Purdue’s Walter Jordan talks about what it takes to reach the Final Four, what he likes about this year’s Boilermaker squad and why Matt Painter has been so successful.
[podcast]http://www.lostlettermen.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Jordan.mp3[/podcast]…
Lost Lettermen: This is Jim Weber of LostLettermen.com and I’m joined by Purdue’s Walter Jordan.
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There’s obviously huge expectations around the program this year with people talking about the Final Four. It’ll have been 30 years this March since Purdue last went to the Final Four, which was in Indianapolis as it is this year.
Do you feel like all the stars are kind of aligning for another Final Four Trip?
Walter Jordan: Yeah, we like to think so. That’s a tough, tough thing. You gotta be lucky, you gotta stay healthy. You know I think the key is having a strong, strong season non conference and the Big Ten; winning the Big Ten so they can get that No. 1 seed so that they can stay close to home and that’s the toughest part, is getting there.
Once they get there I think the pressure will be off and they can relax but that’s a lot pressure to put on young kids because, remember, they’re still kids. And a lot of times we forget that they’re still 19-20 year old kids and sometimes 17-18 kids with a lot of pressure.
I think your successful and just being able to get to the Final Four, let alone trying to win it.
LL: What do you think this team’s biggest strength is? Obviously with almost everyone coming back, like I said, expectations are so high.
WJ: I think the character of the kids. I look at (Chris) Kramer. I look at the kind of character he has and the selflessness. We have a selfless team. No one cares about who gets the credit. They’re humble. Those kinds of kids; (JaJuan) Johnson and (E’Twaun) Moore. Those kids are great, plus they play great defense. They play the game the right way.
That’s what I’m most proud of; the way they play the game. You don’t see any show boating or hot dogging. Those guys are out there playing for each other. And they’re playing for the name that’s on the front of the jersey not the one on the back.
LL: You talked about the job Matt Painter has done. What do you think the biggest key to his success has been? Obviously taking them back to where they’re a top 10 program has been really remarkable.
WJ: I think a couple of things: Matt bleeds black and gold. I think that’s important. You look at the great programs like North Carolina and most of those guys they played there; they came through there and coached. They’ve been around Dean Smith. And Matt had a chance to play for Purdue and play for Coach Keady, one of the best coaches and greatest human beings that I know in the coaching fraternity.
Matt grew up in Indiana, played high school basketball in Indiana, where basketball meant a lot. I’m a high school coach here in Georgia now and it’s a totally different feel for high school basketball than growing up as an Indiana high school basketball player.
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