Purdue vs. Florida Southern

I just got back from the basketball game and boy am I excited.  I know it was just an exhibition game against Southern Florida, but basketball season is finally here and I’ve been looking forward to it for so long.  The game was a lot of fun considering it wasn’t even a real game.  I didn’t think there would be that many people there because it was a Friday night and it was Halloween.  I was wrong.  People had started lining up for the game at like noon and the student section was pretty full.  Tons of people dressed up in costumes and there was even a costume contest.  The winners of the contest were five guys who dressed up like Tetris blocks.  It was really funny and creative.  The student section was loud even tonight and I can’t wait to see it when we play real games and better opponents. 

As far as the actual basketball team, several things got me excited tonight and as the season goes on I’ll be watching these things:

J.J.- Jajuan Johnson was an animal tonight.  He had like five dunks and one was even an alley-oop.  He played like a man.  Last year as a freshman Johnson was mediocre, he was just too skinny and too weak.  This past offseason he put on ten pounds of muscle and after watching him tonight, those ten pounds definitely paid off.  He just looked like a different player.  Don’t get me wrong the kid is still as skinny as a broomstick, but tonight he was using his athletic ability to make plays.  I look for Johnson’s improved play to continue throughout the year.

The Frosh- Since tonight was my first chance to look at the team this year, I was paying close attention to the new freshmen.  Two of the three freshmen stood out in my mind tonight and they were guards Ryne Smith and Lewis Jackson.  Each player contributed in his own way and if they can continue this throughout the season, I know they’ll fit in just fine here at Purdue.  Smith contributed thirteen points, including several three pointers.  It looks like Smith doesn’t have great speed, but it does look like he is a great spot-up shooter.  Jackson on the other hand is easily the quickest person on the team.  He used his speed to contribute to the sixteen steals that Purdue had.  Also, it looks like Jackson has great vision as he was able to find open teammates time and time again for a total of seven assists.  I remember one play where he was wide open at the three-point line and as he jumped in the air to shoot the ball he found a wide-open teammate under the basket for an easy too points.  If Jackson shows this kind of vision and unselfishness throughout the year I know he’ll fit right in with Purdue’s style of play.

These are just a couple of things that are getting me excited for the upcoming basketball season.  The team is looking very strong this year and hopefully they can live up to the hype.