We are not doing a BOILING OVER on Thursday.
To make up for that mortal wound to your week - I kid - we threw together this not-as-quick-as-intended look at Purdue's roster heading into this season. This is a player-by-player composite of what I know, what I think and what I expect.
Dru Anthrop: Remember a couple years ago, when Bobby Riddell not only got on the court, but got on the court in important situations? Yeah, this might be the same deal.
Obviously some matchups will be kinder to Anthrop than others, but at this point of his career, I think he's earned his coaches' trust to not do silly things, to defend and to make open shots. He's been shooting really well in practice, sounds like.
The timing is right for Anthrop to help this team, since it is thin on options at point guard. You can only realistically ask so much of Ronnie Johnson in terms of how many minutes he can play, and your other alternatives there ? Terone Johnson and Anthony Johnson ? are going to have to wear other hats for this team, too, namely being scoring-minded.
Neal Beshears: For a non-scholarship guy, Beshears is pretty good. He really is. You're going to see a lot of teams on major programs' non-conference schedules this year who Beshears, I think, could not only play for, but start for. The 6-foot-6 forward can make jump shots and showed during the dunk contest at the Tip-Off Before The Kickoff that he's got some athleticism to him, too.
But while the timing is right for one walk-on, Anthrop, to contribute, it doesn't appear to be so for Beshears, who'd have to play as one of those undersized "stretch 4" types.
Purdue is loaded at the 4. Donnie Hale is going to get first crack, but Jacob Lawson and Jay Simpson are also in that mix, neither of them being a sure thing right now, though. Lawson has to show improvement and Simpson has to … well, we've been through this.
The possibility always exists too that D.J. Byrd could move to the spot should Purdue have to again go small to help offensively. That's not the plan, per se, but the option is always on the table.
D.J. Byrd: Purdue's best shooter and its primary heart-and-soul and effort guy, the senior might be Purdue's most important player. Painter expects him to be one of the best leaders he's had, which would say something.
The interesting dynamic for Byrd this year is that Purdue wants to play him predominantly on the wing, as opposed to in that undersized-power forward role he's been playing. The adjustment there comes on defense, where he's going to have to defend guard-types on occasions, which wouldn't seem like a great matchup, maybe some of the reason Painter is at least considering zone.
Offensively, Byrd won't have the same three-point threats around him as he did last year, but with that in mind, Painter's said he might simply run more plays for Byrd to get him his shots.
It's going to be hard to build on last year's ridiculous shooting, but there's no reason to expect any sort of drop-off, either.
Travis Carroll: Purdue's got a lot of options at center now and Carroll is also getting a try-out of sorts at the 4 position, but I'd wonder about defensive matchups there.
Even with Purdue's depth in the post, there is a very prominent role on this team for the junior. But he has to do two things more than anything: He has to be more productive as a rebounder ? both in getting them himself and creating opportunities for others ? and he has to make open jumpers. The latter is his quote-unquote niche among Purdue's big men; he's its best pick-and-pop option and the best passer of the bunch, though A.J. Hammons shows flashes.
Now I do think that this year more than ever Matt Painter will play matchups, meaning you might see a different playing rotation every game and maybe another double-digit season in terms of different starting lineups. That is especially true up front.
And with Carroll, some matchups will be better than others.
Rapheal Davis: Looking at sheer numbers alone, Davis is going to get his minutes. But don't be fooled by Italy; he's probably not going to lead Purdue in scoring like he did overseas.
But this team needs people who can put the ball in the basket right now and Davis has done that ? prolifically, if that is a word ? on every single team he's played for.
Standard blanket statement for freshmen: He has to defend, play hard, etc.
But there are some additional adjustments facing the powerful guard. Like Terone Johnson did as a freshman, he will have to learn how to play not being the strongest, biggest and best player on the floor in most games. That means he's going to have to pick his battles wisely, know when to pull up, know when to pass, know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, that kind of stuff.
If Davis plays like he could in high school and prep school, simply being able to overpower people and get into the lane at will, he might be a turnover and charge machine. Also, similar again to Terone Johnson, he is a player who came up accustomed to dominating the ball, having it in his hands most of the time. He is going to have to learn to play off the ball and have some savvy about cutting to get open, using screens, etc.
