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Purdue Boilermakers (Last Year: 27-5, 14-4 in Big Ten)
2010-11 Projected Depth Chart:
F/C: JaJuan Johnson (Sr)/Sandi Marcius (Fr)/Travis Carroll (Fr)
F: Patrick Bade (So)/D.J. Byrd (So)/Robbie Hummel (Sr-out for season)
G: Ryne Smith (Jr)/Kelsey Barlow (So)
G: E’Twaun Moore (Sr)/ Anthony Johnson (Fr)
PG: Lewis Jackson (Jr)/John Hart (So)/Terone Johnson (Fr)
Gone: G-Chris Kramer, G-Keaton Grant
2010-11 Outlook:
Robbie Hummel’s season-ending ACL injury during Purdue’s first weekend of practice put a major damper on what could have been a special season in West Lafayette. With Hummel making great progress from the season-ending ACL injury he suffered in February, and JaJuan Johnson and E’Twaun Moore choosing not to enter the NBA Draft and return to school, the Boilermakers were a legitimate NCAA Championship contending club.
All is certainly not lost this season, but the hill is much steeper to climb as the team will rely heavily on their senior duo of Moore and Johnson. The 6-10 Johnson has showed continual progress during his career at Purdue, but I do not think he is at all deserving of being a Pre-Season All-American pick. Sorry, I would not even pick him as one of my three favorites win the Big Ten Player of the Year award.
OK, I sound like a Purdue hater, but I promise I am not. I respect the job Matt Painter had done with this program in continually getting the most out his players. Johnson and Moore are an incredibly solid one-two combo, but how players three through 10 step up will determine how high this team can finish this year.
Point guard Lewis Jackson got off to a slow start last season after missing the first half of the year due to injury. His role will be increased with Chris Kramer and Keaton Grant out of the picture. Ryne Smith, Kelsey Barlow, and walk-on John Hart saw quality minutes off the bench and will be counted on even more as Painter should show a three-guard line-up more times than not. Freshmen Terone Johnson and Anthony Johnson will also hope to figure their way into the mix.
The situation in the frontcourt is a little murky without Hummel. Johnson obviously anchors that unit using his length, athleticism, and solid mid-range game to be effective. Patrick Bade and D.J. Byrd were used sparingly as energy players off the bench but now will compete to replace Hummel’s minutes. Redshirt freshman Sandi Marcuis or true freshman Travis Carroll will have to be counted on to come off the bench and provide some size and physicality when Johnson needs a breather or gets into foul trouble.
Because of their commitment to team basketball, and the senior leadership of Moore and Johnson, Purdue will once again be dancing this March. Whether they can overcome Hummel’s loss and be serious contenders in the Big Ten and on the national scene is doubtful, but I am by no means completely ruling it out.
Player to Watch: E’Twaun Moore, SG
With Hummel out, and Grant and Kramer graduated, Purdue has a gaping hole in terms of perimeter scoring. Jackson has experience at the point, but is known more for being a distributor on offense and an agitator on defense. Moore has led the Boilermakers in scoring the past three years and will need to step up his game even more so this year. He certainly has a smooth stroke from the outside, but I think he too often falls in love with his jump shot rather than trying to be aggressive and drive to the basket.
Key Non-Conference Games:
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2024 NFL Mock Draft - April 16
NFL Power Rankings - Feb. 22
Fantasy Football Rankings - Feb. 19
NFL Picks - Feb. 12
