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GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 28, ISSUE 3 60 14 RYAN CLINE Guard • Junior After a slow start to the season, Cline's now on a shooting tear. His 4-of-6 shooting night vs. Rutgers brought his thee-point percentage over the past seven games to 62 percent, 18-of-29. But his shooting has only been part of his strong all- around play this season at both ends of the floor. He's looking like one of the most valuable reserves in the Big Ten. 20 NOJEL EASTERN Guard • Freshman Year 1 has been up and down for the rookie, who's battled turnovers and fouls, primarily. But there might be some modest signs of growing comfort and confidence of late, as he's done some posi- tive things recently, though in less pressurized situations generally. The adjustment continues for Eastern, but he's shown enough this season to suggest he can be an impact defender one day, for one thing. 23 JACQUIL TAYLOR Center • Junior Taylor was great at the World University Games, then sat out October due to injury concerns and has now seen Haarms' sudden emergence limit his opportunities. Haarms is now clearly established as Purdue's No. 2 center and one of its most im- portant players, really. It took a while for Taylor to work his way back into playing shape, too, but that process has likely run its course by now. 24 GRADY EIFERT Forward • Junior After opening the season first off the bench be- hind Vincent Edwards at the 4, Eifert's seen some of the backup-forward minutes go to Haarms as Purdue's played inordinately big, more than could have been expected. But Eifert's effort, rebound- ing and experience will keep him top of mind for Painter. He loomed large earlier this season in Purdue's win at Marquette, so he's already made his mark this season. 32 MATT HAARMS Center/Forward • Redshirt Freshman The redshirt freshman has been a revelation for Purdue this season, a player who's transformed the Boilermakers defensively with his shot-block- ing — he's averaging three per game and because of it, Purdue's already blocked more shots than it did all of last season — and uncommon mobility for his 7-foot-3 stature and brought impactful energy and enthusi- asm to a team loaded with older players. He might be a star. 15 TOMMY LUCE Guard • Sophomore 55 SASHA STEFANOVIC — REDSHIRT Guard • Freshman 1 AARON WHEELER — REDSHIRT Forward • Freshman Bench Deep Bench