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Fans love to hate Purdue's Cardinal
Posted: Friday February 11, 2000 04:56 PM
By Mark Ambrogi, Special to CNNSI.com Given the chilly reception Purdue's Brian Cardinal receives from opposing crowds, you'd figure he was coming out wearing a black tights and cape. Perhaps the only player more unpopular is Iowa's Jacob Jaacks. "I'd rather they yell and pick on me than me than my teammates," Cardinal said. "Just because I think I can handle it. So far it hasn't affected me too much. It's very humorous to think I'm a villain in any way, shape or form." Cardinal notices no difference around the league. "They're all good," he said. "They all have their cheap shots, but none that bother me too much." The most popular chant this season has been a steady chorus of "Rogaine." It's a not-so-subtle suggestion that Cardinal, whose hair is receding, try some hair growth treatment. Cardinal has long been a target because of his physical play. A CBS announcer said during his sophomore year that two Big Ten coaches -- not necessarily head coaches -- described his play as dirty. But no coach has ever said that for the record. In fact, most make it a point to praise him. Buckeyes coach Jim O'Brien said he's the kind of guy fans love to hate, but you'd love to have on your team. Keady said if fans are booing Cardinal because they think he's a thug, they're way off base. "There's no reason to let it bother him because if they knew him, they would know they're wrong," Keady said. "We wouldn't allow dirty play. We wouldn't allow people do things not in the rules. He just plays hard. I think (the boos) mean people respect him." His father, Illinois basketball trainer Rod Cardinal, has the same view. "They wouldn't be booing if he wasn't a good player and if he wasn't successful particularly against us (Illinois)," he said. The elder Cardinal also knows his son is really a good sport. "He'd never intentionally hurt anyone," he said. "I think the people that get to know him a little bit other than seeing him once or twice a year understand what a good player he is, what a good sport he is and what a good team guy he is. He'll knock you down, but he'll help you up." His mother, Mary Cardinal, is more troubled by the boos. "I haven't made very many road trips," she said. "It's too hard. When they play at Illinois, everybody booed him. It broke my heart."
Rough weekThe Big Ten's three ranked teams -- No. 5 Ohio State, No. 6 Michigan State and No. 10 Indiana -- all went down in midweek contests. The Spartans blew a 10-point second-half lead in a 70-67 loss at Purdue on Tuesday night. Indiana lost by two at Minnesota. But the real stunner was when Ohio State was beaten 67-64 by visiting Iowa. The Hawkeyes led by as many as 15 early in the second half before holding on for a 67-64 victory. "I knew we would fight back and put ourselves in position to win, but that's not good enough," said guard Scoonie Penn, who led Ohio State with 22 points. "We have to win games like this, but we're 0-3 in them." Iowa might have the most impressive resume of any .500 team in the nation. The Hawkeyes have beaten three teams ranked in the top 15 when they played them, Connecticut, Kansas and Ohio State. "If a team has a number next to it, we play pretty well," Iowa coach Steve Alford said.
Memorable nightMinnesota sophomore Joel Przybilla keeps getting better with each outing. Wednesday, the 7-1 center sank 16 of 19 shots en route to 33 points, including the game winner, in a 77-75 victory over Indiana. "Joel is coming into his own offensively," Minnesota coach Dan Monson said. "He got the ball where he could be successful and he was so physical on the boards." Przybilla leads the Big Ten in field goal percentage at .589. In two games against the Hoosiers this season, he has scored 55 points and pulled down 25 rebounds.
Worth notingThe Gophers didn't get to celebrate their victory over Indiana for long. Minnesota coach Dan Monson waited 15 minutes before telling his players that junior co-captain J.B. Bickerstaff had been lost for the rest of the season with a fractured kneecap. Bickerstaff was hurt when he was fouled by the Hoosiers' A.J. Guyton in the first half. "I'm just stunned. I'm speechless," Przybilla said. "He's our leader and he's my best friend. That really hurts our team." ... Most Big Ten coaches took turns praising Michigan State this week. "I'm totally impressed with the play of Michigan State," Wisconsin coach Dick Bennett said. "If there's a flaw or even a weakness, I have not seen it. If it was just the athleticism, you could counteract it, but it's their soundness that impresses me so much." ... Penn State's Jarrett Stephens is the runaway league leader with 14 double-doubles. Mark Ambrogi covers the Big Ten for The Indianapolis Star. Check back each Friday for his latest CNNSI.com Insider.
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