Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/237702
BASKETBALL: NEWS AND NOTES vertime Hammons needs consistency BY STACY CLARDIE SClardie@GoldandBlack.com A.J. Hammons did manage back-toback games without foul trouble, committing only one apiece against Ohio State and Minnesota in Purdue's first two Big Ten games last week. But he still clearly is working to develop consistency in his game in Year 2 — using his career-high 33 minutes against the Buckeyes to produce a double-double while managing only three shots and one rebound in 22 minutes in a loss to the Gophers. After the Ohio State game, in which he scored 18 points and had 16 rebounds, Hammons declared the game only "OK" because he made only 6-of-16 shots and had four turnovers. "If I would have scored, kept the ball stronger and finished at the hole more, I think we could have won, actually. So it was just an OK game, until I get almost everything corrected, it's not going to be a good game for me," Hammons said two days later, getting prepared to play Minnesota. When asked then how close he was to becoming a consistently solid player was making a late rally in its eventual three-point loss. "They just tried to keep it out of the post," Hammons said after the game. "I've got to do better at posting up, which I was posting up, but we've got to do a better job attacking and moving the ball really. We really didn't get many post touches until the second half. We've just got to attack more." Hammons also had his streak of 19 consecutive games with a blocked shot snapped against Minnesota. — one who can put up those numbers nightly — he said he goes "game by game, practice (by practice)." And he knows that's not good enough. LOOKING FOR MIX "I play good in pracFor the first time since Games 6-7, tice and the game comes Tom Campbell Painter used the same starting lineup in around, I play pretty A.J. Hammons still is working on developing into a consistent player. After one of his consecutive games last week. good, but there are still best career games against Ohio State, he was a non-factor in a loss at Minnesota. Though he consistently says it some things I can work Unofficially, Hammons had about 11 on," he said. "Like the Ohio State game, (I touches on the 32 or so half-court pos- doesn't matter who starts, it's clear he is trywas) probably 65 (percent)." sessions he was in the game. When he ing to find the right combination. In the last nine games, he's used seven And that was under the ideal circum- touched the ball, Purdue had something stances: With Purdue guards finally getting "positive" happen — a basket or a trip to combinations. Terone Johnson is the only player to him the ball consistently in the post and the line — 73 percent of the time. On the running the offense through the big man, other possessions when Hammons didn't have started every game. Overall, 10 playsomething Coach Matt Painter has wanted touch the ball in the half court, that per- ers have started at least one game: Sterling Carter is the only scholarship player not to since Hammons started last season. centage dropped to 29 percent. But that emphasis was practically nonHammons had only three shot at- have started. But after Carter showed some existent against Minnesota. It was made a tempts — he made two — and four free good energy and made some shots in the bit more difficult considering the Gophers throws. He finished with seven points. But second half against the Gophers, perhaps played almost exclusively zone and packed he also had two turnovers in 22 minutes, he'll get a turn soon, too. "It doesn't mean you're the best five it in on Hammons, but the guards seemed again showing a tendency to simply drop to simply take that as a reason not to even passes in the post. One late drop likely guys on the team, but from a collective try to feed the post. would have been an easy dunk off a drive- standpoint, hopefully you play the best Hammons hardly touched the ball. and-dish from Bryson Scott when Purdue together to start the game," Painter said of GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 24, EXPRESS 15 • 10