say "neighbor." P097313.1 State Farm, Home Office, Bloomington, IL Call me for your insurance needs and see how it feels to be on a #1 team. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. ® CALL ME TODAY. Now that's teamwork. Trent B Johnson, Agent 249 E State Street West Lafayette, IN 47906 Bus: 765-743-9595 trentismyagent.com