It's not as simple anymore as dribbling the ball up the floor, crossing it over and freight-training it to the hole. Aaron Craft's eyes, for example, will light up like Las Vegas if he does that.
I know that sounds like a lot, but really it's just a lot of words; Davis has always been an unbelievably productive player and he's got a chance to be really good at Purdue.
How quickly he gets the chance to be will depend on all the stuff logged above.
Donnie Hale: Personally, I pegged Hale as a long-range guy, making it seem like his emergence pre-Italy put him ahead of schedule.
But when you consider he turns 21 next week, maybe he's right on schedule. I think Purdue was right about this guy and a lot of other schools were wrong, but time will tell.
Don't expect Hale to be Robbie Hummel. He might make a jumper every now and then, but where he'll thrive offensively is in transition. He's going to be able to out-run a lot of opposing bigs.
His bigger impact should be felt on defense and on the boards. Purdue obviously needs him to rebound. He's done that well so far but time will tell whether he's physically advanced enough to do it against Michigan State, for example.
I don't know how many shots Hale's going to block this year, but his long, wiry arms are going to make him an annoyance around the rim.
And inexperience is going to show up here and there.
It is hard to project Hale on offense, because we have no idea how Purdue is going to play.
The two templates Painter's set with his previous 4 men are completely out the window, because the personnel is do different.
Is Hale going to be a back-to-the-basket guy on offense? Doubt it.
Is he an able-bodied enough screener to set strong picks, then play off it for either jump shots or dives to the basket? Don't know.
Is he going to be the 4 who can either bring the ball up or trail the play to have the option of shooting from the top or driving and kicking? That one is a resounding no.
A.J. Hammons: The freshman has a chance to be a great college player and a pro, but it's not going to happen overnight. For as far as he's coming the past few years ? and we're talking "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" far, as anyone who saw him play for Carmel can attest ? he's maybe only three-quarters of the way to where he needs to be to be great.
But as is, Hammons is a presence and Purdue hasn't had one of those in a while. JaJuan Johnson was an athletic presence in the lane; Hammons is a physical presence. He's the Sears Tower (and I know it's not called that anymore, but I don't care).
That sheer presence alone will help Purdue on D and especially on the glass. Even at the college level, Hammons has the size and strong hands to rebound over people and the length and stature to change shots just by standing there and looking scary.
On offense right now, you want Hammons to make all his dunks and most of his free throws after he's fouled off rebounds. But he will surprise you with his passing and his ability to hit a jumper every now and then.
In time, Hammons might be a dominant player.
I'm guessing you will see a flash here and a flash there this season, maybe more and more as the season goes on.
Anthony Johnson: Don't know. Just don't.
It seems like Purdue is intent on using the sophomore at the point so there's certainly minutes for him there, but as one of the few creators Purdue has offensively, you'd think Purdue will want him out there away from the ball some, too.
He really showed some flashes last season as a scorer, but Purdue needs more consistency and to see the benefits of experience in him. And he has to become a better defensive player and more productive rebounder.
There is certainly a high ceiling there. He came in raw physically. The redshirt year helped in that sense, but there's no substitute for experience and that should help him make a big jump between years 1 and 2.
Again, Purdue needs guys who can put the ball in the basket and Johnson showed he can do that last year. If he can make more jumpers, he'll be even better at it.
This is a young team that needs its upperclassmen to be solid and set good examples. Johnson seems like he wants to embrace that sort of role.
Ronnie Johnson: Like with Hammons, Ronnie Johnson is going to be a really good player at Purdue. Will it happen overnight? Maybe. But it's hard.
The freshman is the purest point guard Painter's had ? and maybe Purdue's had, like, ever. He's the best passer Purdue has had since Austin Parkinson. Those comparisons end right there.
There's no better way to put it than how Matt Painter puts it: 'He sees a frame ahead.'
