Purdue to play Indiana

Hoosiers' tall players to compete against Boilermakers' speed

By Kyle Charters
Senior Writer

Coach Gene Keady describes Purdue's game against Indiana tonight as a competition between quickness and size.

"The matchups are pretty interesting," said Keady. "They're pretty darn big — their starters. And hopefully they'll have a little bit of trouble covering our quickness. If they're big and quick, then we could be in trouble."

When the Boilers (12-5, 4-2 Big Ten) tip off against the Hoosiers (11-8, 2-3) at 7 tonight in Assembly Hall, Indiana will most likely start three players who are taller than 6-foot-9 — junior Kirk Haston, sophomore Jeffrey Newton and freshman Jared Jeffries.

In contrast, the Boilers' starting frontline includes juniors John Allison (6-10) and Rodney Smith (6-6) and sophomore Kenneth Lowe (6-3).

"I think it's going to be extremely tough for us," said Allison. "They're significantly bigger than us and I think the key is going to be how long Rodney and I stay in the game."

Allison said Purdue needs its backup players such as Adam Wetzel (6-9), Brett Buscher (6-8) and Kevin Garrity (6-11) to help provide solid minutes inside.

"We're going to need as many big guys as we can to limit their touches inside," Allison said.

The Boilers will also need the undersized Lowe to help slow Jeffries, who is averaging 13.3 points per game for the Hoosiers. But Lowe, who guarded 6-9 Wisconsin forward Mark Vershaw earlier this year, said he doesn't think the matchup with Jeffries will be a problem.

"I don't mind so much because I'm a competitor and I want to win," said Lowe. "So whoever coach wants me to guard I'll guard. But I think I match up pretty well because Jeffries plays a lot out on the perimeter."

Along with Jeffries, Keady is concerned about Haston, Indiana's leading scorer at 17.3 points per game. The center has hit 46.9 percent of his field goals this season, including 7 of 14 from 3-point range. Before this season he was 0 for 2 from beyond the arc in his collegiate career.

"He's a hard matchup," said Keady. "He's such a good shooter and has a variety of shots — hook shots, turnaround jumper."

But Keady hopes to negate some of the Hoosiers' height advantage with the Boilers' quickness and depth at guard. He also said, though, that he might decide to use a bigger lineup that would include Smith playing at small forward and Wetzel at power forward.

"I would imagine that before the evening is over, we'll try everything," said Keady. "We know it's not going to be easy."

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