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VOLUME 27, ISSUE 2 39 Hammons was on occasion. Even in top shape, it's still a lot to ask of a 295-pound man. But Haas wants to at least dictate his minutes, not be- ing limited by conditioning or foul trouble. Coach Matt Painter would like to see that, too. "He has been very efficient in the 13-15-minute (range). If he can just be as efficient in 20-25 minutes, that would be great," Painter said. "He really just has to keep his cardio going and not make those fatigue mis- takes. I thought he made major improvements from his first year to his second year. Now, his minutes are going to go up, and the more he can do those things and be solid, the more efficient he is going to be." Haas knows long stretches will take a toll on his body, the way he gets beat up, the way defenders hang on him, push, pull, bump, grab, anything to try not to allow Haas to settle into that sweet spot in the paint. The spot from which he's developed a killer hook shot. The spot from which he can turn, flick his wrist and bank it in. The spot from which he can drop-step and deliver a thunder dunk. The spot he's eager to call his own in his junior season. Hammons was an NBA talent. Haas knew it, practiced against it every day for two years, saw the freakish athleti- cism and spring-ability his 7-foot teammate had. But Haas knew, too, he had something. He could envision it: Just a handful more minutes each game, and he could show everybody what he could be. But Hammons won out as last season wore on. Haas started the season's first 15 games, the first few as a re- sult of Hammons' suspension. In that early stretch, Haas played at least 20 minutes in a game three times — the only times he'd do it all season. Once Big Ten play start- ed, the shift began. Haas spent more time on the bench, watching Hammons work. He couldn't help but get frus- trated, coming to a boiling point after the Minnesota game Jan. 27. He played only nine minutes in that game, his second consecutive in single-digits. He was ticked off, with himself, with the coaches. So he went to Painter and voiced his concern. Painter told him he was the only player who could come into his office and truly have a case for more playing time. But, ultimately, Haas was a victim of circumstance: Hammons was just playing too well. "(Painter said), 'He has to start,' " Haas said. "I'm like, 'I understand that.' I just came in again and started work- ing harder than before and trying to be an equivalent guy to where it was that same kind of pressure if (Hammons) came out as well. "I felt like I responded. It took me a week or two to get up to the point where I wanted to be. But now I've been working this offseason, so hopefully I can be above that." Because sharing is done. Haas is the unquestioned go-to around the rim now. And he says he's ready to do his job. Whether that's rebounding — he knows he needs to do it at a higher clip this season after averaging only 3.7 per game last season and intends to rebound outside his area more by jumping higher and by fiercely pursuing the ball. Whether that's passing — an area that likely will be tested as defenses swarm him with double teams. Whether that's setting screens — he says he's ea- ger to get teammates freed up, especially knowing the sharp-shooting abilities of Purdue's perimeter shooters. Whether that's playing controlled, sound defense — there's been a point of emphasis to be a better team defender by being more aware, more vocal in calling out ball screens and communicating and also as an individ- ual defender by walling up to use his size and making players shoot over him instead of him chasing blocks. Whether that's getting entrenched on the block and scoring in bunches — his extra shooting work was smart, not trying to extend his range beyond 15 feet but enhancing his post repertoire. "We know he's going to have to play a big role for us," said assistant coach Brandon Brantley, who works with Purdue's post players. "I have confidence he'll be able to step up and do his job." Haas knows he'll sometimes be expected to "domi- nate," as Thompson said. Perhaps Purdue fans already have seen that in glimps- es. In last season's 8-for-9 shooting effort in 18 minutes against Illinois in the Big Ten Tournament or in his 4-for- 5 effort in 19 minutes at Indiana or earlier in the season against North Carolina AT&T, when he had 12 and 10. As a freshman, he had a four-game stretch in non-con-