By Paul Trembacki
Sports Editor

There are leaders, and then there is Brian Cardinal.

While Purdue's run to a third consecutive Sweet 16 has been a product of senior leadership, the leader among the seniors is definitely Cardinal.

"I try to go out there and lead by example and play hard and dive and get everybody pumped up emotionally," said Cardinal. "Usually if I can do that, then normally we'll be alright during the game."

Cardinal's leadership has enabled the Boilers (23-9) to post two tournament wins so far and earn a chance to advance to the Elite Eight. Sixth-seeded Purdue plays 10th-seeded Gonzaga (26-8) at 7:55 p.m. EST in Albuquerque, N.M.

"Brian's the veteran of the seniors," said senior teammate Greg McQuay. "He inspires us to work hard on the court and that'll be important for us to make a run to the Final Four."

Coach Gene Keady said the team has done a great job of resurrecting its chances of advancing to Indianapolis for the Final Four. After the Boilers began the season with a 9-5 record that included three two-point losses, the team finally began to excel and finished third in the conference.

Keady said a large part of the resurgence was the leadership of Cardinal.

"He's been a very positive leader for us," said Keady.

Keady also said Cardinal, the team's leading scorer and rebounder, leads by example rather than words.

"He doesn't really scold the players when they don't do well," said Keady. "He just tries to get them to play as hard as he does."

Playing as hard as Cardinal is no small task. Fellow fifth-year senior Chad Kerkhof said Cardinal has always been full of heart and determination and has always been a motivator to his teammates.

A prime example of the 6-foot-8 forward's care was when, having to get his broken thumb checked out in Indianapolis, Cardinal still got his teammates going. After Cardinal broke his thumb on Dec. 11 in a game against Coppin State, the team had a 6 a.m. practice. From the treatment center in Indianapolis, Cardinal called up every player to make sure they awoke in time.

"That's the type of person he is," said Kerkhof. "He's going to make sure everybody's there on time."

Cardinal wants his team to be on time, but he also wants to get his team to the Final Four this year.

"It'd be awesome; it'd be unbelievable," said Cardinal. "It's something that you dream about as a kid when you're watching the games on television."

Except that when Cardinal was young, his basketball viewing wasn't limited to television. Cardinal's father, Rod, is the assistant athletic trainer at Illinois and has held the position since 1973, four years before Brian was born.

Growing up in Tolono, Ill., Cardinal often accompanied his father to Fighting Illini practices and spent time as a ball boy.

It was at those practices where Cardinal hung out with players who are now in the NBA. He said he looks back on his times spent rebounding and grabbing towels for pro players such as Kendall Gill and Nick Anderson and the memories inspire him.

Another memory that inspires Cardinal was Illinois' trip to Seattle for the Final Four in 1989. Cardinal went with, taking in the excitement alongside of his father. But now he wants to go back with the man he calls his second father, Keady.

"It's something Coach Keady deserves." said Cardinal. "He does so much for me and my teammates. Nothing's going to keep us away from having that chance to get there. Hopefully, we can provide him with that missing piece."

Cardinal has done his best to get the team to its current position. He leads the team in scoring with 14.1 points and in steals with 2.1 per game. He adds 6.4 rebounds per game — the second best total on the team.

He also leads Purdue in several all-time categories. With 254 career steals, Cardinal is Purdue’s all-time leader, 66 thefts ahead of the second-place player.

He is also the career leader in games started. If Purdue advances to the next round and Cardinal plays, he will be the school’s all-time leader in games played.

But he also does the things that don't show up in the record books or box score, like diving for loose balls and taking charges from opponents.

"I just go out there and play hard," said Cardinal. "Usually I'm doing what I think the team needs for a win."

After a hard day, Cardinal finds comfort in talking to his girlfriend, Danielle Bird, who is a member of the Purdue women's basketball team.

"We have great conversations about basketball and about life," said Cardinal.

They also talk about Bird's trip to the Final Four last year with her team. Cardinal said he was jealous when the women's team made it and would like to have his season end with a championship.

Regardless of how the season finishes, Cardinal will graduate in May with a degree in management and leave Purdue.

"It's going to be very hard and very sad and it's going to be tough," said Cardinal.

Cardinal also said he thinks Keady will be sad but will want Cardinal to be successful in his life after Purdue.

"Hopefully I have bigger and better things to come," said Cardinal. "But if my basketball career ends here at Purdue, I'll be a happy man."