The All-Big Ten preview is ITH’s look at our picks for the top players in the Big Ten this season. Today: Robbie Hummel of Purdue.
In one year under Matt Painter at Purdue, Robbie Hummel has done everything one could have expected, and more: He’s made First Team All-Big Ten as a freshman; he made the list of finalists for both the John Wooden and Oscar Roberston national awards; he started 31 times and averaged 11 points, six rebounds, and two assists a game. For all intents and purposes, Robbie Hummel was The Man last year.
As impressive as Hummel’s accomplishments were how quietly he went about them. I’ll be honest: Purdue is in the same state as our Hoosiers, and not only was I only vaguely aware of Hummel, I was often viscerally bored by him. I say that less to insult him and more to criticize my own basketball intelligence, but it’s true: Watching Robbie Hummel is never interesting the way, say, watching Eric Gordon, or even a roughshod banger like Tyler Hansbrough, is. But if Hummel can expand on his success — he was named Big Ten preseason player of the year this year — I doubt he, or Painter, or Purdue fans will much care.
The Hoosiers are finishing up their cupcakes and the New Year is nearly upon us, which can mean only one thing: It’s Big Ten Preview Time! Here’s a look at the teams that will challenge the Hoosiers for the conference crown … or fall under the weighty boot of crimson dominance. Probably the latter. Today: Purdue.
D.J. Byrd, a 6’4″ wing from the class of 2009, has given a verbal pledge to play for Matt Painter and the Purdue Boilermakers. Byrd, who will be a junior at North Montgomery in Crawfordsville, chose Purdue over Indiana, Notre Dame, Xavier and Butler.
There were three impressive talents from the state of Indiana all in the same building Monday evening at the 2007 Kentucky Hoopfest. Members of the 2009 class, Stephan Van Treese and Derek Elston, and 2010′s Ray McCallum Jr. were on display and there were plenty of college coaches watching the action.
Apologies to those of you out there looking for a home-and-away series with the Boilermakers this season. It ain’t happening. From 
