POSTERIZED: Robbie Hummel. Wait, ROBBIE HUMMEL?

I can honestly say that of all the current D-1 basketball players in America, Robbie Hummel is arguably the least likeliest to end up on an episode of B.I.A.H POSTERIZED.

Maybe it's because of his multiple knee injuries, and maybe it's because he's a slow, white, 6-foot-8 sharpshooter. But seeing Robbie Hummel dunk for the first time is like seeing a bald eagle for the first time:

Majestic and awe-inspiring.



Considering the circumstances and his limitations, this is arguably the most impressive thing Hummel has ever done. I don't care if Purdue did beat IPFW 81-56 in a cupcake game. What Hummel did is just flat-out impressive.

Add this to the many reasons why it's impossible NOT to root for this guy.


But was it as good as these?

Robert Brown, Virginia Tech vs. North Florida, 12/19
Tony Mitchell, Alabama vs. Kansas State, 12/17
Quincy Diggs, Akron vs. Florida A&M, 12/17
Anthony Davis, Kentucky vs. Chattanooga, 12/17
Langston Galloway/C.J. Aiken/Ronald Roberts, St. Joseph's vs. Villanova, 12/17
Terrence Ross, Washington vs. UC-Santa Barbara, 12/16
Jared Cunningham, Oregon State vs. Howard, 12/15
Raheem Appleby, Louisiana Tech vs. McNeese State, 12/14
Tony Mitchell, Alabama vs. Detroit, 12/12
Vander Blue, Marquette vs. UW-Green Bay, 12/11
Ronald Roberts, St. Joseph's vs. Creighton, 12/10
Dion Waiters, Syracuse vs. George Washington, 12/10 (DotY Candidate)
Victor Oladipo, Indiana vs. Kentucky, 12/10
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Georgia vs. Georgia Tech, 12/10
Vander Blue, Marquette vs. Washington, 12/6
Terrence Ross, Washington vs. Marquette, 12/6
Deville Smith, Mississippi State vs. West Virginia, 12/3
Terrence Jones, Kentucky vs. North Carolina, 12/3
Tony Mitchell, Alabama vs. Georgetown, 12/1
Anthony Marshall, UNLV vs. UNC, 11/26
Michael Kidd-Glichrist, Kentucky vs. Portland, 11/26/11 (DotY Candidate)
Markel Brown, Oklahoma State vs. Virginia Tech, 11/25
Rodney Williams, Minnesota vs. DePaul, 11/24
Thomas Robinson, Kansas vs. Duke, 11/23
Stan Okoye, VMI vs. Ohio State, 11/23
Kyisean Reed, Utah State vs. Southern Utah, 11/19
Ra'Shad James, Iona vs. Western Michigan, 11/18
Alandise Harris, Houston vs. Arkansas, 11/18
Sam Thompson, Ohio State vs. Jackson State, 11/18
Tony Mitchell, Alabama vs. Wichita State, 11/18
Eric Griffin, Campbell vs. North Carolina A&T, 11/18 (DotY Candidate)
Olek Czyz, Nevada vs. Pacific, 11/17
Chris Watson, Pikeville vs. Mountain State, 11/16
Ray Willis, North Carolina Central vs. Wagner, 11/16
Mike James, Lamar vs. Ohio, 11/15 (DotY Candidate)
Quincy Acy, Baylor vs. San Diego State, 11/15
Deniz Kilicli, West Virginia vs. Kent State, 11/15
Chris Evans, Kent State vs. West Virginia, 11/15
Tony Mitchell, Alabama vs. Oakland, 11/14
Isaiah Brown, East Tennessee State vs. Virginia Tech, 11/12
Michael Lyons, Air Force vs. Army, 11/11
Dezmine Wells, Xavier vs. Morgan State, 11/11
Jeremy Lamb, UConn vs. Columbia, 11/11 (DotY Candidate)
Andre Drummond, UConn vs. CW Post, 11/4
Moe Harkless, St. John's vs. CW Post, 10/26











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Purdue lost Hummel, but the season is far from lost

Anyone that hasn't yet read Luke Winn's article on Robbie Hummel, his parents, and The Injury should really do it.

I just finished it.

As usual, its a great read.

But while I was reading it, I got to thinking (which isn't always a good thing). Throughout the entire offseason, Purdue has been one of the three teams (along with Duke and Michigan State) whose name was thrown around as a potential preseason No. 1. Many expected a Big Ten title from the Boilermakers. Anything short of the Final Four would have been a disappointment, and a national title was very real possibility.

Obviously, all of that changes now that Hummel won't be involved. But by how much? Jeff Goodman dropped Purdue all the way to 25th. Andy Katz dropped them to the 23rd spot. Gary Parrish says he will probably rank Purdue somewhere in the 17-22 range, while Winn mentions in the article that he slots Purdue between 15th-18th.

While Hummel is hurt, Purdue still has two all-americans in JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore.
(photo credit: Mancave Sports)

We all remember that Purdue still has two all-americans, right? JaJuan Johnson may just be the best center in the country. At 6'10", he averaged 15.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg, and 2.1 bpg on a team with two other stars. He's got a very good finesse game in the post -- knocking down turnarounds and jump hooks consistently -- and has range out to 17 feet. Oh, and the kid that was never strong enough is now benching 315 lb.

