Gold and Black is a multi-platform media company that covers Purdue athletics like no one else.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/644223
VOLUME 26, ISSUE 4 29 understanding that playing hard in practice would carry over to games," Coach Matt Painter said. "I never felt like he didn't get up for games, outside of maybe a game or two every year, but you just can't flip the switch off and on. Him understanding that you have to practice (hard) every day to help yourself in games, I think that was the hardest part of the equation. I think he gets that now." Again, it was a process. A long, hard one. "Coach Painter has done a great job being patient with a guy like that," said Brantley, who's worked closely with Hammons the past three seasons. "It's not easy. Just be- cause you're big and can do some things, it doesn't al- ways mean you can immediately translate it to success. It's a process. "Being patient and caring for this young guy, while also trying to teach him and hold him accountable, it's helped get him to this point." Accountability has been a constant theme around Hammons, manifesting itself most recently at the start of this season, when Painter held Hammons out of Purdue's exhibitions, then its first two games of the season for un- disclosed reasons. But such things have just been part of Hammons' story at Purdue, a story that ends soon, as he will move on to take the crack at the NBA most figured he'd leave school for much earlier. He never did and has put himself in the best position of his career currently, though for Ham- mons, the hard part comes at the next level, as players often learn the hard way when they make the jump. Painter can talk all day about all the reasons that the NBA should draft his senior center, but there's always a "but …" associated with it. Scouts will have questions, lots of them, questions about consistency, discipline, accountability and the like. "He's going to have to prove himself," Painter said, "to convince people in interviews, because he's going to con- vince them in the workouts." Such things are not on Hammons' mind right now, he says. He is focusing on the moment, and potential water- shed moments lie ahead. "I have to lead my team in the (NCAA) Tournament," Hammons said, "and do well there. Then I can answer that question later." Hammons has answered a lot of questions. In an average of 24 minutes per game — and you might blame outstanding backup Isaac Haas, in part, for that — Hammons is averaging 14.6 points on 58-percent shooting. He's improved considerably as a rebounder, av- eraging almost eight a game playing on a team where his greatest competition for boards often comes from team- mates. "I'm trying to get a double-double for my team every game," he said. And though his bid to lead the Big Ten in shot-blocking Jamie Owens Hammons' ability to alter and block shots has helped him become one of the Big Ten's best defenders.