Times Correspondent
WEST LAFAYETTE | Sophomore forward Robbie Hummel solved his foul troubles and Purdue fans finally got to see the Hummel who was voted preseason Big Ten Player of the Year Saturday.
The Valparaiso grad dropped 20 points and grabbed 11 boards in No. 11 Purdue’s 66-46 routine win against Coppin State (1-1). His sixth-career double-double came in 26 minutes of play, which is the most he’s played in a game this season.
“I got to watch a lot film with coach Ray and coach Lusk and they figured out what I was doing wrong and why I was picking up a lot of cheap fouls,” Hummel said. “I felt like I got in more of a flow tonight.”
Hummel said he wasn’t moving his feet well on the defensive end in the team’s first three games. He had four fouls in two of those games but Saturday he committed only one foul.
“I think it was good for him and good from a fan’s standpoint to be able to watch him play and stay in the game,” said coach Matt Painter. “He just needs to play. He needs to get out there and get some minutes.”
Fellow Region teammate E’Twaun Moore (E.C. Central) loaded up the stat sheet, too. Moore, who became the first player to log at least 30 minutes in a game this season, had 10 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three blocks; however, the 3-point shooting woes continued. Moore shot 1-of-5 from deep and the team finished 6-of-22.
“If we keep taking open shots, they will fall,” Moore said. “It’s going to fall some time. It can’t get no worse.”
Purdue’s inability to hit those 3s was frustrating for Painter who wants his players to change their mindset offensively if their shots aren’t falling. Entering Saturday’s game the Boilers were shooting 35 percent from long range.
“I thought we were inconsistent (offensively) and shot too many 3s. That’s something that’s remained consistent for us, we’re shooting a lot of 3s and not at a high percentage,” Painter said. “It’s something we’re going to have to take a hard look at. We have to probe the defense a little more.”
The Boilers don’t have long to correct their shooting because they travel to New York early this week to face Boston College in the NIT Season Tip-Off semifinals.
Coppin State’s leading scorer was its senior leader Tywain McKee with 17 points. McKee battled foul trouble and turned the ball over six times.
Published in the Northwest Indiana Times on Nov. 23, 2008.
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