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GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 28, ISSUE 2 32 OLD AND NEW Purdue's a veteran team if there ever was one, buoyed by four seniors who've combined to play in 411 games; a fourth-year junior in Taylor; a junior in Cline who's logged more than 1,100 minutes; and a second-year sophomore in Carsen Edwards who start- ed most of last year, then played almost a full season worth of meaningful games in international play this summer. But for as old as Purdue is, it's also very new, with a redshirt freshman, three true freshmen and a junior college transfer who've yet to play their first games in a Purdue uniform. Though Purdue will go only as far as its veterans can take it this season, it'll need newcomers to fill im- portant roles. On paper, topping that list is probably Nojel East- ern, who'll get first crack at Purdue's No. 2 point guard minutes, the World University Games providing crit- ical early experience for a player who's cited deci- sion-making as one of his biggest adjustments to the college game thus far. "That's what great about those games, that they matter and he can learn from them, but they don't count," Painter said. "Now, he understands some things, and he doesn't have to learn that in our third game against Marquette. I think he is going to be a great player at Purdue. He can play different posi- tions and do a lot of different things for us." The 6-6, 220-pound Eastern is unlike anything Purdue has ever seen at point guard, the position he'll probably see the bulk of his minutes at early in his career, with all options on the table long-term. Though he'll want to improve considerably as a jump-shooter moving forward, he's equipped to play any perimeter position and could conceivably even one day find himself playing the big-forward spot in what would amount to four-guard lineups. "When I was younger, I was taller than other peo- ple, so I played the 3, I played the 4," Eastern said. "Then I transitioned from around the fifth grade on to being a point guard, but I always had the instincts to also play the 2, 3, 4 and be versatile. Growing up playing different positions, then coming into college playing one, it helps me a lot. I feel like I can help the team out in a lot of ways." Short-term, though, Eastern steps into important minutes behind Thompson at the point. Carsen Edwards can play that position as well — with Mathias an option, too — but coaches have been intent to keep the sophomore in scoring mode and nothing but as much as possible. For Eastern, that could mean pressure. "Of course," he said. "You're always going to feel a little pressure, but the more you work, the more you get yourself prepared, the less pressure you're going to feel, so that's what I'm going to do." Redshirt freshman center Haarms figures to play a role, as well. He's not played in a formal basketball game in a year-and-a-half. Due to his age, the native of the Neth- erlands wasn't eligible to play his final season in prep school, at Sunrise Academy in Kansas; due to his citi- zenship, he wasn't able to play at the World University Games. He did join the program mid-season last year, though, and redshirted, giving him a valuable runway into his playing career at Purdue. He was impressive in preseason practices, during which he served as Purdue's primary No. 2 center as Taylor sat out. Freshman forward Aaron Wheeler is as intriguing a prospect physically as Purdue has signed in some time, a 6-8, 200-pound combo forward who may al- ready be the Boilermakers' best overall athlete. He's considered raw skills-wise, though, and con- sidering the volume of minutes Vincent Edwards will consume at his position, it's more likely than not he can be brought along slowly. Purdue can conceivably afford to redshirt mul- tiple players if it sees fit, with shooting guard Sa- sha Stefanovic being the mostly likely pick. He was impressive throughout the summer and had his moments at the World University Games, but the numbers crunch at his position is stifling. "Whatever the team needs," he said. With Eifert established as Purdue's No. 2 "power" forward behind Vincent Edwards, it remains to be seen where J.C. transfer Eden Ewing fits in, but he's athletic and energetic and those are valuable com- modities that might be put to use if he acclimates well to Purdue's structure in the preseason. j