E'Twaun Moore is arguably the most underrated player in the Big Ten. He's a prototypical four year back court star. He's not a lights out shooter, but he's dangerous enough that you cannot give him an open look at the rim. He's not lightening quick, but he knows how to get by his defender. He's not the most explosive finisher at the rim, but he gets the job done. Its not easy to score 16.4 ppg in the Big Ten.

With these two stars, Purdue made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, where they lost to the eventual national champion Duke Blue Devils. Sure, they lose Chris Kramer and Keaton Grant off that team, but they also bring back eight other players that were in Matt Painter's rotation by the end of the season.

Ignore the Hummel injury for a second. Let's pretend that he was never coming back. If I told you that a four-seed that reached the Sweet 16 would be returning eight of their top ten, including their two all-americans and their starting point guard, where would you rank that team? The top five? Top ten?

Kenpom has an even better argument:

Temple was previously 23rd in Katz's list. If you added a healthy Hummel to Temple, I don't think you would consider the Owls to be national-title material. If you think Hummel had some special value to Purdue that he wouldn’t have on another team, leave him out of the argument for a second. Pick any player in college basketball and add him to Temple's roster. He still couldn't make the Owls' the second-best team in America.

Most are going to remember what Purdue looked like in their first few games without Hummel. It wasn't good, that's for sure. But when thinking about performances like their 11 point first half against Minnesota in the Big Ten Tournament, keep in mind that Purdue team was forced to learn how to play without arguably their most important piece in the middle of February.

This current team, the one that Matt Painter will have at his disposal for the 2010-2011 season, will have the entire season to perfect playing without Hummel. Painter will have the entire preseason to put in sets to run if they are forced to go small, using Kelsey Barlow at the four. He will have over two months to groom the rest of his front court -- Patrick Bade, Sandi Marcius, and Travis Carroll -- to be prepared to face the front lines of schools like Ohio State, Illinois, and Wisconsin once Big Ten play roles around.

The point that people make against Purdue is that they lose their two most important role players in Grant and Kramer; that the Boilermakers need the inexperienced younger guys on their roster to step up.

What team doesn't? That's the nature of college basketball, isn't it? To have a consistent program, don't you need to have players waiting in the wings that are capable of filling in when seniors graduate?

Is Purdue still a title contender?

That's a stretch.

But I don't think its a stretch to say that this is a team that can still compete for a Big Ten title or, with the right draw, can make the Final Four.
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Reactions to Robbie Hummel's injury from around the web

No matter where you looked this weekend, one thing that was universally agreed upon was that the injury to Robbie Hummel -- a second torn acl in the span of eight months -- was heartbreaking. Seemingly everyone had something to say about it.

You can read our thoughts here.

And here is what the rest of the internet is saying:


Jeff Goodman, FOXSports: " Sometimes life just isn’t fair and bad things happen to good people. Robbie Hummel was one of the best kids I’ve ever run into — in all my years of covering the NBA, college and high school basketball. I’ve watched and known Hummel for about six years — since he played AAU ball with the SYF Players as a junior in high school. He's what's right with basketball. In a sport in which many stars have egos that can barely fit into arenas, Hummel is virtually ego-less. In a sport where guys play for the wrong reasons, Hummel truly plays for the love of the game."


Dana O'Neil, ESPN.com: "Five years ago, I was the Villanova beat writer for the Philadelphia Daily News. During the second round of the NCAA tournament against Florida, Curtis Sumpter crumbled under the basket with a torn ACL. He, like Hummel, worked his rear end off in the summer to come back and rejoin his team -- a team expected to be very, very good, not unlike Purdue. Sumpter was so excited that he nearly skipped to practice on that first day in mid-October. And then on Oct. 19, Sumpter re-tore his ACL during practice. He had surgery in November and missed the entire season. I watched and talked to him a lot that year. He was a great support for his team -- a great leader and cheerleader -- but emotionally, he was crushed. In fact, he didn’t accept a medical redshirt until February, holding out hope daily that he might just be able to return for what would have been his senior season."


Matt Norlander, College Hoops Journal: "Not only was Purdue robbed of arguably its best player, but hoops fans were robbed of a great storyline and great player/person this season. We lose a team that seemed to be so well-rounded, senior-laden and ready to get back to a Final Four for the first time since 1980 and only the third time in program history. When March comes nothing is guaranteed, of course, but part of October reading and evaluating and waiting in this sport is about hope and prognostication. Hummel's tumble takes away a lot of that."


Tubby Smith, Minnesota Head Coach: "When I heard it this morning, it brought tears to my eyes. He tore up his knee here last year. He’s such a sweet kid, a special young man. He’s got so much going for him. I just feel bad for him and his teammates. Purdue was as good a team as any in the country."


Jim Boeheim, Syracuse Head Coach: "It's such a horrific thing because that kid has worked so hard to get back. Obviously I feel bad for Purdue, but it's devastating for the kid. He is a tremendous player, an all-American that could be a first-team all-American. Purdue is a preseason top four or five team. He played for his country and for this to happen to him two years in a row is just an awful thing. It's hard to describe."


