GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 17 • 11
percent or better from the foul line; Octe-
us has since dipped to 72.
The Boilermakers' team percentages
are weighed down largely by the strug-
gles of the two players who get fouled
the most: Isaac Haas (51 percent) and A.J.
Hammons (65 percent).
"You have to keep working," Coach
Matt Painter said of the two big men. "I
don't think they have fundamental flaws
in their shots. A.J. definitely doesn't. Isaac
has some tweaks he can make. He bends a
lot and goes backward at times and comes
back and doesn't lift the ball at times.
We're trying to get him be consistent: One
motion and stay, 10 toes into the ground
and lifting his elbow and shooting up at
the goal instead of shooting at the goal.
Sometimes he doesn't get proper arc.
"A.J. sometimes goes too fast and kind
of winds up instead of being compact in
his shot and staying under the basketball."
Both can be better and if they get to
that point, it might mean a lot of offense
for Purdue.
"I think A.J. can get above 70 percent
before the year's over, and if Isaac can get
above 60 percent, that'd be a big improve
-
ment," Painter said. "… But our guys across
the board, our guards shoot a good per-
centage and that's who has the ball the
most, especially late in games when you're
going to get fouled."
TAYLOR HEADED TO SHELF
Freshman forward Jacquil Taylor
may be headed toward being shut down
for the season in hopes of receiving a
retroactive medical redshirt come spring.
There has been no formal decision
made but some pretty strong hints about
what may lie ahead.
"His injuries have held him back,"
Painter said recently. "There's definitely
a possibility there (that a redshirt will be
pursued)."
Taylor accompanied Purdue to Penn
State for Saturday's game, but sat on the
bench in street clothes for the first time
BIG TEN STANDINGS
(Through Jan. 19)
Team Big Ten/Pct. Overall/Pct
1. Maryland 5-1/.833 17-2/.895
2. Wisconsin 4-1/.800 16-2/.889
Indiana 4-1/.800 14-4/.778
Iowa 4-1/.800 13-5/.722
5. Michigan 4-2/.667 11-7/.611
6. Michigan State 3-2/.600 12-6/.667
PURDUE 3-2/.600 11-7/.611
8. Ohio State 3-3/.500 14-5/.737
9. Nebraska 2-3/.400 10-7/.588
10. Illinois 2-4/.333 12-7/.632
Rutgers 2-4/.333 10-9/.526
12. Northwestern 1-4/.200 10-8/.556
13. Minnesota 1-5/.167 12-7/.632
14. Penn State 0-5/.000 12-6/.667
Coming this fall to a computer
or mobile device near you!
Watch for special guests
Gold and Black LIVE
featuring the staff of GoldandBlack.com
Interactive live video-stream sports talk show — ask questions,
chat with other fans! Show will stream live on WLFI.com on selected Fridays during football
and basketball season. For complete schedule, visit the college page on WLFI.com.
2 P.M. FRIDAY
Trent Johnson, Agent
