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VOLUME 26, ISSUE 2 13 F or Purdue to have the sort of season it seems to believe — and its worked-into-a-froth fans definitely seem to believe — it can have, there's one obvious key to success that trumps all others. For the sake of originality, I wish I could write about some- thing more nuanced as that magic elixir, fruit that doesn't hang quite so low off the branches of analysis. Shooting. That's bold, I know, to suggest making more baskets equals being better at basketball. But for these Boilermakers, there are so many more lay- ers to it. For as good as Purdue was last Big Ten season, after it suddenly found itself mid-year, shooting was the great frus- tration it never could shake, right up until it proved the Boil- ermakers' undoing. If Purdue shoots 19 percent from three-point range against Cincinnati instead of 15-and-a-half, it would've played at least one more game in the NCAA Tournament. But such ghosts had chased it around all season, bound to catch up to it when it really mattered. That game in Louisville's Yum Center was the manifesta- tion of one of Purdue's fatal flaws in an otherwise resound- ingly successful, resurgent season. You see, when Purdue fell off the map there for a while, it had to do with a bunch of stuff, one log on that fire being a dearth of able, natural perimeter shooters. In response, Matt Painter pushed the limits of overcorrec- tion, trading athleticism in some cases for the skill needed to soothe Purdue's glaring offensive deficiency. Hardly mattered. Generally speaking, the Boilermakers generated good shots for good shooters last season after settling too often for average shots for average shooters in years prior. They wound up shooting the exact same percentage, down to the last decimal place. The only rationalization: Reputed marksmen Kendall Ste- phens and Dakota Mathias dealt with physical limitations of some kind all season. Still, it was maddening, particularly when looking back and recognizing that there was just one game last season Purdue had no chance late in the game in: Against eventual NCAA runner-up Wisconsin in the Big Ten Tournament. Otherwise, Purdue could have beaten pretty much any- body it played throughout the conference season had it been able to find a little more offense. Another bucket here or there … But I'm hammering away here at this "more points equals more wins" drivel too much. That's obvious. Yes, shooting matters now because more points equals more wins but also because of all else im- proved shooting would mean. Purdue's identity lies in the post, where presumably con- sistent Hammons, increasingly menacing Isaac Haas and imposing Burger Boy Caleb Swanigan may provide the Boil- ermakers a devastating trio of interior options offensively. Space can be size's greatest ally and those players all become that much better with every tenth of a percentage point Stephens, Mathias or whoever else tacks on to their shooting clip this season. If the shooting holds up its end, then Purdue could pos- sess lethal offensive balance. Furthermore, for as much as Purdue had to cover up sus- pect shooting last season — it actually shot worse in wins than losses — that shooting holds the potential to recipro- cate now. Purdue still has arguably the two best returning defensive players in the Big Ten in Hammons and Rapheal Davis, but with Jon Octeus gone among other questions, there will be some adjustments there. Purdue has good shooters. Stephens and Mathias are legit, much more so than they showed last season. Ryan Cline may be the finest shooter Painter has recruit- ed, if the coach is to be believed. Sophomores Vince Edwards and P.J. Thompson can rea- sonably be expected to shoot more effectively as well, and when it comes to personal improvement, rarely would it be wise to bet against Davis. Purdue invested heavily in repairing deficient shooting and the result was more deficient shooting. But there are indicators pointing toward a bold reversal of fortunes. For the Boilermakers to be something more than just a good team this season, they need it. j Neubert can be contacted at BNeubert@GoldandBlack.com Shot In The Arm From Editor Brian Neubert