Bo Ryan, Wisconsin Head Coach: "He has done all the right things and it just goes to show how unfair things are at times. If anybody though can handle the adversity it is him. He's such a tough-minded young man. He loves the game so much. He's been good to the game."


Dan Hanner, Yet Another Basketball Blog: "I think the key difference is that replacing a player like Hummel is a lot easier in October than in February. With this injury taking place in October, Purdue will still have a number of practices, exhibition games, and early season cupcakes to build a team without their star forward. Making this adjustment in February when their opponents were peaking was a very difficult adjustment for the team to make in such a short amount of time."

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Robbie Hummel is done for the year, again.

Purdue fans got some devastating news this morning as their all-american forward Robbie Hummel tore the acl in his right knee -- the same acl he injured in February last season -- in practice today. As if the news itself isn't heartbreaking enough, Hummel hurt the knee on the second drill of his first practice back.

Ugh.

Anyone with a soul has to hurt for this kid. Purdue was expected to be a Final Four contender last season when Hummel went down with the injury. And while his teammates rallied valiantly for a run to the Sweet 16, where they lost to eventual national champion Duke, Purdue just isn't the same team with out Hummel.


Hummel averaged 15.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg, and 2.1 apg last season, but it was his ability to rebound and defend the four while, essentially, being a small forward that made him so valuable. He was a matchup problem on a nightly basis, a leader for the Boilermakers, and by all accounts just a great kid.

Purdue was going to be a popular pick for preseason No. 1 and a favorite to win the national title this season. Without Hummel, both of those predictions will obviously take a hit.

If there is a silver lining here, its that the injury occurred as early as it did. Purdue still has some talent. E'Twaun Moore and JaJuan Johnson are both potential all-americans and there are some solid role players on the roster. Matt Painter is an excellent coach, and he now has a full month to figure out what he wants to do with this team without Hummel in the lineup.

Sometimes life just isn't fair. I think we can all agree this is one of those times.

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Purdue is a different team without Robbie Hummel

So its true.

Purdue is going to miss Robbie Hummel.

And it may be worse than we all expected.

On Sunday afternoon, the Boilermakers hosted Michigan State, a team they beat pretty soundly in East Lansing earlier this month. And as Purdue is wont to do, they played a terrific game on the defensive end of the floor. They held Michigan State to just 53 points while forcing the Spartans into 22 turnovers, notching a season-high turnover percentage of 36%.

Without Robbie Hummel, Purdue is a different team.
(photo credit: USA Today)

The problem?

As good as they were defensively, Purdue was worse offensively and on the glass.

As far as scoring the ball is concerned, Purdue was terrible. They shot just 30% from the floor. Their eFG was just 32%. They only made 15 field goals. They only got six offensive rebounds. Perhaps most disturbing was their offensive efficiency, which was a horrific 67.5, 45 points below their average and 22 points below their previous low on the season.

Michigan State wasn't all that much better. The Spartans committed 22 turnovers and shot just 40% from the field. The difference? Michigan State's work on the glass, as the Spartans outrebounded Purdue 46-20.

I don't think its any coincidence that Purdue has their worst game offensively and on the glass in the first game they play without Robbie Hummel.

And its a shame, really.

I mean, had Purdue not lost Hummel and beaten Michigan State they would be right there with Syracuse and Kansas in the discussion for No. 1 in the country. Now, a top ten ranking may be getting generous. A push to the Sweet 16 should be considered a success. You may disagree, but Purdue played extended minutes with Chris Kramer at the four on Sunday.

I love Kramer's game. He's a great defender, a tough rebounder, and one of those kids that you love to play with and hate to play against. But if your team is forced to play a 6'3" two-guard at the four, I think it is time to officially admit your season is in trouble.

That said, it is very unlikely that the Big Ten will end in anything other than a tie, and likely a three-way tie. MSU has to play just Penn State and Michigan. Purdue's schedule is even easier, as they get Indiana and the Nittany Lions. Ohio State's only game is at home against an Illinois team they beat by 19 on the road a few weeks back.

Even without Hummel, Purdue should not be upset by either Indiana or Penn State.

If they are?

Well, you might be able to kiss a win in the NCAA Tournament goodbye.
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Robbie Hummel done for the year. How does this effect Purdue?

By now, you've surely heard that Robbie Hummel's acl is, in fact, torn.

It goes without saying that this is a huge loss for the Boilermakers and another serious injury for Robbie Hummel, who is, by all accounts, a great kid, to overcome. If you remember, Hummel was dealing with a fractured back all last season.

The question of the day seems to be how this will effect Purdue's seeding come Selection Sunday. The seed Purdue gets will be a direct result of how well they play without Hummel in the line-up.

Regardless of your fan affiliation, you hate to see things like this.
(photo credit: WLFI)

To be completely honest, I'm torn about Purdue's ability to handle this injury. On the one hand, Purdue runs a motion offense that maximizes the sum of their parts as opposed relying on the ability of one or two players. Purdue has a talented, experienced group of kids that understand their roles in this system and should be able to function on the offensive end of the floor.

They've had experience without Hummel as well. He missed four Big Ten games with that back injury last year.