Ronnie Johnson ? man, I'm getting so sick of this second-reference stuff with all those guys with the same last name ? may not Lewis Jackson quick or athletic, but he's very much quick and athletic enough. He's not as strong as Jackson, but he's taller and a better jump-shooter already. He's kind of a set-shot guy, so we'll see how that translates, but his perimeter shooting is trending upward from earlier in his high school career.
His game should be based more, though, on penetration and pushing the basketball in transition.
Johnson ? Ronnie, that is ? is a natural on offense. That'll come.
The bigger transition, I'd think, will come on defense, where he's going to pushed physically, especially in Big Ten play. It's going to test his strength, which he needs more of, and his conditioning.
Having seen Ronnie Johnson play seemingly a hundred times before he even got to Purdue, I can't say enough good things about him.
But it is not an easy spot he's in. Give him time.
Terone Johnson: He has been shooting the ball very well in practice, from three-point range and the foul line. I honestly don't see any reason to think he can't be an All-Big Ten player this year.
But more will be asked of him. The matchups aren't going to be as favorable; much more will be on his plate defensively; and he has to be a great leader.
Looks to me like he's ready for all three.
Expect a big year.
Jacob Lawson: Of all those on Purdue's roster, Lawson might be the biggest unknown, or at least he is among those returning. He fell off the map last year for most of the season. Part of that was him not fitting all that well into the skill-heavy lineups Purdue used to get its offense going, but part of that was an effort thing.
If that changes this year, there's a role somewhere on this team for his athleticism, which should be even greater now since he's not coming off Achilles' surgery. Maybe that's at the 4 or maybe it's in spot minutes at the 3 in a huge, rebounding-heavy lineup. That would hurt offensively probably and make Purdue a little easier to defend, but I know it's being kicked around.
But you'd think wherever he plays, it's not a bad thing to have a guy who can jump over everyone, provided his motor's running.
Sandi Marcius: I think we're all eager to find out if whatever light has come on for Marcius since last March is on for good.
He was dominant in Italy and right now, he's Purdue's best rebounder. Please spare me the snide remarks.
But Marcius played well in the NCAA Tournament and just seems to have really turned a corner in terms of effort. Before, he was just kind of out there; now he's a presence, a guy who can really help Purdue on the boards if this keeps up.
Has his emergence been a surprise? Maybe, but maybe not. Marcius' limitation has always been more experience-based than anything. He's not the most skilled player in the world, but he's big and he's athletic. What he hasn't been is experienced. Now he is.
When guys know what they're doing and are comfortable, it's easier to play as hard as Marcius has been. Oh, and having Hammons around to push him in workouts and threaten his minutes might not hurt either.
Jay Simpson: Painter said at media day Monday that the freshman forward might be Purdue's most talented player. I could have told you that two years ago.
He can get whatever shot he wants one-on-one in post-ups, always has been; he can face up and shoot; and he's a great passer for a big man. And he's already 6-8/6-9, with a thick, strong Big Ten body.
We love rankings. In rankings world, Simpson is a top-25 sort of talent if you ask me.
Sounds great, right?
Well, the issue for Simpson has never been talent. It's been maximizing it. Conditioning matters and a laid-back demeanor have limited his productivity, and I'm not sure he's ever really been pushed until now.
I'm telling you: He and Carl Landry are the same person. Landry was the same way. The ceiling with Simpson is just as high, maybe higher, but it's up to him.
He is the wild card for this team.
If he can be in shape, be caught up from a know-how standpoint and play hard ? by all accounts, he is in practice - he can really help this time. He's tailor-made to play the 5 in a smaller, offensive-minded lineup, for one thing. As a 4, he's a unique inside-out talent. And I'm not abusing the word "unique" there.
If he's not, he won't play at all.
It's that simple.
Stephen Toyra: Be a good practice player, get your grades and be a good person. That is Toyra's role as a freshman on this team. I don't know anything about him, but it seems like a role he should easily be able to fill.
Copyright, Boilers, Inc. 2012. All Rights Reserved. Reproducing or using editorial or graphical content, in whole or in part, without permission, is strictly prohibited. E-mail GoldandBlack.com/Boilers, Inc.
