For three games, Kendall Stephens looked broken.
He became whole again just in time for Purdue today, in its 72-68 Big Ten-opening win.
Now, obviously, for both player and team, one game does not a season make, but this one was big. Not just because it snapped a season-changing three-game losing streak and represented Purdue not buckling in situations in previously might have, but because it was led by Stephens, maybe the Boilermakers' most important piece moving forward now that Purdue has Isaac Haas to mitigate A.J. Hammons' counted-on quotient.
Purdue is a different team when Stephens is on. It just is.
And you saw that delineation today when the sophomore shot the Boilermakers out of a cannon toward a big win with his two second-half threes.
Confidence had to be an issue for Stephens after his brutal three-game run. He should be sky-high right now, because Wednesday was exactly what he and Purdue needed.
Stephens and Hammons came into the season as Purdue's two most important players, on paper looking like their E'Twaun Moore and JaJuan Johnson of 2011, though Stephens is obviously no Moore and Hammons obviously no Johnson. Hope that makes sense.
Both were good today.
Stephens came out aggressive in the second half and it might have been the difference in the game. Purdue showed faith in him setting up those shots and was rewarded.
Hammons looked the opposite of all the things he hasn't been. Above all else, he looked engaged. His deflection that led to Rapheal Davis' late dunk - a play I didn't see and didn't appropriately credit him for in a press conference question, as he pointed out (jokingly, I think) - was a huge play. So was his post-up shortly before on a strong entry from Vince Edwards, who looked like he just stepped out of a Nyquil commercial, but did some good things regardless, flu-ridden or not.
Stephens and Hammons made big plays at both ends of the floor, but most importantly offensively. Purdue was efficient on offense during the game's decisive stretch and that made its defense better. Funny how that works.
The Boilermakers' transition defense is still poor, but Minnesota's ridiculous speed - man, DeAndre Mathieu is the real deal - had a lot to do with that.
Purdue had to keep Minnesota from running. It didn't do it for most of the game and so the Gophers were in control. When Purdue flipped the script, it took control and rode it to a really nice win.
Again, one win does not a season make, but it was a hell of a lot better than the alternative.
Purdue needs its best players to be its best players and you saw that today with the Boilermakers going with a tighter-than-before rotation.
Stephens and Hammons are two of Purdue's best players.
And they played like it tonight.
Copyright, Boilers, Inc. 2014. 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.
He became whole again just in time for Purdue today, in its 72-68 Big Ten-opening win.
Now, obviously, for both player and team, one game does not a season make, but this one was big. Not just because it snapped a season-changing three-game losing streak and represented Purdue not buckling in situations in previously might have, but because it was led by Stephens, maybe the Boilermakers' most important piece moving forward now that Purdue has Isaac Haas to mitigate A.J. Hammons' counted-on quotient.
Purdue is a different team when Stephens is on. It just is.
And you saw that delineation today when the sophomore shot the Boilermakers out of a cannon toward a big win with his two second-half threes.
Confidence had to be an issue for Stephens after his brutal three-game run. He should be sky-high right now, because Wednesday was exactly what he and Purdue needed.
Stephens and Hammons came into the season as Purdue's two most important players, on paper looking like their E'Twaun Moore and JaJuan Johnson of 2011, though Stephens is obviously no Moore and Hammons obviously no Johnson. Hope that makes sense.
Both were good today.
Stephens came out aggressive in the second half and it might have been the difference in the game. Purdue showed faith in him setting up those shots and was rewarded.
Hammons looked the opposite of all the things he hasn't been. Above all else, he looked engaged. His deflection that led to Rapheal Davis' late dunk - a play I didn't see and didn't appropriately credit him for in a press conference question, as he pointed out (jokingly, I think) - was a huge play. So was his post-up shortly before on a strong entry from Vince Edwards, who looked like he just stepped out of a Nyquil commercial, but did some good things regardless, flu-ridden or not.
Stephens and Hammons made big plays at both ends of the floor, but most importantly offensively. Purdue was efficient on offense during the game's decisive stretch and that made its defense better. Funny how that works.
The Boilermakers' transition defense is still poor, but Minnesota's ridiculous speed - man, DeAndre Mathieu is the real deal - had a lot to do with that.
Purdue had to keep Minnesota from running. It didn't do it for most of the game and so the Gophers were in control. When Purdue flipped the script, it took control and rode it to a really nice win.
Again, one win does not a season make, but it was a hell of a lot better than the alternative.
Purdue needs its best players to be its best players and you saw that today with the Boilermakers going with a tighter-than-before rotation.
Stephens and Hammons are two of Purdue's best players.
And they played like it tonight.
Copyright, Boilers, Inc. 2014. 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.