The problem is Hummel is such an important part of what Purdue tries to do, and it goes way beyond the 15 points and 7 boards he averages. Hummel is as good as anyone on the Boilermakers at moving the ball offensively. At 6'8", he plays the four and is their best rebounder, but his ability to play on the perimeter offensively creates mismatches night in and night out.

If you really want to get a feel of what Purdue is losing with Hummel done for the season, just think back to the week of Jan. 9th-16th. Purdue lost three straight games and got ripped by Matt Painter for their lack of leadership. Chris Kramer and Keaton Grant got benched over it.

The only player that Painter did not criticize was Hummel.

Purdue has the pieces to survive this injury. Grant is a good player, and with Hummel out of the line-up he is going to get more opportunities. Chris Kramer is scrappy enough that he can play in the post.

But surviving is a far cry from thriving, and Purdue's NCAA Tournament seed is going to be directly dependent upon how well they perform down the stretch. The Boilermakers will play at least four games, including Michigan State, who they host on Sunday. If Purdue wins out -- earning conference regular season and tournament titles -- the Boilermakers probably have to get a No. 1 seed even without Hummel. But if they don't play well, who knows how far this team could drop.

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With Robbie Hummel out, Purdue is going to need Keaton Grant to step up

With one ill-fated jumpstop, Purdue's season may have come to a crashing halt.

Robbie Hummel had seemingly snapped out of a three-game shooting slump last night against Minnesota, scoring 11 points as Purdue jumped out to a 26-14 lead on Minnesota on the road. But with 7:11 left in the first half, Hummel's knee gave out as he sliced through the lane. The junior forward immediately went to the ground, grabbing his knee. He did not put any pressure on it as he was helped off the court.

Anyone that saw the play thought the same thing: something's torn.

Hummel will be getting an MRI on Thursday to determine the full extent of the injury, and while Purdue and their fans are holding out hope, most people are expecting the worst.

Robbie Hummel was helped off the court last night after injuring his knee.
(photo credit: Chicago Tribune)

It goes without saying that this injury is devastating to Purdue's Final Four chances.

Hummel isn't an all-american candidate. He's not going to be winning any player of the year awards. He isn't even Purdue's leading scorer. But he is an extremely valuable piece to the Purdue puzzle. Purdue is not a deep team by any stretch of the imagination. With Hummel in the lineup they, at times, have had trouble scoring and rebounding the ball. What happens if they lose his 15.8 ppg and 7.2 rpg?

Its more than just the stats. Hummel is an unselfish leader and a steadying influence for Purdue. There aren't many 6'8" players in the country that can defend and rebound like a four, but are blessed with the offensive skill set of a two-guard. Hummel's versatility and ability to shoot at the four spot helps to open up the paint, allowing JaJuan Johnson, E'Twuan Moore, and company to execute inside.

There's no denying he is a crucial component for Matt Painter's club.

Assuming Hummel is out for the year, this puts the Boilermakers in a very tough spot.

A No. 1 seed in the tournament was their's to lose. A lot of folks are going to bring up the Kenyon Martin injury back in 2000, an injury that dropped Cincinnati to a No. 2 seed that season. That was different. Martin was injured during the C-USA Tournament, a game Cincinnati lost. The Bearcats never had a chance to prove what kind of team they were without him.

Purdue gets that chance.

And if they are going to retain that No. 1 seed, the guy that is going to have to step up is Keaton Grant. Grant, who is a year older than Purdue's big three, averaged 11.2 ppg as a sophomore, when Hummel and co. were freshmen.

But this season he's having his least-productive year since he was a freshman as he deals with inconsistent minutes. That doesn't mean the talent is gone, however. He's reached double figures the last three games. Against Minnesota, he made three huge jumpers down the stretch, including an 18 footer with eight seconds left that turned out to be the game-winner.

Regardless of how well Grant plays, the one thing we can be certain of is that Purdue's road to the Final Four just got a whole heck of a lot bumpier.

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Purdue's point guard problems will hurt them

When talking about Ohio State's comeback win against Purdue last night, everyone is going to mention Evan Turner's 23 second half points. Or the 14 straight points he scored in the last four minutes to turn a 10 point deficit into a 2 point lead. Or the 29 points and school-record eight threes Robbie Hummel had in the first half.

Don't get me wrong, what Hummel and Turner did last night was nothing short of incredible. There's a reason both are on a short list for Big Ten player of the year, and they showed it last night.

Robbie Hummel had 29 first half points last night.
(photo credit: Cleveland.com)

But that wasn't the story of the game last night.

No, the bigger issue is what Purdue lacks; namely, a point guard with Lewis Jackson sidelined with a broken foot.

The Boilermakers got bailed out by Hummel in the first half. They had nine turnovers in the first ten minutes. Other than Hummel, Purdue scored just 12 first half points. As a team, they shot 22 three-pointers in the first 20 minutes, and hit just 2-12 once you factor out Hummel's performance. What Hummel's hot first half hid was Purdue's inability to get penetration against the Ohio State defense. The Boilermakers weren't attacking the gaps of the Buckeyes 2-3 zone or getting the post touches in the paint, instead throwing the ball around the perimeter until they happened to get a look at a three.

