GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 24 • 15
would be a great thing to have,"
7-foot-2 freshman and backup
center Isaac Haas said. "I could
get another year under him and
another year of experience. But
it's also reality he may go. That
would really take a hit on me
because I like him as much as a
friend and he's always been there
for me. I would have to step up
and take the role as the center.
"I would honestly want him
to stay, but that's on him. He's a
grown man, and it's time for him
to make his money if he can and
do great things."
Hammons' increased level of
play this season has given him
some momentum if he wants to
leave the Boilermakers early. He
recently became the first Big Ten
player since Herb Williams in 1980
to reach at least 1,000 points, 600
rebounds and 250 blocks by the
end of his junior year. He's only
the third player all-time in the
conference to do it, including fel
-
low Boilermaker Joe Barry Carroll
(1,439, 846, 257). He is one of 11
players nationally to achieve the
feat dating back to 1998.
Painter, who also got game
ball Saturday for his 100th career
Big Ten win, made sure to bring
up that stat when he was pre-
senting Hammons with his com-
memorative ball.
LAST HURRAH
Painter lauded Octeus for his
willingness to do whatever it takes
to help Purdue win during his post-
game on-court comments about
the outgoing senior Saturday.
Not only did Painter say Octe-
us might be the best rebounding
point guard in the country — the
former combo guard averaged
5.0 per game during Big Ten play
— but he also called the one-and-
done fifth-year transfer a "true
Boilermaker."
Octeus responded in his
speech by saying he was grateful to
land in West Lafayette, considering
the uncertainty after finding out in
September he wouldn't be accept
-
ed to UCLA. That's where Octeus
had committed in July, after leav-
ing Colorado State. But an October
hook-up with Purdue — "I'm still
not sure how we got him," Painter
joked to the crowd — produced a
perfect pairing this season.
"I can honestly say I wish I had
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