Team USA: The Center(s) of Purdue

The Cradle of Quarterbacks. The Den of Defensive Ends. The place where people go to school before they walk on the moon and do other outer space things.

Whatever you want to think about Purdue, it’s wrong. This is the place where Centers reign.

It re-started with Jajuan Johnson, but it coalesced with A. J. Hammons. Not because it was just A. J. Hammons blocking shots and controlling rebounds, but because as soon as Isaac Haas joined the Boilermakers to back him up, Purdue didn’t just have the best center in the Big Ten. It probably had the two best centers in the Big Ten.

Then we added Biggie. And for that year, Purdue might have had the three best centers in the Big Ten. Then A. J. graduated…