Gene Keady's Boilermakers have high expectations this season. But the veteran coach realizes that his club might not be creating much offseason buzz. "I'm not sure anyone outside my [coaching] staff knows how good this team can really be," said Keady, whose team has six seniors and returns 66 percent of its scoring and 78 percent of its rebounding. "Everyone knows the potential is there, but we are expecting this team to be very good."

Purdue must replace leading scorer Willie Deane, the Boilermakers' first All-Big Ten first-team selection in five years. Keady, however, expects his 24th Boilermaker team to be better than last year's squad, which finished 19-11 overall, 10-6 in the Big Ten (tied for third) and whipped LSU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before playing top-seeded Texas down to the wire.

FRONTCOURT

There's an abundance of experience for Keady to work with up front as every post player is back. Just how well this group plays likely will determine Purdue's fate this season.

"The big men need to step it up this season," Keady said. "If they don't make vast improvement, then we are not going to reach our full potential."

Developing more offensive weapons will be a priority. Purdue will turn to Chris Booker to provide scoring in the paint. The honorable mention All-Big Ten pick was the team's third-leading scorer a year ago. Booker, who has the potential to be one of the Big Ten's best post players, needs to become more aggressive and creative on offense.

Brett Buscher is Purdue's most athletic inside player and one of the strongest members of the team. His biggest problem has been a lack of confidence. Buscher needs to be a defensive stopper and occasionally knock down 15-footers.

Matt Kiefer, who has added 15 pounds to his frame since last season, draws comparisons to former Boilermaker center Brad Miller. He has all the tools to be one of Keady's best post players.

Ivan Kartelo hopes his injuries are behind him and that he can develop into more of an inside force.

Matt Carroll, who returns from a redshirt season, gives Purdue yet another solid rebounder. Carroll averaged close to 10 minutes per game as a freshman in 2001-02 but opted to sit out last year to work on his game -- and his body. He has improved his shooting touch and will be expected to contribute this season.

Ije Nwankwo should see playing time this season as a true freshman. At 6-foot-7, 260 pounds, he's built like Charles Barkley.

BACKCOURT

Keady's backcourt could be one of his best defensively. And when talking about defense, look no further than fifth-year senior captain Kenneth Lowe, the 2003 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Lowe, the team's top returning scorer and one of the nation's best free-throw shooters, is expected to be 100 percent after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder in April. He missed three games last season after dislocating the shoulder in February.

The leader of this athletic backcourt will be point guard Brandon McKnight. Last year he had a team-high 69 assists and committed just 39 turnovers, and he might be the Big Ten's most underrated point guard. This season he will be counted on to be more aggressive on offense and could develop into Purdue's go-to guy in crunch time.

"If Brandon can score more, especially in transition, it would be a huge lift for us," Keady said.

Austin Parkinson will back up McKnight, while sophomores David Teague and Melvin Buckley will battle it out for the other starting spot in the Boilers' three-guard lineup. Teague is a deadly 3-pointer shooter who set a school freshman record with 35 3s in 2002-03. Buckley presents matchup problems with his 6-7 frame and, like Teague, is a good outside shooter. Buckley put on quite a show against LSU last season, when he poured in a career-high 20 points.

FINAL ANALYSIS

If Purdue lives up to Keady's expectations, the 67-year-old Boilermaker boss, who has just two years remaining on his current contract, may want to stay around for a while. Living up to those expectations is possible considering that Purdue figures to be much improved defensively and not so one-dimensional on offense.

As long as Lowe is healthy and the Boilermakers get consistent inside scoring, they will be a factor in the balanced Big Ten.

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