They caught a break when Hummel caught fire.

After halftime, OSU went man, keeping David Lighty, Jon Diebler, or William Buford attached to Hummel's hip. As a result, the Boilermakers scored just 25 points in the second half, as Hummel was 2-8 from the floor with six points. If it weren't for the ability of E'Twaun Moore to create going 1-on-1, 25 points would have been a stretch.

The bottom-line is that Purdue is essentially a bunch of jump shooters and defenders. Outside of Moore, is there anyone on this team that can consistently create their own shot? Is there anyone that makes a coach think "we cannot be late with help side if he penetrates"? Hell, even 6'10" center JaJuan Johnson's best offensive weapon (outside of the catch-and-dunk) is a 15-17 foot jumper.

Simply put, the Boilermakers don't have a player that can put pressure on the defense.

They don't have a creator.

It doesn't necessarily have to be a point guard. Ohio State doesn't have a true point guard, but they have Evan Turner. Turner can attack the rim. He can beat his man and force the defense to help. He can find the open player when the help comes, or finish at and around the rim if its not there in time.

Purdue?

They have Kelsey Barlow. Barlow isn't a bad player - hes a big, strong guard that can defend and rebound, but he hasn't shown anywhere near the ability to be a playmaker, a passer, or a scorer just yet.

They have Keaton Grant, who has had a solid career for Purdue. But if you're a Purdue fan, do you really feel comfortable relying on Grant, who's averaging a career high with 2.1 apg this season, as your primary playmaker?

I wouldn't.

Purdue is a phenomenal defensive team, maybe the best in the country, and they played great defensively last night. In the first 36 minutes of the game, they had held Ohio State to just 52 points and Evan Turner to 18 points on 7-17 shooting and just 3 assists to 6 turnovers.

But in the final four minutes, their lack of a true point guard reared its head again.

Up 62-55 after a three-point play from Turner, Ohio State threw a press at Purdue, forcing back-to-back turnovers that both led to easy baskets for Turner. On their next possession, up just 62-59, Chris Kramer forced a tough shot in the lane that was blocked by Dallas Lauderdale, and at the other end Turner knocked down a three which tied the game.

Evan Turner didn't play great last night, but he was great in the final four minutes.
(photo credit: Cleveland.com)

Two possessions later, after an E'Twaun Moore jumper was sandwiched by four Evan Turner free throws, Purdue once again turned the ball over, this time with Keaton Grant losing the ball out of bounds with 40 seconds left.

Lewis Jackson could have helped prevent those turnovers.

Purdue is outstanding defensively, good enough that it is going to win them a lot of games. But, as I've said since the injury to Jackson happened, Purdue is not a complete team.

And when playing against good teams - like Wisconsin and Ohio State - they are going to be exposed.

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Wednesday's Shootaround: Evan Turner > Robbie Hummel

Ohio State 70, Purdue 66: Robbie Hummel was unconscious. He scored 29 points in the first half, hitting 8-10 threes including a 4:18 second stretch when he made six straight from deep. At the break, Ohio State and Robbie Hummel were tied at 29. The problem? The rest of the Boilermakers only scored 12 points in the first half, and Ohio State never seemed out of it.

In the second half, neither team was able to get into a rhythm offensively, as the Boilermakers withstood an early run from the Buckeyes, holding the lead stead at around 10 points. But with just over four minutes remaining, Evan Turner took over. After a JaJuan Johnson dunk put Purdue up 62-52, Turner drove to the rim for an and-one layup. After the free throw, OSU threw a press at the Boilermakers, forcing back-to-back turnovers by Kelsey Barlow, which resulted in back-to-back layups for Turner. On Purdue's next possession, Dallas Lauderdale blocked a Chris Kramer layup, and William Buford found Turner trailing the play, and Turner knocked down a three to tie the game. All told, Turner went on an individual 10-0 run in the span of 1:19. He would hit four more free throws on OSU's next two possessions, giving the Buckeyes the lead for good.

For the game, Turner had 32 points and 9 boards on 11-21 shooting. The scary part? Turner was clearly not 100%. While his back may be ready to go, Turner looked tired and winded (understandable, he did play all 20 minutes), and appeared to be rusty (again, understandable) as he missed a number of shots around the rim that he usually makes. And he still led OSU back from a late double-digit deficit to Purdue in Mackey Arena. Even with six missed games, Turner has to be up there with John Wall in terms of national player of the year consideration.

Kentucky 89, Florida 77: John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins are not the only great freshman on the Wildcats. Eric Bledsoe is pretty damn good as well. Bledsoe scored 25 points and added 7 boards, 5 assists, and 3 steals while hitting 10-13 shots from the field and 3-4 from long range as he helped carry Kentucky to a tough road win at the O'Connell Center. With John Wall having an off-night (well, as off of a night as John Wall can have - he finished with 19 and 6 dimes), Bledsoe sparked Kentucky, breaking Florida's pressure single-handedly and sparking what was a dormant Wildcat team for the first eight minutes.

