Saying Goodbye: JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore

In this world of NBA Draft early entry and one-and-done freshman, it is difficult to become attached to a college star. They simply don't hang around long enough. But when they do, that player becomes the fan favorite. There is nothing like watching a kid develop from a overwhelmed freshman into star as a senior. Those are the players that the fans connect with.

We reached out to some of the blogosphere's best, and over the next couple of weeks we will be running a series of posts saying goodbye to some of the country's best seniors.

Our fourth installment of "Saying Goodbye" is being brought to you by Travis Miller of Hammer and Rails, the fantastic Purdue blog. You can follow the blog on Twitter at @HammerAndRails

This is a bittersweet goodbye, mostly because I always pictured this ending different.

First of all, Scott Martin and Robbie Hummel were supposed to be saying goodbye with these two, not playing for another year at separate schools. Second, It was supposed to be on the floor of Reliant Stadium with a National Championship trophy hoisted above them, cementing their legacy as the team that finally broke through at Purdue.

Instead we’ll remember JJ and Smooge, as Purdue fans call them, as great players that will forever be tagged with the “What If” moniker. They gave Purdue everything they had for four seasons, and for many schools a Big Ten Championship, a Big Ten Tournament championship, and two Sweet 16 appearances would be a great accomplishment. When tiny Butler, less than an hour away, plays in the two National title games these guys were supposed to play in, however, there will always be a what if.

What if Robbie Hummel’s knee doesn’t buckle on February 24, 2010 at Minnesota, derailing a team that was starting to look like a juggernaut with the return of Lewis Jackson from injury? With a healthy Hummel Purdue is a likely #1 seed and might have been able to walk to Indianapolis.

What if Scott Martin hadn’t turned traitor and transferred to Notre Dame after the 2008 season? Martin’s size and ability would have filled in quite nicely for Hummel, and he had a better freshman season than Johnson.

What if Hummel doesn’t tear his ACL again on the first day of practice, ironically as Minnesota was in town for football?

It’s not fair to totally judge JJ and Smooge on these "what ifs", however, Johnson emerged as the player he was this season (Big Ten Player of the Year) mostly because he had to. He became Purdue’s first consensus All-American in 17 years, and will have a banner for that feat hanging in Mackey Arena forever. Moore leaves Purdue third all-time in scoring, hitting a number of huge baskets as a steady producer all four years on campus. He was one of college basketball’s most underrated guards throughout his career, but he leaves as one of just five players in Purdue history to top 2,000 points.

Their career finale’s may not have turned out like Purdue fans pictured, but as individuals they could not have accomplished much more. Both will likely be in the NBA next season. Johnson is expected to be a first round pick, but Moore will likely be more of a second-rounder. That’s fine. The three current Purdue players in the NBA (Carl Landry, Brian Cardinal, and Brad Miller) all exceeded expectations, so Moore can follow the same path.

Purdue couldn’t be saying goodbye to two nicer young men, either. They will be missed.


More from "Saying Goodbye"

2011: Matt Howard, Butler
2011: Keith Benson, Oakland
2011: Preston Knowles, Louisville