Some coaches believe in leaving losses in the past.
Not Purdue coach Matt Painter.
In an effort to get his team focused during the early days of practice, Painter constantly reminded the Boilermakers of their 94-76 loss to Virginia Commonwealth in the round of 32 during last year's NCAA tournament.
''I think the experience wasn't getting beat by VCU, it was how we got beat by VCU,'' Painter said. ''They took us and abused us. They almost scored 100 points, and we had no answer for them. From a defensive principles standpoint, we fell apart. It's the most disappointing loss I've ever been through in terms of how it happened and how they took it to us.''
Watching the game again has been humbling for the players, and they've had no choice.
''The first week of practice, we probably saw it four days in a row,'' senior Ryne Smith said. ''Just different clips of certain rotations or defensive plays or the lack thereof that we had.''
Though the loss was considered an upset, Painter acknowledged that Virginia Commonwealth was, indeed, an excellent team - the Rams went on to reach the Final Four. That didn't change his feeling that the Rams were the aggressors, and being the aggressor is fundamental to Purdue basketball.
He made his point.
''Watching that, I think it's helped our practices,'' Smith said. ''It is working because it is motivating to watch how bad we were that game, and showing where we need to get to make sure that doesn't happen again.''
Purdue believes it has the talent to make up for that loss, despite losing two of the most successful players in school history, center JaJuan Johnson and guard E'Twaun Moore, to the Boston Celtics.
Moore, a guard who scored more than 2,000 points in his career at Purdue and is No. 3 on the school's career scoring list, went in the second round of the draft. Johnson, a first-team All-American, was a first-round pick.
''You don't replace greatness,'' Painter said. ''There's not going to be another JaJuan Johnson. Go through college basketball and find somebody who is 6-10, 220 pounds that makes fadeaway 18-footers, leads their league in blocked shots. There isn't another guy like him.''
The team is very confident, in part because Robbie Hummel is back. The senior missed last season with a torn ACL. Though he is not fully healed, he's good enough to have been named preseason All Big-Ten.
Painter said Hummel's role will be different this year. In the past, Hummel was a distributor who did all the little things but had an ability to score when needed. Now, he's the clear No. 1 scoring option.
''I want him to take more shots and play more off a shot fake, play more out of the mid-post, and just find ways to get the ball more into his hands,'' Painter said.
Hummel said he's comfortable with the job.
''I think that's something I can really grasp and do a good job of,'' he said. ''I can still make other people better, move the ball, but if need go in there and score, that's fine with me.''
Hummel's biggest test will be when he's challenged in a game situation.
''I think for Rob, it's more of just the mental part of it,'' Painter said. ''Just getting over it. He's going to have to dive on a loose ball, he's going to have to take a charge, he's going to have to get hit unexpectedly. I think the unexpected things in a game is the biggest hurdle for him.''
Smith averaged 6.2 points per game last year, and exploded for 20 points and made six 3-pointers against Virginia Commonwealth. Lewis Jackson, an ultra-quick point guard, is the team's top returning scorer. He's battling through a sprained ankle, but nothing that Painter believes will be a long-term issue.
Sandi Marcius and Travis Carroll will share duties at center. Marcius is a 6-9, 257-pound bruiser who excels in rebounding; Carroll is a 6-9, 231-pounder who is more skilled than Marcius but not as physical.
Kelsey Barlow, a junior, is the team's best defender and one of its most athletic and versatile players. He missed the NCAA tournament last year because of a suspension, but is back this season.
The schedule will be challenging. The Boilermakers could play Temple in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, host Miami in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, play at Xavier on Dec. 3 and play Butler in Indianapolis on Dec. 17.
It presents Hummel an opportunity to finish his career the right way.
''I definitely don't want to be remembered as the guy who got hurt all the time,'' he said. ''I want to finish off on a high note and make a deep run in the NCAA tournament. I hope I'm remembered as a winner, I guess. That would be the ultimate compliment, I guess.''
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Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/cliffbruntap
