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VOLUME 26, ISSUE 4 87 season in an effort to get the Boilermakers back to where they want to be. Before official practices started in early February — Purdue opened the season the weekend of Feb. 19, with a 1-2 record in its three games in Atlanta — the Boilermakers gathered together for informal workouts. That's not unusual, but the Boilermakers felt they had increased focus this winter. "I think battling through adversity brings people — us — closer together," Johnson said. "All the hard work, especially in the offseason, working to- ward that goal of building up, trying to look to see what we can improve on. It brings us closer together, when we're putting in the hard work. You don't know what's going to happen, but just trusting each other and putting in the work together, it brings us closer." Although last season didn't go the way Purdue had hoped, as the Boilermakers finishing only 6-17 in the Big Ten and 20-34 overall, the end gave them a bit of momentum. Strangely, Purdue held the na- tion's longest winning streak entering this year, at five, a string that has dual meaning: The Boilermak- ers played better at the end of the year, but not well enough overall to qualify for the Big Ten or NCAA tournaments. "But it definitely gives us confidence," Johnson said. "The (last) couple weekends, we decided to have fun and play loose and that's what we needed. We can't worry about anything else." Purdue thinks it has the ability to compete this season, at least get back to the Big Ten Tourna- ment for the first time since '12, and maybe more. The lineup could be strong, with a core of Johnson, Wood and Picchiotti in the middle, plus the addition of freshman Jacson McGowan, who opens the season as the No. 3 hitter, Purdue's first rookie there since Cameron Perkins in 2010. "I think we've got some table-setters at the top," said Coach Doug Schreiber, who begins his 18th sea- son at Purdue. "… We've got enough power in the middle of the order, and at the bottom hopefully we've got some guys who can handle the barrel and move some guys and get on base and contribute as well." But for Purdue to be as successful as it would like, it'll need to get its pitching staff in order. That's been an issue the last few seasons — the Boilermakers' 5.40 ERA during conference last year was tied for 10th — due in part to injuries. But if they can stay healthy, Purdue thinks it has pieces, although un- proven ones, of a quality staff. Sophomore Tanner Andrews, freshman Nick Dale- sandro and senior Gavin Downs will start in the weekend rotation, but Purdue has other options too, including Mike Kornacker. The sophomore was ex- pected to be in the rotation last season, but a back in- jury kept him out the second half of the year. Purdue will ease him back slowly this season. Junior Matt Frawley will close, after he moved into that role, with good success, late last year. And J.C. transfer Tanner Schumacher will pitch late innings, as well. "The starters, if they can give us quality starts and get us into the fifth or sixth innings, then we feel like the bullpen can be a little fire proof and give us a chance to win toward the end of the ball game," Schreiber said. "Last year, we had to try to hang with a couple guys, but just didn't have power arms in the bullpen. We did move Frawley in there and he was pretty electric and he'll do that for us this year too." Purdue will need those pieces to fall into place this season, if it wants to get back into a postseason tour- nament. The conference coaches don't see the Boilermak- ers finishing in the top half of the league; in the poll released in mid-February, Michigan was picked to win the Big Ten, followed by Maryland, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois and Michigan State. But then, considering where Purdue's been the last few years, selecting the Boilermakers in the top half would have been a surprise. "I think a lot of people are going to write us off again," Johnson said, "which honestly gives us mo- tivation to not necessarily prove people wrong but to prove to ourselves that we can do it and we can be successful. It's not really about showing anybody else up and proving it to anybody else, it's that we're doing it for ourselves, for us. Believing in ourselves is all it takes at this point, because we have all the tools." j