GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 26 • 9
Basil Smotherman 5
F • 6-6 • So.
It was an up-and-down season for
the sophomore, but at the end of
it all, one in which he didn't seem
to progress all that much from
last season. Part of that, obviously,
was Edwards establishing himself
immediately as a crucial player
for Purdue, limiting Smotherman's opportunities.
But coming out of this season, we'll say the same
as we did going into it, because it bears repeating:
When he is locked in on defending (without taking
unneeded risks), running the floor and rebound-
ing, he is a key piece for the Boilermakers. When he
isn't, he blends in. Maybe experience and added
maturity help him put it all together next season.
Kendall Stephens 21
G • 6-6 • So.
No one stands to benefit more
from an offseason than Stephens,
which is exactly what we said
last season also. His season did
not go as planned, injury clearly
playing a role. Maybe he'll have
surgery to repair whatever hap-
pened to the ligament in his left hand, maybe he
won't. But he can benefit from giving it time to get
right and restore the confidence that seemed to
wane in the injury's aftermath. No one's going to
write Stephens off. In fact we wouldn't bet against
him improving exponentially next season and be-
coming the player it was hoped he'd be this season.
Purdue has to get its shooting straightened out.
Isaac Haas 44
C • 7-2 • Fr.
It was a bit of an uneven season
for the gigantic freshman, but
there was far more up than
down, enough to paint a picture
of a potential star one day. This
season was a profoundly valuable
learning experience for Haas in
terms of adjusting to the level of play in major
college basketball, learning how to play with his
uncommon size at this level and obviously how
to best co-exist with the officials, who've never
reffed a player like him. Athleticism and agility will
be emphases this offseason, but he's 7-foot-2, 300
pounds, for crying out loud. It's never going to be
his strong suit, nor does it need to be.
P.J. Thompson 3
G • 5-10 • Fr.
The freshman point guard ended
the season playing his best
basketball after going through
stretches this season where he
didn't leave the bench. It bodes
well for him entering an offsea-
son in which point guard is again
wide-open. Thompson has certain limitations
physically, but coaches swear by his heart and
mind and he showed an ability to knock down
big shots and quick-enough hands on defense to
be a steal-generating menace. He is primed for an
opportunity.
Bryson Scott 1
G • 6-1 • So.
Projected to be Purdue's No. 1
point guard heading into this
past fall, Scott ended the season
not even leaving the bench in
the postseason. He is physically
talented, but he can be a mystery,
seemingly knowing what he
needs to do to earn his coaches' trust, then strug-
gling to do it. It's about making good decisions on
offense, being disciplined on defense and carrying
out assignments at both ends of the floor. If he
doesn't turn a corner in those areas, next year will
be the same as this year. If he does turn a corner,
he gets the same opportunity he'd have gotten
this past fall. It is legitimately up to him.
Jon Octeus 0
G • 6-4 • Sr.
It's a shame that such
a memorable "career"
at Purdue ended on
such a sour note, as the
point guard missed free
throws and was guilty of
an egregious defensive
breakdown late in regula-
tion, then missed an overtime dunk against
Cincinnati. Any of those plays turn out differ-
ently and he plays at least one more game as
a Boilermaker. It should not, however, distract
from the big picture. Purdue wouldn't have
even been in such a position without Octeus,
who will be nearly impossible to replace
without drop-off.
Dakota Mathias 31
G • 6-4 • Fr.
Other than A.J. Ham-
mons, no one improved
more from the start of
the season to the end of
the season than Mathias,
a product in large part of
him simply getting healthy
after he endured a weird
series of calamities beginning in the summer.
Mathias' basketball mind and smart, slick
passing made Purdue better offensively and
his defense came a long way, starting out as
a deficiency. He'll make shots in the future at
a higher rate than he did as a freshman. His
future at Purdue is radiant.
A.J. Hammons 20
C • 7-0 • Jr.
Well, here we go again.
After a junior season in
which Hammons finally
put it all together, for half
the season at least, the
7-footer is now back on
the clock. Will he play one
more season of college
ball or try his hand at the draft after improv-
ing significantly this season, maturing some
and finally grasping some measure of con-
sistency? He has looked and sounded like a
man who'd be happy to return to a team he's
really bonded with and enjoyed, but at some
point, he and his family need to make a pru-
dent, level-headed, self-aware decision. It's a
matter of what he's willing to accept.
Rapheal Davis 35
F • 6-5 • Jr.
The Boilermakers' emo-
tional catalyst and the face
of Purdue's turnaround
season, Davis will give the
Boilermakers a nice leader-
ship foundation this off-
season and into next year.
He will run the summer, an
established and productive alpha-type pres-
ence Purdue hasn't had for an offseason in
years. On top of that, Davis made himself into
a really good player, the Big Ten's Defensive
Player-of-the-Year and borderline All-Big Ten
player. He improved athletically and became
a better shooter this season. There's still room
for improvement, too.
Vince Edwards 12
F • 6-7 • Fr.
Well on his way to becom-
ing a college standout, the
freshman was a revelation.
He will want to get stron-
ger, improve defensively,
and maybe accelerate his
shooting release, but as is,
the multi-skilled forward is
an offensive weapon unlike anything Purdue's
had since Robbie Hummel, with his ability to
play inside, shoot the three or drive or facilitate
for others. Edwards destroyed Cincinnati's zone
to the tune of 14 points and seven assists, with
an asterisk behind the latter. "He'd have had
15 if we'd have been able to make a shot," Matt
Painter said. Edwards was outstanding this
season and the best is yet to come provided he
keeps his head on straight. No reason to think
he won't.
Gold and Black's Men's Hoops Lineup
The
Starters
The
Reserves
The
Deep
Bench
Jacquil Taylor 23
F • 6-10 • Fr.
Neal Beshears 30
F • 6-7 • Sr.
Jon McKeeman 2
G • 6-1 • Jr.
Stephen Toyra 11
G • 6-3 • Jr.
— Brian Neubert
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