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M E N ' S B A S K E T B A L L Gold and Black's Men's Hoops Lineup The Starters A.J. Hammons 20 C • 6-11 • Fr. Hammons has been an impact player for Purdue right away, establishing himself as a starter and obviously one of the Boilermakers' most important players. He is Purdue's top rebounder and shotblocker and a focal point offensively. He's shooting 49 percent, but could easily be shooting 60 if he could finish more of the high-percentage looks Purdue's been able to generate for him or simply catch the ball more often. Whether it's his hands, concentration or technique playing with his back to the rim, Hammons needs to catch the ball more consistently. Terone Johnson 0 G • 6-2 • Jr. Purdue's best scorer, the junior had been fairly consistent in his productivity up until he scored just six points against Notre Dame. Still, he's the Boilermakers' lone double-figures scorer, averaging 13 a game. He's shooting only 40 percent from the floor, not finishing in the lane as much as he'd like, but his 41-percent three-point shooting is way up from last season, as his 59-percent success at the foul line is a step forward. Furthermore, he's averaging five rebounds per game from the backcourt and boasts a 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, far and away Purdue's best. With no one else making shots, Johnson sometimes forces things. Ronnie Johnson 3 G • 5-10 • Fr. No one figured it would be easy for the freshman point guard and it certainly hasn't been. Maybe the face of Purdue's turnover problems — but certainly not the lone guilty party — the rookie has handed out just one more assist than he's turned it over. When Matt Painter talks about his players needing to be "simple" and play to their strengths, he's talking to Johnson, who's launched 23 threes and missed all but two of them. The freshman has a chance to be outstanding, but by the looks of it, it is going to take some time. D.J. Byrd 21 F • 6-4 • Sr. Aside from his spectacular first half in Purdue's win at Clemson, things have not gone as planned for the Boilermaker senior, who's struggled to make shots in a different role this season and has been strangely turnoverprone. Byrd's 24 giveaways are already a half dozen more than he committed his entire junior season. As Purdue's most accomplished long-range shooter, Purdue needs him to make shots, but even more so, it needs him to just be reliable in all phases. He has to make better decisions, because the Boilermakers need his experience and tenacity on the floor. Jacob Lawson 34 F • 6-8 • So. Lawson's limited from an offensive perspective, though he has made some jump shots this season. He's earned a significant role with his effort and energy, using both to make the most of his teambest athleticism. Purdue needs him to rebound, defend and run the floor, just to be a grinder, and the sophomore has done that so far this season. As long as he continues to, he'll have a prominent role for this team. The Reserves Anthony Johnson 1 Travis Carroll 50 Rapheal Davis 35 Donnie Hale 15 Jay Simpson 23 Dru Anthrop 14 G • 6-3 • So. A starter for much of the season thus far, the sophomore has had his ups and downs. Playing point guard much of the time, he opened the season with a nine-assist, zero-turnover outing, but has since recorded only eight assists, with a dozen turnovers. Johnson isn't shooting poorly from long range — 39 percent — and can score in the lane and in transition, but he has to pick his spots well and be unselfish and positive. Though he's only a sophomore, Johnson is a veteran on this team. Younger players might follow his lead, for better and worse. F • 6-8 • R-Fr. Sidelined by a leg injury right now, Hale's season has hit a bump in the road. What's been evident this season has been the wiry forward's need for added size and strength, even after he made significant strides during his redshirt year last season. Right now, he struggles to control contested rebounds, play through contact and establish position under the basket. What he does do well right now, though, is make jump shots, providing Purdue a valuable threat when it moves the ball around. C • 6-9 • Jr. In some ways, Carroll is a reflection of how Purdue collectively should play. Yes, he has limitations, but he understands them and doesn't try to do anything he can't do, as evidenced by his 85-percent shooting. On a team that struggles to pass, he's Purdue's best ball-mover from the post. He's unselfish, smart and plays hard, all characteristics the Boilermakers could use more of right now. F • 6-8 • Fr. After playing the first 10 games of the season, Simpson was lost for the season due to a lingering foot issue, most likely stemming from an injury in the summer. Purdue likes his many offensive skills, but first he must get healthy. Simpson's ability to pass and handle have shown his potential, but he'll have to wait until the 2013-14 season to showcase these skills. G/F • 6-5 • Fr. After being mostly a nonfactor through nine games, Davis might have seen the light come on in the second half of the Notre Dame game, scoring all of his game-high 21 points in the final 10:22. Granted, Purdue was down 21 when his burst started, but nevertheless, the young guard has always been a combustible scorer and showed it in Indianapolis. It's been a struggle for him this season for a variety of reasons, but the Notre Dame game almost certainly earned him more playing time. One thing about Davis is he listens and really wants to be good. He will improve. G • 6-0 • Sr. Anthrop's earned a spot in the playing rotation, and even a start, as Purdue is struggling badly to make solid decisions and carry out assignments. Anthrop knows what he's doing and gives maximum effort, but it goes without saying that it's not ideal that the Boilermakers have had to turn to him as they seeks anything that'll work. But it is what it is, and Anthrop will give it everything he has and be a strong leader. Sandi Marcius 55 C • 6-9 • Jr. Much was hoped for this season from Marcius, who was so good in Italy and in preseason practice. It hasn't yet translated and with Purdue having other options at center, the junior has fallen behind. He can be productive when he's out there, especially on the boards, but he struggles to finish around the basket and can still be mistake-prone. He will get more chances as the season moves forward, but right now, he's No. 3 on a three-center team. Deep Bench Neal Beshears 30 F • 6-6 • So. Stephen Toyra 11 G • 6-3 • Fr. — Brian Neubert GBIprint.com GoldandBlack.com GOLD & BLACK ILLUSTRATED • VOLUME 23, ISSUE 3 • 39