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basketball: news and notes vertime Playing The Role BY STACY CLARDIE AND ALAN KARPICK B asil Smotherman needs to be pressed to admit he likes to start. It wasn't a position he thought he'd be in as a freshman for Purdue. But since overtaking fifth-year senior transfer Errick Peck in the season's eighth game, Smotherman has kept the starting spot by simply doing his job. Coach Matt Painter has pegged Smotherman as a high-energy player who can spark the team with his defense, rebounding and willingness to hold his offensive ego in check. All traits were on display in Purdue's victory over Penn State last week. Though Smotherman may not have been the talk after the wild game — that was A.J. Hammons after his game-sealing free throw and Terone Johnson for his game-tying late three-pointer Updating the Plus-minus Here is an update to the graphic we ran on Page 3 of last week's Express. As a reminder, here is what the figures mean: Ronnie Johnson is +24, which means when he is in the game, Purdue has scored 24 points more than its opponent. Kendall Stephens Ronnie Johnson Terone Johnson A.J. Hammons Jay Simpson Travis Carroll Basil Smotherman Sterling Carter Bryson Scott Errick Peck Rapheal Davis OSU @ Minn Neb @Ill PSU. Total +1 -5 +3 +11 +10 +20 -5 0 +9 +12 +3 +19 -4 +3 +2 +10 +2 +13 -3 -1+9+9-3 +11 -3 -1 -5 +2 +11 +4 Inj. +2 +3 -3 -2 0 -8 -1 -3 +1 +11 0 -5 +8 +6 -6 -3 0 -4 +2 -2 +1 -3 -6 -1 -2+4+7 -14 -6 -8 -20 +10 -4 -7 -29 they're No. 4 at plus-4.1. — it was the freshman Last season, Purdue finforward who was solid ished fourth overall after and kept the Boilerfinishing eighth or worse makers afloat. in that category in six of He had nine Matt Painter's first seven points — on 2-of-2 seasons. shooting and a perfect Why the recent surge? 5 of 5 from the line — "I guess it's just our three rebounds and mindset," said forward Jay two assists in 12 firstSimpson, who had five half minutes. In the boards against Penn State final 1:25, Smotherto help his team hold an man had seven points, 11-rebound advantage. five on free throws, "We come into games including an and-one Tom Campbell play off a no-look pass Freshman Basil Smotherman had his first career double-double against now knowing that if we control the boards, then from Terone Johnson Penn State Saturday with career highs of 12 points and 10 rebounds. we have a good chance of with only 6.1 seconds second-half rebounds, four on the winning the game, and right now, left in the half. offensive end. Smotherman added seven "I just had to keep hustling," it's all about winning. So we're trySmotherman said of his effort. "I ing to get every rebound we can mostly get the hustle points and get." Perhaps no performance has make the hustle plays, and that's been better this season than what what I had to keep doing for 40 the Boilermakers did in a victory minutes." over the Illinois Wednesday, holding a 14-rebound advantage. That Board mentality Twice last week, Purdue out- prompted Illini coach John Groce rebounded its opponent by dou- to say afterward that Purdue was "tougher and threw us around like ble-digit rebounds. It's been quite the rebounding a bunch of rag dolls." Tom Campbell Simpson was fine with that By one measure, Terone Johnson has been the leap for the Boilermakers, who lead description. third-most impactful Boilermaker in Big Ten the conference in margin at plus"Everyone talks about how play. His brother, Ronnie, is tops on the list 8.8 in league-only games. Overall, based on the box left. young we are and immature and GoldanDBlack express • volume 24, express 17 • 11