This post was edited on 10/24 11:16 PM by Brian_GoldandBlack.com
To make up for that mortal wound to your week - I kid - we threw together this not-as-quick-as-intended look at Purdue's roster heading into this season. This is a player-by-player composite of what I know, what I think and what I expect.
Dru Anthrop: Remember a couple years ago, when Bobby Riddell not only got on the court, but got on the court in important situations? Yeah, this might be the same deal.
Obviously some matchups will be kinder to Anthrop than others, but at this point of his career, I think he's earned his coaches' trust to not do silly things, to defend and to make open shots. He's been shooting really well in practice, sounds like.
The timing is right for Anthrop to help this team, since it is thin on options at point guard. You can only realistically ask so much of Ronnie Johnson in terms of how many minutes he can play, and your other alternatives there ? Terone Johnson and Anthony Johnson ? are going to have to wear other hats for this team, too, namely being scoring-minded.
Neal Beshears: For a non-scholarship guy, Beshears is pretty good. He really is. You're going to see a lot of teams on major programs' non-conference schedules this year who Beshears, I think, could not only play for, but start for. The 6-foot-6 forward can make jump shots and showed during the dunk contest at the Tip-Off Before The Kickoff that he's got some athleticism to him, too.
But while the timing is right for one walk-on, Anthrop, to contribute, it doesn't appear to be so for Beshears, who'd have to play as one of those undersized "stretch 4" types.
Purdue is loaded at the 4. Donnie Hale is going to get first crack, but Jacob Lawson and Jay Simpson are also in that mix, neither of them being a sure thing right now, though. Lawson has to show improvement and Simpson has to … well, we've been through this.
The possibility always exists too that D.J. Byrd could move to the spot should Purdue have to again go small to help offensively. That's not the plan, per se, but the option is always on the table.
D.J. Byrd: Purdue's best shooter and its primary heart-and-soul and effort guy, the senior might be Purdue's most important player. Painter expects him to be one of the best leaders he's had, which would say something.
The interesting dynamic for Byrd this year is that Purdue wants to play him predominantly on the wing, as opposed to in that undersized-power forward role he's been playing. The adjustment there comes on defense, where he's going to have to defend guard-types on occasions, which wouldn't seem like a great matchup, maybe some of the reason Painter is at least considering zone.
Offensively, Byrd won't have the same three-point threats around him as he did last year, but with that in mind, Painter's said he might simply run more plays for Byrd to get him his shots.
It's going to be hard to build on last year's ridiculous shooting, but there's no reason to expect any sort of drop-off, either.
Travis Carroll: Purdue's got a lot of options at center now and Carroll is also getting a try-out of sorts at the 4 position, but I'd wonder about defensive matchups there.
Even with Purdue's depth in the post, there is a very prominent role on this team for the junior. But he has to do two things more than anything: He has to be more productive as a rebounder ? both in getting them himself and creating opportunities for others ? and he has to make open jumpers. The latter is his quote-unquote niche among Purdue's big men; he's its best pick-and-pop option and the best passer of the bunch, though A.J. Hammons shows flashes.
Now I do think that this year more than ever Matt Painter will play matchups, meaning you might see a different playing rotation every game and maybe another double-digit season in terms of different starting lineups. That is especially true up front.
And with Carroll, some matchups will be better than others.
Rapheal Davis: Looking at sheer numbers alone, Davis is going to get his minutes. But don't be fooled by Italy; he's probably not going to lead Purdue in scoring like he did overseas.
But this team needs people who can put the ball in the basket right now and Davis has done that ? prolifically, if that is a word ? on every single team he's played for.
Standard blanket statement for freshmen: He has to defend, play hard, etc.
But there are some additional adjustments facing the powerful guard. Like Terone Johnson did as a freshman, he will have to learn how to play not being the strongest, biggest and best player on the floor in most games. That means he's going to have to pick his battles wisely, know when to pull up, know when to pass, know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, that kind of stuff.
If Davis plays like he could in high school and prep school, simply being able to overpower people and get into the lane at will, he might be a turnover and charge machine. Also, similar again to Terone Johnson, he is a player who came up accustomed to dominating the ball, having it in his hands most of the time. He is going to have to learn to play off the ball and have some savvy about cutting to get open, using screens, etc.
