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GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 26 • 12 2014-15 PURDUE MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE Date Opponent Time/Result Nov. 2 CALIFORNIA (Pa.) (BTN Plus) W, 89-52 Nov. 7 CARROLL (BTN Plus) W, 90-49 Nov. 14 SAMFORD (BTN Plus) W, 80-40 Nov. 16 IUPUI (BTN) W, 77-57 Nov. 20 GRAMBLING (BTN Plus) W, 82-30 Maui Invitational - Lahaina, Hawaii Nov. 24 vs. Kansas State (ESPN2) L, 79-88 Nov. 25 vs. Missouri W, 82-61 Nov. 26 vs. BYU (ESPN2) W, 87-85 (OT) Big Ten/ACC Challenge - West Lafayette Dec. 2 NC STATE (ESPNU) W, 66-61 Dec. 6 NORTH FLORIDA (BTN Plus) L, 70-73 Dec. 8 IPFW (ESPNU) W, 63-43 Dec. 10 ARKANSAS STATE (ESPNU) W, 87-46 Dec. 13 at Vanderbilt (SEC Network) L, 71-81 Crossroads Classic - Indianapolis Dec. 20 vs. No. 21 Notre Dame (BTN) L, 63-94 Dec. 22 GARDNER-WEBB (BTN Plus) L, 84-89 Dec. 31 MINNESOTA (BTN) W, 72-68 Jan. 3 MICHIGAN (BTN) W, 64-51 Jan. 7 at No. 4 Wisconsin (BTN) L, 55-62 Jan. 10 No. 11 MARYLAND (BTN) L, 60-69 Jan. 17 at Penn State W, 84-77 Jan. 21 at Illinois (BTN) L, 57-66 Jan. 24 No. 25 IOWA (BTN) W, 67-63 Jan. 28 No. 21 INDIANA (BTN) W, 83-67 Jan. 31 at Northwestern (ESPNU) W, 68-60 Feb. 4 No. 20 OHIO STATE (BTN) W, 60-58 Feb. 7 at Minnesota (BTN) L, 58-62 Feb. 12 at Rutgers(ESPNU) W, 61-51 Feb. 15 NEBRASKA (BTN) W, 66-54 Feb. 19 at Indiana (ESPN/ESPN2) W, 67-63 Feb. 26 RUTGERS (ESPNU) W, 92-85 March 1 at Ohio State (BTN) L, 61-65 March 4 at Michigan State (BTN) L, 66-72 March 7 ILLINOIS (BTN) W, 63-58 March 13 vs Penn State (ESPN)* W, 64-59 March 14 vs No. 6 Wisconsin (CBS)* L, 51-71 March 19 vs Cincinnati (CBS)^ L, 65-66 (OT) * Big Ten Tournament (Chicago) ^ NCAA Tournament (Louisville) All times Eastern mons made 7-of-10 shots, he lamented the fact he missed too many hook shots. He also was credited with only one block, only the third time in the last two months he had so few in a game. Still, Hammons' season was an im- pressive one. He was a second-team All-Big Ten se- lection and an All-Defensive Team pick for the second consecutive year. He emerged as an every-night pro- ducer on offense and defense from Janu- ary on, showing Coach Matt Painter the consistency he'd been searching for. He also seemed a more mature play- er, embracing a leadership and mentor role toward freshman big man Isaac Haas and seemingly responding in a better way to adversity. So is that all the strides that Ham- mons needed to see this season to leave early for the NBA? Perhaps. Hammons talked about "we" in re- gards to the team in the locker room af- ter Thursday night's loss and also looked ahead to next season, unprompted. But when asked if he would return to be part of that next season, Hammons said, "I don't know yet." His teammates certainly have a pref- erence. "Of course, we want him back," soph- omore Kendall Stephens said. "He's really going to go down as one of the greatest Boilers, even if he stays next year. We'd love to have him, but he's an elite player, so he definitely has options." Painter's response to Hammons' next step was typical Painter. "I want him to do what's best for him," the coach said outside the locker room, echoing the sentiment after Hammons' sophomore season. "If he's a guy who's going to get a guarantee (because) he's put himself in that position, I think it's something he's got to listen to. We want what's best for A.J. He's had a great year this year and has re - ally been consistent here the past couple months. We're proud of his improvement. "We'll sit down and gath- er the facts and whatever he chooses, we'll support him." Hammons finished the season leading the team in points (11.9 ppg), rebounds (6.6 pg) and blocks (2.8 pg) and field goal percentage (54 percent). The NBA Draft early en- try eligibility deadline is on April 26 and the early entry withdrawal deadline is June 15, per NBA.com. END OF THE ROAD Jon Octeus' one season at Purdue was plenty of time for him to bond with team- mates, get invested in the culture and, thus, feel crushed when it all ended. It likely didn't help Octeus didn't de- liver his best game in the finale. Against Cincinnati, the fifth-year se- nior guard made only 2-of-8 shots, includ- SHOP OFFICIAL PURDUE GEAR BASKETBALL FEVER FOLLETT'S PURDUE BOOKSTORES Purdue West - Black & Gold Mine /FollettsPurdueBookstores follettspurdue.com