Florida made a second half run, coming back from down 57-42 to tie the game at 72, but UK responded. Patterson hit a short jumper, and Darnell Dodson knocked down a three before a Chandler Parsons free throw made it a four point game. Bledsoe put the game out of reach, knocking down a three and hitting a layup that put it back to nine with under two minutes left.

Colorado 78, Baylor 71: Quick, where's the toughest place to win in the Big XII? Answer: on the road. Baylor found that out the hard way, as they went into Boulder as a ranked team and came out with a loss. A late 14-4 run sparked by Cory Higgins, who scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half, gave the Buffs a 64-55 lead with 2:40 remaining. LaceDarius Dunn had 23 for Baylor, while Ekpe Udoh had 14 points and 14 boards.

NC State 88, Florida State 81: NC State hit 11 of 23 from deep, led by 31 points and 7 threes from Scott Wood, as the Wolfpack handed the Seminoles their second ACC loss in three days. Sidney Lowe's club used a 16-1 run midway through the first half to upen up a 23-12 lead, and NC State never trailed after that. Chris Singleton had a career-high 22 points to lead the Noles.

Wake Forest 85, Maryland 83 OT: After Greivis Vasquez broke a 74-all tie with 40 seconds left in regulation, Al-Farouq Aminu knocked down two free throws to force overtime in Winston-Salem. In the overtime, Jordan Williams tied the game at 83 with 51 seconds left as he tipped in a missed jumper from Vasquez, but Ishmael Smith scored on a floater in the lane at the other end for the eventual game-winner. Greivis Vasquez and Sean Mosley both missed threes on the Terp's final possession. Vasquez finished with a season-high 30 points and added 7 assists, while Aminu had 24 points and 13 boards to lead Wake.

Other notable scores

• Kansas State 88, Texas A&M 65: Denis Clemente scored 20 of his 24 points in the first half as the Wildcats jumped out to a big lead early, cruising to the win.
• VCU 81, Hofstra 68: Larry Sanders scored 31 points and hit 11-13 from the field as the Rams knocked off the Pride.
• Illinois 54, Penn State 53: Bruce Weber returned Demetri McCamey to the starting lineup, and he responded with 25 points, including a jumper with 1:02 left in the game that proved to be the game-winner.
• Northern Iowa 52, Bradley 50: The Panthers won their 14th straight game and improved to 6-0 in the Valley as Ali Farokhmanesh scored 14 points and Jordan Eglseder added 11 and 10 boards.
  

Tuesday's Best

• Robbie Hummel had 35 points and 10 boards, scoring 29 in the first half, but was outdone by Evan Turner, who had 23 of his 32 points in the second half.
• Eric Bledsoe carried Kentucky to a road win against Florida with 25 points, 7 boards, 5 assists, and 3 steals.
• John Holland scored 25 points and added 10 boards to lead BU to a win over UMBC.
• Greer Wright's 27 points left Binghamton to a 64-62 win and a 2-1 mark in the America East.
• Scott Wood scored 31 points and hit 7-11 from deep in NC State's upset win on the road at Florida State.
  

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2009-2010 College Basketball Season Preview: Small Forwards

The season is fast approaching. The first games are on Nov. 9th, and the BIAH live blog during ESPN's season kickoff is just two weeks away. So with just a week until actual games are played, we figured the best way to finish up our 2008-2009 season previews is to give you our Top 10 players at each position. You know how much we love a good Top 10 list here.

A few caveats. First, we're talking about how good these guys are as college players, not how well they project as a pro. Second, while it may be too much power for me, I am making the executive decision on what "position" a player is (and it may not necessarily be what he is listed as on a roster). Third, I am not putting the freshman in the list. As much as I've read about these guys and as many Youtube clips as I have watched, I have yet to see many of them play a real game (the all-star games don't count), and I don't think that I could give an accurate assessment until I see them play. Lastly, I love me a good argument, so if you think someone is too low or too high or the wrong position, leave a comment and let me hear about it.

Here are the point guards.
Here are the shooting guards.
These are the small forwards.

Best Freshman

• Jordan Hamilton, Texas
• Jamal Coombs-McDaniel, UConn
• Noel Johnson, Clemson
  

Best of the Rest

• Tasmin Mitchell, LSU
• Edwin Ubiles, Siena
• Quincy Pondexter, Washington
• Patrick Christopher, Cal
• Klay Thompson, Washington State
• Marcus Ginyard, UNC
• Wesley Witherspoon, Memphis
  

Top 10

• 10. Raymar Morgan, Michigan State: As a junior, Raymar Morgan battled mono all season, and thus had the least productive year of his career. Morgan has great size and strength for a wing, which is only complemented by his athleticism. He is still a bit of an enigma offensively. He is not a great shooter and looks out of control at times when he penetrates, but he is excellent around the rim, whether it is off of a drive, a break, a post-up, or an offensive rebound. With a disappointing season culminating in a loss in the title game, expect Morgan to come out hungry this year.
  


• 9. Chris Wright, Dayton: Wright, who has earned the nickname "Top Flyght", may be the best athlete in the country. At 6'8" with a near-40" vertical, he soars around the rim. The problem is, he is still very much just a dunker and a rebounder. To his credit, however, the rest of his game has been coming along. Wright has a decent mid-range game and has improved his handle to the point that he can get to the rim from the wing. Where Wright excels, however, is his ability to make plays defensively, on the offensive glass, and in transition. A potential A-10 player of the year, Wright will be one of the most exciting players in the country to watch.
  

