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Gold and Black Illustrated, Vol 26, Digital 3

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GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 26, ISSUE 3 27 A.J. Hammons 20 7-0 • C • Sr. The senior's backing up Haas again, as he was a year ago at this time, but he's begun this season very well, answering the question of whether he'd ever give Purdue a full season of high-level, consistent play. He's been efficient on offense, a force on defense and he's rebounding at a higher level than he had before in his career. It probably doesn't matter all that much who starts, but if the move back to Hammons is going to happen, maybe now is the time. Key Stat: Hammons is shooting 62.7 percent from the floor, and has made all the three of the three-pointers he's tried, the first three made triples of his career. Kendall Stephens 21 6-7 • G • Jr. Purdue needs more consistency from its primary long-range threat, consistency in all its forms. He's capable of better than his 35-percent three-point shooting — shot selection remains a continued emphasis — and he's certainly better than the 54-percent he's shooting at the foul line. Small sample size, yes, but there doesn't appear to be any logic to such a skilled shooter shooting so poorly at the foul line. Key Stat: Stephens was shooting 46 percent (12-of-26) from three-point range during a four-game stretch in December, ending with the loss to Butler. Dakota Mathias 31 6-4 • G • So. The sophomore brings more to the floor offensively than just his reputation as a shooter, but shots are not falling for him and it's probably eating at him. Nobody lives and dies with the game more than Mathias does. He's shooting 33 percent from three and only 29 percent overall. For a player who forces nothing in his shot selection, that has be maddening. Key Stat: Mathias, who handles the ball extensively and even serves as Purdue's third point guard at times, has committed only five turnovers in 225 minutes. Ryan Cline 14 6-5 • G • Fr. The rookie has made shots at a nearly 40-percent clip from three-point range. That's what he's out there to do. There are going to be defensive challenges for him all season, so his minutes might be scattershot. But he has proven already in his Purdue career that he can really shoot the basketball and can be trusted to give the Boilermakers mistake-free minutes. Key Stat: Long way to go still, but as of Dec. 21, Cline's three-point percentage (39.5) would be the fifth-best in program history for a freshman. Johnny Hill 1 6-3 • G • Sr. The first-year senior has been an important addition for Purdue and a valuable contributor in a point guard platoon with Thompson. But if he can't keep his turnovers to a minimum, some of those minutes might go by the wayside. That said, his length, quickness and ability to get to the basket on offense are things Purdue wouldn't otherwise have. Key Stat: Hill is shooting 71.4 percent from the floor as of Dec. 21, ranking among national leaders, certainly among guards. He is not an outside shooter, so nearly all those shots have come in the lane or at the rim. He's also shooting 80 percent at the foul line. VOLUME 26, ISSUE 3 27 Bench Jacquil Taylor 23 6-10 • G • R-Fr. Basil Smotherman 5 Redshirting 6-6 • F • Jr. Grant Weatherford 22 Redshirting 22 • G • Fr. Stephen Toyra 11 11 • G • Sr. Jon Mckeeman 2 Redshirting 2 • G • Sr. Grady Eifert 24 24 • F • Fr. Deep Bench

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