For the past week, Purdue’s basketball team has been given vivid reminders of the importance of not squandering opportunities.
The message has applied more to off-court issues, but Wednesday it came into play on-court.
The Boilermakers routed Nebraska 83-65 to take another step in building their NCAA Tournament resume.
“We’re always telling them, do your job. Do what you are supposed to do. If you’re locked in and concentrating on what you’re are supposed to do on the defensive end and then execute offensively, that’s what you are thinking about while you are playing” said head coach Matt Painter. “When they are doing that, they just give themselves to the team and are able to make shots.”
After shooting 33-percent from the field at Mackey Arena Sunday in a loss to 6th-ranked Michigan State, the Boilermakers were quick to reheat their shooting hands.
The Boilers hit 54-percent of their shots against the Cornhuskers, including 63-percent in the first half. They also connected on 13-29 from beyond the three point-arc, which is second most they’ve made in the Matt Painter-era (14 v. N. Illinois 11/11/11).
“They probably felt like they were playing a game of horse,” said Nebraska head coach Doc Sadler.
Robbie Hummel continued his impressive play. The senior had a game-high 29-points. It’s the third time in four games he’s scored at least 24 (Hummel scored 19 in a win at Illinois). He is now just six points away from passing Cuonzo Martin for 13th on the Boilermakers all-time scoring list.
“I think it’s a combination of things. I think my knees are starting to feel better. I think I’ve been able to practice more, which has helped and I think making shots can be contagious. When you see the ball go in a few times, it makes it easier to shoot the next,” he said.
Hummel played superb, but he wasn’t alone.
Four other Boilermakers scored in double figures including D.J Byrd, who sat out the loss to the Spartans due to a suspension. Five days after being arrested for public intoxication, Byrd scored 15-points off the bench. He hit his first two attempts, both three pointers, and finished the night 5-of-8 from downtown.
“I did nothing different, just kept playing hard” he said.
Byrd has emerged as Hummel’s right hand man. He is averaging 16.5 points and nearly four three pointers in his last six games.
Hummel said his teammate's play has helped open up the Boilermakers offense.
“D.J can spread the floor because he’s been shooting it so well,” he said. “He also adds a guy that really understands the motion offense I think and cuts hard, screens; he does a good job of doing that. When we are on the floor together it just adds another shoot and just makes us harder as a team to guard.”
Purdue is back above even in conference play. The Boilermakers are 8-7 against Big Ten opponents, but know they still have a lot of work to do before putting on their dancing shoes. They are 0-3 against their remaining three opponents and two of those games are on the road against ranked foes, starting Saturday at 11th ranked Michigan, which has won four straight.
“Urgency is something I wrote on the board before the game, but I write it a lot. That’s part of the game of basketball. You have to have a sense of urgency,” said Painter. “When you get down to the end of the season, it really holds true.”