You'll see a lot of this out of Chris Wright this year.
(photo credit: Dayton.edu)

• 8. Da'Sean Butler, West Virginia: Butler is one of the best kept secrets in the country, and will be the most important player for a West Virginia team with Final Four aspirations. With Alex Ruoff graduating, Butler is really the lone offensive threat on the Mountaineers. And he is quite a threat, averaging 17.1 ppg last season. Butler's offensive game starts with his shooting ability, where he is very dangerous when he has a chance to get his feet set and his shoulders squared. He's not an overwhelming athlete, but he is long and strong. At 6'7", he is a good finisher around the rim and has a decent post game. If he can improve his ability to create his own shot using the dribble, he will likely be a first team all-conference selection.
  


• 7. Tyler Smith, Tennessee: Smith is one of the most versatile players in the country. He is built like a power forward, but he has the skills and athletic ability of a small forward. Smith is at his best when he is attacking the basket. Not only is he an excellent passer (and probably the best creator on the Vols), but he can get to the rim and finish or draw a foul. A capable shooter, the key for Smith is to avoid falling in love with the three-ball.
  


• 6. Robbie Hummel, Purdue: Hummel had a disappointing sophomore season as he spent the year battling a painful stress fracture in his spine. Now that he is back healthy, expect Hummel to return to his freshman year form. Hummel is first and foremost a shooter, as he knocked down 45% of his threes in his injury-free freshman season. Hummel is also excellent moving without the ball, whether it is coming off of a screen or cutting to the basket. He does struggle a bit when he is forced to put the ball on the floor, but given the system that Purdue runs, Hummel will not be asked to drive to the basket all that often.
  


• 5. Wesley Johnson, Syracuse: Johnson is still a bit of an enigma at this point in his career. He had an outstanding freshman season for Iowa State, but transferred after an injury plagued sophomore year. He sat out this past season, but given his tools and his skill set, Johnson should fit in perfectly with the Orange. Johnson is a long, 6'7", athletic wing. His offensive game is based on his outside shot, but his athletic ability makes him dangerous in the passing lanes and on the glass. He has drawn quite a few comparisons to Shawn Marion, which is a fair assessment. If he stays healthy this season, Johnson will be one of the best scorers in the Big East.
  

Wesley Johnson shouldn't sneak up on anyone this season.
(photo credit: syracuse.com)

• 4. Manny Harris, Michigan: Out of everyone on this list, Harris is the only guy that could be considered a two guard. But given his ability to affect the game in a multitude of ways, I decided to slide him over to the three. Harris is first and foremost a scorer. A slender 6'5", he uses a quick first step and long strides to get to the rim. Harris is a natural scorer, meaning he just seems to know how to get buckets, but it really is just a nice way of saying "the kid relies too much on athleticism, and not enough on advanced skill, to score." That's true for Harris. He is still a bit toolsy. If he can improve his jumper and his handle, he has the ability to average 20. One place where Harris made significant strides last season, and hopefully will continue to make strides this season, is his efficiency. He forced some shots and some passes last season, but as he continues to get more comfortable in his third season playing for John Beilein, that should become less of an issue.
  


• 3. Kyle Singler, Duke: With Duke lacking in perimeter players and deep in the front court (especially when it comes to perimeter oriented fours), Singler is moving to the three spot this season. What makes Singler so good is that there really isn't anything that he can't do on a basketball court. If a smaller guy is guarding him, he can score in the post. If a bigger guy is, he can step out to the perimeter and knock down a jumper or put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. He can rebound. He can pass. He can defend. He hustles. Add to that the combination of Singler being immensley talented and 6'8", 230 lb, and what you get is one of the best players in the country.
  


• 2. Gordon Hayward, Butler: Just a sophomore, Hayward doesn't get the recognition he deserves nationally as he is a huge reason the Butler Bulldogs will be in and around the top ten this season. Hayward's game starts with his jump shot, which is as pure as it gets. Standing 6'8", there aren't many people that Hayward can't shoot over. He also proved to be adept at slashing to the basket last season. Not blessed with greeat athleticism, Hayward is able to penetrate from perimeter due to his craftiness - he knows how to get a defender off balance using an array of fakes, jabs, and hesitation moves.
  

Evan Turner is such a well-rounded player.
(photo credit: SI)

• 1. Evan Turner, Ohio State: Turner may be the most complete player in the country - he was one of two guys to average 17 ppg, 7 rpg, and 4 apg last season. Standing 6'7", Turner is going to play a point forward role this season for the Buckeyes. Why? Because he is such a good play maker and passer. He isn't the greatest athlete in the world, but he is smart and fundamental, especially with the ball in his hands. He makes good decisions - shooting when he's open, passing when he's not - and rarely forces the issue. If improved his stroke from the perimeter (he shot 44% from deep last year, but only attempted 25 threes) over the summer, Turner will be near unstoppable.
  

