Lacking experience, Purdue has high hopes
Of the 12 players comprising Purdue's roster, seven will sweat in their Boilermakers jersey for the first time Thursday in their exhibition opener.
Is this any way for Matt Painter to build a program?
Judging by last year's results -- and the stellar reputation of Purdue's incoming class -- the answer is a definitive yes.
The Boilers were just one of three NCAA teams that made the leap from last place in their league in 2005-06 all the way into the 2007 NCAA Tournament.
Painter did it by mixing a few accomplished holdovers with several blue-chip newcomers. The Boilers jelled so well by the end, they hung with two-time national champ Florida most of the way before falling by 7 in the NCAA's second round.
Purdue will try to make the "something old, but a lot new" formula work again this year.
"I think we have the talent to go to the NCAA Tournament," Painter said. "Now, we do not have very much experience."
This time around, Painter won't have all-Big Ten picks Carl Landry (18.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg) and David Teague (14.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg) on whom to rely. Landry seems likely to stick with the Houston Rockets.
He also won't have junior Gordon Watt, last year's No. 4 scorer and No. 3 rebounder who was expected to start at forward again. Watt tried the coaches' patience for the last time 10 days ago, when he found himself booted from the squad after being arrested on suspicion of a DUI.
Is Painter worried? Not exactly.
Not with the nation's No. 5 recruiting class (as measured by the Recruiting Service Consensus Index) ready to step in and take flight.
Over a period of less than a month last summer, Purdue reeled in commitments from combo guard E'Twaun Moore (No. 23 prospect), sharpshooting forward Scott Martin (No. 41), center JaJuan Johnson (No. 47) and jack-of-all-trades forward Robbie Hummel (No. 61).
All but Johnson played AAU ball together in Gary, Ind., so that will help enable them to play plenty of minutes from the jump. So will late addition Nemanja Calasan, a junior-college power forward who boasts typical Euro skills as well as some post moves.
"We've got a lot of talent," said senior guard Tarrance Crump, one of the four returnees expected to play a big role.
The Boilers' NCAA chances, however, depend on how quickly the youngsters adjust to the big time.
Hummel and Martin, in particular, have a bigger chance than expected to make an impact now that Watt's out of the way.
"Last year, it would have been a huge blow," Painter said. "Now it's just not that significant if nobody gets injured."
Purdue at a glance
Coach: Matt Painter (31-31, third year at Purdue; 56-36, third year overall)
2006-07 record: 22-12 (9-7 Big Ten, tied for fourth); Lost to eventual champion Florida in NCAA Tournament's second round
Starters returning/lost: 2/3
Projected starters
• F Robbie Hummel 6-8 208 Fr. This is Purdue's "Elmer," the glue guy everyone needs who does what's necessary for victory.
• F Nemanja Calasan 6-9 243 Jr. Committed to Utah, but the Boilers swooped in to grab this juco star when the Utes changed coaches.
• G Chris Kramer* 6-3 210 So. All-Big Ten defender should be OK after two off-season surgeries to relieve compartment syndrome
• G E'Twaun Moore 6-3 180 Fr. The nation's No. 23 recruit can handle, score, rebound, defend -- you name it.
• G Keaton Grant* 6-4 207 So. Painter expects a big jump offensively from this defensive-oriented guard
Toughest nonconference games: Nov. 27 at Clemson; Dec. 8 at Missouri; Dec. 15 vs. Louisville (at Wooden Tradition in Indianapolis)
Big Ten single games: at Indiana; vs. Minnesota