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Gold and Black Illustrated, Vol 27, Digital 2

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48 GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED 48 GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED Isaac Haas 44 7-2 • C • Jr. Breakdown: The junior center's long-awaited time is now, as A.J. Hammons is gone and now Haas is Purdue's primary center. There might not have been a player in the country who was more productive in limited minutes last season than Haas, but now things change. His conditioning must prove to be such that he can play twice as many minutes as he did before, and do so at a high level. And now the stakes are higher in his hot-and-cold relationship with officials, who've been all over the map in their handling of the uncommonly large center. Projected Role: Again, Haas goes from a 13-minute-per-game player to, ideally, twice that. He will be a centerpiece for Purdue in a frontcourt full of centerpiece-type players. Vincent Edwards 12 6-8 • F • Jr. Breakdown: An All-Big Ten candidate, the forward took some time last season to establish his niche, it seemed like, after moving to the wing, but he peaked at the end of the year, suggesting big things to come. His ability to create for himself on offense is important, but Purdue wants him to take a step defensively too. Now an upperclassman, Edwards says he thrives off confidence and he has every reason to be confident right now. Throughout the off- season and into preseason practice, he looked the part. Projected Role: Edwards will start on the wing and log big minutes there, but also move to the 4 when Isaac Haas is out and Caleb Swanigan moves to center. He will encounter favorable matchups when he matches up against bigger forwards. Also, Edwards could be the guy who gets the ball when Purdue needs somebody to create for themselves. P.J. Thompson 11 5-10 • G • Jr. Breakdown: Purdue's top point guard, Thompson comes off a season in which he annihilated the program record for assist-to- turnover ratio and shot a rock-solid 47 percent from three-point range in Big Ten play. Those are big deals, but Purdue needs poise in key situations and inevitably such things often fall in the point guard's lap. He's older and more experienced and seems poised to deliver. Projected Role: The junior figures to be the Boilermakers' No. 1 point guard again and be leaned on even more than he was a season ago. Dakota Mathias 31 6-4 • G • Jr. Breakdown: The junior guard turned a corner midway through last season, mad — as he says — that he wasn't playing as much as he'd have liked through the first half of the season. It was a difference-maker for Purdue, as the more assertive Mathias was, the better Purdue seemed to be offensively. Mathias might be due for a breakout season as a shooter — though his 42-percent three-point shooting from last conference season is no small feat — and he still might be Purdue's best passer. He's an offensive weapon when he's aggressive, and you can expect him to be aggressive this season. Aside from maybe Swanigan, there may not be a more self-assured player on this roster. Projected Role: Mathias likely moves into the starting lineup this season. At the very least, his minutes increase from the 19 per game he played last season. And he should be fully empowered, considering his play to end last season. Meet the Boilermakers Caleb Swanigan 50 6-9 • F/C • So. Breakdown: After a strong freshman season, though one he himself probably hoped for even more from, the former elite recruit seems more settled in at Purdue than at any point during his freshman year. That alone should matter, as should experience. The preseason All-Big Ten pick is the odds-on favorite to lead the conference in rebounding and a safe bet to be far more efficient on offense as a sophomore. It's reasonable to expect upped shooting percentages and reduced turnovers. Projected Role: Swanigan will log big minutes as Purdue's primary power forward again, but should also see significant minutes at the 5 when Haas goes to the bench. At center, the matchups change, and Swanigan has shown an ability to thrive offensively in those situations. He stands to benefit, as does Purdue.

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