INSIDE THE NUMBERS

2000-01 record: 13-18; 5-11 in Big Ten (Tied 8th) Postseason: None. Last NCAA appearance was in 2000. RETURNING LEADERS Points: Deane 17.3 Rebs: Buscher 2.7 Assists: Parkinson 4.8 FG: Buscher 45.0% 3pt: Deane 38.0% FT: Parkinson 78.9% 01-02 Stats: Purdue | Big Ten KEY LOSSES Allison | 9.8 ppg Lewis | 9.5 ppg Marshall | 5.9 ppg Smith | 9.7 ppg PROJECTED STARTERS G | Au. Parkinson | Junior G | Dar. Kilgore | Senior G | Willie Deane | Senior F | Chris Booker | Junior C | Ivan Kartelo | Junior Player to Watch Willie Deane Senior Guard A shame the nation never got to know the talents of Blanchard. DATE TO REMEMBER Dec. 14 It's a game that means nothing, but means a whole lot at the same time. This is when Purdue plays Indiana at the RCA Dome in a game that doesn't count in the conference standings. Because of the Big Ten's unbalanced schedule, the in-state rivals only meet once in league play (Jan. 25 in West Lafayette). The schools, however, agreed to play and make some serious cash in the process.

 

PURDUE BOILERMAKERS

Last season Purdue looked anything but a Gene Keady team. The Boilermakers didn't defend, didn't rebound and lacked the toughness of the typical Purdue team. How bad was it? Try 10th in the Big Ten in points allowed (71.5 ppg) and in field-goal percentage defense (47 percent). All that did was lead to a 13-18 overall record, a 5-11 league record and Keady's first losing mark in 13 seasons. Will things be different this season? Keady certainly thinks (or at least hopes) so. Keady, the most experienced coach in the Big Ten said the older Purdue players returned with a different attitude this season and they, in the coach's words, "want to prove they're not losers." Purdue does have two things going for it this year. First is a guard who can score in Willie Deane. Second is interior death. Purdue has as many inside players as almost any team in the Big Ten. Junior college transfer Chris Booker should start from the start of the year. Notre Dame tranfer Ivan Kartelo should help after sitting out last season. The team also has 6-11 Kevin Garrity and 6-10 freshman Matt Kiefer. Expect Purdue's newcomers -- Keifer, Melvin Buckley, David Teague and Booker -- to see significant minutes.

TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
Willie Deane established himself as a guard who can certainly score and create his own offense. Deane, a 6-1 senior, is quick enough to get past a defender and score, but he also has a solid perimeter jumper. As Purdue's primary scorer, Deane fought off defensive attention and led the Big Ten in scoring with 17.3 points per game

TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
Does simply saying that a team is going to play good defense actually change anything? Purdue's defense a year ago really was suspect. Keady blamed himself for the problem, but will that be enough to change anything. The Boilermakers have finished in the Big Ten's bottom division in three of the past four seasons. Will that change this season.

BOTTOM LINE..............................
Purdue should be better this season. Keady will certianly make that happen. The question is whether that's enough to make the Boilermakers competitive. Purdue's talent level is as good as the top six or seven minutes of the year. The Boilermakers might also be playing too many young players to really be a major factor in the league race.