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No. 6: 2009-2010 Team Preview: Purdue Boilermakers

2008-2009 Record: 27-10, 11-7 Big Ten (t-2nd)

Key Losses: Nemanja Calasan (6.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg), Marcus Green (4.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg)

Key Returners: E'Twaun Moore (13.8 ppg, 3.0 apg), JaJuan Johnson (13.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.1 bpg), Robbie Hummel (12.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg), Keaton Grant (7.9 ppg)

Newcomers: Stevie Loveless, Kelsey Barlow, Dru Anthrop, Kyle Coleman, DJ Byrd, John Hart, Patrick Bade, Sandi Marcius

Robbie Hummel, Chris Kramer, and JaJuan Johnson will lead an experienced Boilermaker team.
(photo credit: Lafayette-Online)

Two years ago, Purdue came out of nowhere to make the NCAA tournament on the strength of three freshmen - Robbie Hummel, E'Twaun Moore, and JaJuan Johnson. Last season, those three led a beat-up Purdue team to the Sweet 16. Now fully healthy and returning six of their top seven scorers, the Boilermakers looked primed to make a run at the Big Ten title.

Purdue's team is centered around team play, execution, and defense. There may not be a team in the country that plays better fundamental defense that the Boilermakers. Whether its getting to the charge spot, jumping to help side, or perfectly rotating when the ball swings, Purdue hangs their hat on the ability to make every shot a difficult one. The best defender on the team is Chris Kramer, who won the 2008 Big Ten defensive player of the year. Kramer is tough as nails and routinely defends an opponent's best perimeter player. He even slid down to the four spot defensively when Hummel was injured.

While Purdue is strong on the defensive end, that doesn't mean that they don't have some talent on the offensive end. Their best offensive weapon is probably Hummel. Hummel played last season with a painful stress fracture in his back which forced him to wear a brace on his back, even when he wasn't playing. He is now 100%, which is great news for Matt Painter. Hummel is a versatile offensive player in that skill-wise, he is a small forward but he plays the power forward spot on this team. He stands 6'8", but his is at his best playing on the perimeter thanks to his excellent jump shot. He is mobile and a heady player, resulting in a lot of easy baskets moving without the ball. Where Hummel struggles is when he is forced to put the ball on the floor. He has a decent handle, but his limited-at-best athleticism stifles his ability to get by a defender and finish at the rim.

Joining Hummel up front is JaJuan Johnson. Johnson came into Purdue as a rail thin, 6'10" center, but in his two seasons he's beefed up 40 lbs to 210 and can now bench 285 lbs. Johnson is a shot blocker that has a decent back to the basket game and a solid jumper out to about 15 feet. He is easily the best NBA prospect on the Boilermakers roster, a testament to his development as he played JV as a high school junior. Johnson still could use some added strength to help him battle the Big Ten's biggest and needs to improve his rebounding, especially on the offensive end, but his presence inside will be so important as Purdue does not have much else up front.

On the perimeter for Painter is E'Twaun Moore and Keaton Grant. Moore has led Purdue in scoring the last two seasons. He isn't a flashy player or an overly athletic guy, but he's smooth on the offensive end with good instincts and a better jump shot. He won't blow by a defender every time, but can get to the rim when the opportunity is there. Likewise, he isn't going to be shooting 25 footers all game, but he can knock down open jumpers at a pretty good clip. In short, Moore is a smart player that picks his spots well. Grant had a fantastic sophomore season in '07-'08, averaging 11.2 ppg and shooting 44% from deep. He struggled a bit last season as he, too, was beat up, but one thing that's for sure is that Grant can shoot when he is healthy.

Lewis Jackson will run the point for Purdue. Jackson had an up and down freshman season, but should be expected to come back strong during his sophomore campaign. Jackson is a jet with the ball and should help the Boilermakers get some easy baskets in transition. He proved to be better than expected in the half court, however. Given his diminutive stature (5'8"), he will probably never be a dominant player a la Kalin Lucas. But Purdue doesn't need that. They need a guy that won't turn the ball over and can get the ball to their stars in a position to score. Jackson should be able to do that this year.

I mentioned it earlier, but the biggest issue for Purdue this season is going to be depth. Outside of the six guys I just mentioned, who else will be able to contribute minutes, especially up front? Sophomore Ryne Smith is a shooter, but played just 18 games last season. 6'10" Croatian freshman Sandi Marcius was expected to contribute minutes, but he will be out for about another month with an injury. After that, there are a lot of freshman that will battle for role playing minutes. Patrick Bade, a 6'8", 235 lb forward, may see some reserve minutes up front. On the perimeter, DJ Byrd and Kelsey Barlow are both talented enough to see some time as well.

Outlook: A lot of people had Purdue pegged as a potential Big Ten champion and Final Four team last season. But a rash of injuries kept the Boilermakers from playing at full strength most of the season. With everyone back, and three potential Big Ten player of the year candidates, it is feasible to believe that Purdue could outlast Michigan State and win the conference. If they do, it will be a result of their defense. I'm not sold on them being a Final Four candidate this year, however. Unless they have some interior depth surface, Jackson develops into a more consistent PG, and either Moore or Hummel turns into a dominant go-to scorer, I just don't see Purdue being a team built for March.
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