On paper, Purdue's roster next season should make for a bigger, taller, longer team than the one the Boilermakers fielded most of this season, when it frequently played with no one the taller than 6-foot-8 and ran quasi-four-guard lineups.
That was not necessarily a bad thing, mind you, as those lineups were full of shooters and decision-makers and allowed Purdue to spread the floor, create mismatches and keep turnovers to a minimum.
In 2012-13, though, Purdue will have the option - and may have to exercise it - to go big.
Barring any roster "transactions," Purdue is slated to have six players on its roster next season standing (a listed) 6-8 or taller, with 6-8 forwards Jay Simpson and Donnie Hale arriving and coming out of redshirt, respectively, and towering center A.J. Hammons coming on board as a freshman.
Hammons, a 7-footer, will join juniors Travis Carroll and Sandi Marcius, both listed at 6-9 and now experienced, in the mix at center.
Hale and Simpson join sophomore-to-be Jacob Lawson as power forward types.
Where D.J. Byrd fits in exactly remains to be seen.
The junior and team's second-leading returning scorer would seemingly be poised to get all the minutes he can handle next season. Somewhere.
To this point in the 6-5 swing player's career, he's spent most of his time playing the 4 out of necessity, though he even when he has, he's played out on the perimeter.
With more post size at its disposal - and it must be noted that all young players at this point are unknowns - Purdue may have the option to play Byrd much more out on the wing.
But - and this will be an interesting dynamic - much will depend on how the offense operates, on how Matt Painter decides he wants to try to play.
If Purdue aims to go small and keep trying to spread the floor to open things up, Byrd makes the most sense to remain at the 4.
But, the Boilermakers - barring an off-season of dramatic improvement by several individuals - will not have the same array of shooters it had this year. Robbie Hummel and Ryne Smith are gone.
Rather, this team, on paper next season, may be more penetration-capable than a threat from long range. Terone Johnson did much of his damage off the dribble, driving the ball into the lane and using physicality. Freshman Rapheal Davis is cut from that same mold, a power guard. Anthony Johnson won't over-power anyone any time soon, but he was better off the bounce this season, particularly late, than he was as a long-range shooter.
Can Purdue make enough threes next season to open up lanes for its penetrators? Suffice to say, guys will need to be putting up a lot of jumpers this summer.
For the first time in years, Purdue will transition at the critical point guard position, where Ronnie Johnson could start as a freshman. A late signee could factor in also, as could Terone or Anthony Johnson.
Lewis Jackson was a very good player for Purdue and his experience as much as anything else will be missed next season.
The Boilermakers will have to live with mistakes at the position next season. There's no way around it. Youth at point guard is a difficult thing.
Defensively, Purdue will look different than it did at the end of last season, but will hope to go back to looking the same.
After backing off the full-court pressure some this season, Painter will undoubtedly want to get back to one of the staples of his program's defensive identity. He might need another true point guard option to do it most effectively though.
If Hammons and Hale can play - and I mean play - right away, the shot-blocking presences they could conceivably provide could by themselves make Purdue a better defensive team.
Purdue wasn't good stopping the dribble this season, but the issue was magnified by its lack of a shot-blocking or shot-altering threat.
But things could change next season.
They'll change on a lot of fronts.
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