It's not as simple anymore as dribbling the ball up the floor, crossing it over and freight-training it to the hole. Aaron Craft's eyes, for example, will light up like Las Vegas if he does that.
I know that sounds like a lot, but really it's just a lot of words; Davis has always been an unbelievably productive player and he's got a chance to be really good at Purdue.
How quickly he gets the chance to be will depend on all the stuff logged above.
Donnie Hale: Personally, I pegged Hale as a long-range guy, making it seem like his emergence pre-Italy put him ahead of schedule.
But when you consider he turns 21 next week, maybe he's right on schedule. I think Purdue was right about this guy and a lot of other schools were wrong, but time will tell.
Don't expect Hale to be Robbie Hummel. He might make a jumper every now and then, but where he'll thrive offensively is in transition. He's going to be able to out-run a lot of opposing bigs.
His bigger impact should be felt on defense and on the boards. Purdue obviously needs him to rebound. He's done that well so far but time will tell whether he's physically advanced enough to do it against Michigan State, for example.
I don't know how many shots Hale's going to block this year, but his long, wiry arms are going to make him an annoyance around the rim.
And inexperience is going to show up here and there.
It is hard to project Hale on offense, because we have no idea how Purdue is going to play.
The two templates Painter's set with his previous 4 men are completely out the window, because the personnel is do different.
Is Hale going to be a back-to-the-basket guy on offense? Doubt it.
Is he an able-bodied enough screener to set strong picks, then play off it for either jump shots or dives to the basket? Don't know.
Is he going to be the 4 who can either bring the ball up or trail the play to have the option of shooting from the top or driving and kicking? That one is a resounding no.
A.J. Hammons: The freshman has a chance to be a great college player and a pro, but it's not going to happen overnight. For as far as he's coming the past few years ? and we're talking "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" far, as anyone who saw him play for Carmel can attest ? he's maybe only three-quarters of the way to where he needs to be to be great.
But as is, Hammons is a presence and Purdue hasn't had one of those in a while. JaJuan Johnson was an athletic presence in the lane; Hammons is a physical presence. He's the Sears Tower (and I know it's not called that anymore, but I don't care).
That sheer presence alone will help Purdue on D and especially on the glass. Even at the college level, Hammons has the size and strong hands to rebound over people and the length and stature to change shots just by standing there and looking scary.
On offense right now, you want Hammons to make all his dunks and most of his free throws after he's fouled off rebounds. But he will surprise you with his passing and his ability to hit a jumper every now and then.
In time, Hammons might be a dominant player.
I'm guessing you will see a flash here and a flash there this season, maybe more and more as the season goes on.
Anthony Johnson: Don't know. Just don't.
It seems like Purdue is intent on using the sophomore at the point so there's certainly minutes for him there, but as one of the few creators Purdue has offensively, you'd think Purdue will want him out there away from the ball some, too.
He really showed some flashes last season as a scorer, but Purdue needs more consistency and to see the benefits of experience in him. And he has to become a better defensive player and more productive rebounder.
There is certainly a high ceiling there. He came in raw physically. The redshirt year helped in that sense, but there's no substitute for experience and that should help him make a big jump between years 1 and 2.
Again, Purdue needs guys who can put the ball in the basket and Johnson showed he can do that last year. If he can make more jumpers, he'll be even better at it.
This is a young team that needs its upperclassmen to be solid and set good examples. Johnson seems like he wants to embrace that sort of role.
Ronnie Johnson: Like with Hammons, Ronnie Johnson is going to be a really good player at Purdue. Will it happen overnight? Maybe. But it's hard.
The freshman is the purest point guard Painter's had ? and maybe Purdue's had, like, ever. He's the best passer Purdue has had since Austin Parkinson. Those comparisons end right there.
There's no better way to put it than how Matt Painter puts it: 'He sees a frame ahead.'
