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Young Purdue Squad On Rise

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 16, 2008

Some preseason eyebrows were raised when Michigan State coach Tom Izzo announced his sleeper team in the Big Ten.

Purdue?

"No question, the most physical team in our league," Izzo said. "And it's not the same old Purdue. Used to be, some of their players looked like the Boilermaker himself. This is a different version, thinner, more athletic."

And extremely effective.

Izzo found that out first-hand on Tuesday night, when the Boilermakers (20-5, 11-1) toppled the Spartans 60-54 to assume first place in the league standings.

Purdue has done it with youth. Three of the team's top four scorers - swingman Robbie Hummel (11.4 points per game), G E'Twaun Moore (11.2) and F Scott Martin (8.9) - are freshmen.

Meanwhile, the Boilermakers are getting meaningful play from sophomores Keaton Grant (10.7) of Kissimmee and Chris Kramer (6.9), whom Izzo calls "the toughest kid in our league."

It all bodes well for Purdue coach Matt Painter, who saw his team complete a sweep of Wisconsin with last Saturday's 72-67 road victory.

"It was a great week of basketball," Painter said. "Three weeks ago, we were talking about just getting into the NCAA Tournament. We have a lot more work to do, but I think we'll continue to get more positive bullet points on our resume.

"I know there were some doubts Purdue lost at home to Wofford 69-66 early on. I feel like if that Wofford game hadn't happened, we wouldn't be the same team we are today. We had to see we could lose to anybody if we don't work hard. I like our talent level. I really like our moxie."

Purdue is a sleeper no more. Opponents are facing the Boilermakers with eyes wide open.

Courtside: Georgetown Coach John Thompson III

Thompson has the Hoyas (20-3, 10-2 Big East) in first place with a team that has shown an ability to win the close games (4-0 in contests decided by three points or fewer, including Monday's controversial 55-53 victory against Villanova).

Thompson talks about his team, which seeks a second straight trip to the Final Four:

Your senior point guard, Jonathan Wallace, came to you as a freshman walk-on. What gives you such confidence in him?

He has earned it. Simple as that. He makes practically every shot he takes. I trust his instincts. I trust him with the ball. I trust him with the game in his hands.

It seems like teams at the top of the Big East standings all have dominant big men. Is that how you succeed in this league?

I don't think it's an accident. We're blessed to have 7-foot-2 Roy Hibbert. His offense is starting to emerge. You feel his presence at both ends of the floor. That presence is a big key to any success we have.

Historically, Georgetown hasn't had many transfer players, but you have Patrick Ewing Jr. who began at Indiana. Why has he been so effective, and why did you take him?

His name answers that question. Patrick is Patrick. His enthusiasm, his energy, his zest for the game has made us a better team.

Going into the last six games of the regular season, where does your team stand?

We're plugging along. That's probably the best way to explain how the team is playing. Now we go to the Carrier Dome today. Georgetown-Syracuse has always been a special game in this league. The difficult thing is, we have another game on Monday against Providence - and they're both road games. It's the third or fourth time we've had a one-day turnaround. There are some inequities with our schedules, but it is what it is.

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