Klemet: Byrd shows up big-time as Purdue upsets Wisconsin
By SAM KLEMET
ISL Correspondent
D.J. Byrd has had a heck of a career at Purdue. He is the Big Ten’s reigning Sixth Man of the Year and the Boilermakers’ captain. But this year, the senior from Crawfordsville has struggled to consistently find his rhythm.
Sunday, he found it in a big way.
Byrd scored 22 points and converted on six-of-nine from downtown to help Purdue to its first win at Wisconsin since 2009.
With the 69-56 victory, the Boilers became just the third unranked team to win at the Kohl Center in 71 visits and Byrd and fellow senior Dru Anthrop beat the 17th-ranked Badgers in Madison on their last try.
Byrd added eight boards and junior Terone Johnson came up large as well with 16 points.
Sandi Marcius was the spark Purdue needed. His ten-point, five-rebound, three-steal effort helped the Boilers reverse a 13-point first half deficit into a double-digit win.
The big man’s biggest plays won’t show up in the stat sheet. He showed hustle and effort that his teammates fed off of and fueled energy coach Matt Painter has pleaded for his team to show.
Purdue held Wisconsin to 40 percent shooting and almost ten points below its season average. The Boilers also scored 14 more than the Badgers allow.
The win won’t help Purdue get into the NCAA tournament and actually helped ensure rival Indiana at least a share of the Big Ten title. But it was a signature win for a team whose only previous conference road wins were against teams – Nebraska and Penn State – with a combined Big Ten record of 5-27.
Purdue now returns home for its final two games, which gives Boilermakers fans a chance to see Byrd leave another set of memories like the ones he made in Madison.
