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GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 25, ISSUE 5 9 Men's Basketball Boiler Index: Smoking Purdue was already headed up, it would seem, with a return trip to the NCAA Tournament in a year when many thought Rapheal Davis (pictured) and Boiler- makers would finish in the bottom third of the league. And now, with A.J. Hammons' return for his senior season, Purdue could very well be a preseason top-25 team. Ashley Burkhardt Boiler Index: Steaming The senior first baseman is leading an otherwise young Purdue team, hitting better than .400 (eighth-best in the league as of April 26), and is also prepping for a profession- al career. The Dallas Charge made her the 15th overall pick in the Na- tional Pro Fastpitch draft on April 1. Matthew McClintock Boiler Index: Smoldering The junior has the sweep, as he's now the Purdue re- cord-holder in track and field's four-longest events. He set a new program stan- dard in the 10,000-meter run at the Mt. SAC Relays April 17 with his time of 28:54.77, the 16th-best nationally this season, the only sub-29 in Purdue history. McClin- tock now has Purdue records in the 5K and 10K in the outdoor season and 3K and 5K indoors, plus others in cross country. Boiler Index Photos by Tom Campbell (Davis); Purdue (Burkhardt, McClintock) Whose Return To The Boilermakers Is More Valuable: Frankie Williams or Danny Anthrop? Stacy Clardie Without Frankie Williams on the field this spring, Purdue's secondary lost much of its bite, its punch, its swagger. Robert Gregory added some spice, sure, but no one can replace Williams' leadership, grit and feistiness. And that's to say nothing of Williams being a legitimate all-Big Ten player. No Williams — he was in a boot much of the spring after foot surgery — meant the No. 2 cornerback opposite standout Anthony Brown was inexperienced Da'Wan Hunte and the next two on the depth chart were walk-ons. Think that limits what a defense can do? (The answer is yes.) Add Williams to Brown and Purdue has lock-down corners. They're physical, athletic, smart, trusted playmakers — and those skill sets allow the Boilermakers' safeties to help more in run support or come on blitzes because there's a comfort level leaving those CBs on an island. That can make a huge difference for a defense that needs to generate turnovers and capitalize on pressure. Kyle Charters How can it not be Danny Anthrop? Purdue's offense ground to a complete standstill after his injury in the ninth week of the season, totaling only 46 points in the last threes game after they had scored at least 27 in each of the previous three, including 31 in a loss vs. Michigan State, one of the best defensive teams in the country. Purdue's total passing yardage in those final three games? A mere 574, including only 119 vs. the woeful Indiana defense. Anthrop adds tremendous value to the Boilermakers' offense, in that he can be a consistent receiving threat and one who is capable of taking any pass for a touchdown. Four times in his career, he has scored touchdowns to end one-play drives for the Boilermakers. And on a Purdue team that has lost its only other proven home-run threats, with the graduations of Akeem Hunt and Raheem Mostert, that type of big-play ability is a must.