The Exponent - Purdue's Student Newspaper

Sophomore forward Robbie Hummel defends Iowa forward Matt Gatens during Saturday's 49-45 victory at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Hummel recorded two points and four rebounds in his 24 minutes of play.

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IOWA CITY, Iowa – Robbie Hummel is back.

The Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year returned to action for the Purdue men's basketball team Saturday afternoon after missing the Boilers' last three games with a stress fracture in his L5 vertebra. He played 24 minutes in the Boilers' 49-45 win at Iowa, however, and said afterward he is completely pain free, despite taking two spills when going for defensive rebounds.

"I'm fine," he said. "There was no pain when I went down or landed.

Just to make sure he wasn't lying – this is the guy coach Matt Painter said would never say he was too hurt to play – reporters asked again.

"I really feel pretty good right now. We'll see tomorrow, though."

Hummel's return wasn't a picture-perfect, call-ESPN-to-make-a-TV-movie performance. He didn't score 40 points or make five 3s to lead his team to a win, but instead hit 1-of-7 from the floor and missed all five of his long-range attempts. He did pull down two rebounds, block two shots and finish with no turnovers, however.

"I didn't touch the basketball in a while, so I guess it's not (surprising) to shoot like that," he said, "but it really felt good just to get back out there."

Coach Matt Painter wasn't disappointed in the Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year's performance, especially with what Hummel did on the defensive end of the floor.

The Hawkeyes hit just 36.2 percent of their field goals, well below their average of 45.1 percent. In the three games Hummel sat out, Purdue's opponents hit 51.1 percent of their shots.

"Rob did a great job," Painter said. "He did some good things defensively. He does a good job for us in knowing what's going on out there."

Hummel said while it may take him some time to get back his shot, – he's averaging 46 percent from the field and 41 from 3-point range this season – defense is something that came back to him with just a hint of practice.

"It's just one of those things where you have to adjust at first because you haven't really run or jumped in a while," he said. "That's why I didn't want to play against Penn State (Saturday), because I hadn't really practiced in a while. I've been practicing a little bit the last couple of days, so I was able to go today."

Painter said he didn't want Hummel to return if he wasn't going to be able to play every game and practice in between, something he hadn't been able to do before sitting out the last three games.

Purdue plays possibly the biggest home game of the season Tuesday, with Big Ten leader Michigan State coming to town. Hummel, who missed one of the Boilers two games against Michigan State last season, said he is sure he'll play.

"Definitely," he said. "I would say I am 100 percent for that game."