Ronnie Johnson ? man, I'm getting so sick of this second-reference stuff with all those guys with the same last name ? may not Lewis Jackson quick or athletic, but he's very much quick and athletic enough. He's not as strong as Jackson, but he's taller and a better jump-shooter already. He's kind of a set-shot guy, so we'll see how that translates, but his perimeter shooting is trending upward from earlier in his high school career.
His game should be based more, though, on penetration and pushing the basketball in transition.
Johnson ? Ronnie, that is ? is a natural on offense. That'll come.
The bigger transition, I'd think, will come on defense, where he's going to pushed physically, especially in Big Ten play. It's going to test his strength, which he needs more of, and his conditioning.
Having seen Ronnie Johnson play seemingly a hundred times before he even got to Purdue, I can't say enough good things about him.
But it is not an easy spot he's in. Give him time.
Terone Johnson: He has been shooting the ball very well in practice, from three-point range and the foul line. I honestly don't see any reason to think he can't be an All-Big Ten player this year.
But more will be asked of him. The matchups aren't going to be as favorable; much more will be on his plate defensively; and he has to be a great leader.
Looks to me like he's ready for all three.
Expect a big year.
Jacob Lawson: Of all those on Purdue's roster, Lawson might be the biggest unknown, or at least he is among those returning. He fell off the map last year for most of the season. Part of that was him not fitting all that well into the skill-heavy lineups Purdue used to get its offense going, but part of that was an effort thing.
If that changes this year, there's a role somewhere on this team for his athleticism, which should be even greater now since he's not coming off Achilles' surgery. Maybe that's at the 4 or maybe it's in spot minutes at the 3 in a huge, rebounding-heavy lineup. That would hurt offensively probably and make Purdue a little easier to defend, but I know it's being kicked around.
But you'd think wherever he plays, it's not a bad thing to have a guy who can jump over everyone, provided his motor's running.
Sandi Marcius: I think we're all eager to find out if whatever light has come on for Marcius since last March is on for good.
He was dominant in Italy and right now, he's Purdue's best rebounder. Please spare me the snide remarks.
But Marcius played well in the NCAA Tournament and just seems to have really turned a corner in terms of effort. Before, he was just kind of out there; now he's a presence, a guy who can really help Purdue on the boards if this keeps up.
Has his emergence been a surprise? Maybe, but maybe not. Marcius' limitation has always been more experience-based than anything. He's not the most skilled player in the world, but he's big and he's athletic. What he hasn't been is experienced. Now he is.
When guys know what they're doing and are comfortable, it's easier to play as hard as Marcius has been. Oh, and having Hammons around to push him in workouts and threaten his minutes might not hurt either.
Jay Simpson: Painter said at media day Monday that the freshman forward might be Purdue's most talented player. I could have told you that two years ago.
He can get whatever shot he wants one-on-one in post-ups, always has been; he can face up and shoot; and he's a great passer for a big man. And he's already 6-8/6-9, with a thick, strong Big Ten body.
We love rankings. In rankings world, Simpson is a top-25 sort of talent if you ask me.
Sounds great, right?
Well, the issue for Simpson has never been talent. It's been maximizing it. Conditioning matters and a laid-back demeanor have limited his productivity, and I'm not sure he's ever really been pushed until now.
I'm telling you: He and Carl Landry are the same person. Landry was the same way. The ceiling with Simpson is just as high, maybe higher, but it's up to him.
He is the wild card for this team.
If he can be in shape, be caught up from a know-how standpoint and play hard ? by all accounts, he is in practice - he can really help this time. He's tailor-made to play the 5 in a smaller, offensive-minded lineup, for one thing. As a 4, he's a unique inside-out talent. And I'm not abusing the word "unique" there.
If he's not, he won't play at all.
It's that simple.
Stephen Toyra: Be a good practice player, get your grades and be a good person. That is Toyra's role as a freshman on this team. I don't know anything about him, but it seems like a role he should easily be able to fill.
Copyright, Boilers, Inc. 2012. All Rights Reserved. Reproducing or using editorial or graphical content, in whole or in part, without permission, is strictly prohibited. E-mail GoldandBlack.com/Boilers, Inc.
This post was edited on 10/24 11:16 PM by Brian_GoldandBlack.com
