Getting To Know Errick Peck And Sterling Carter

As always, I like to mine the comments for potential ideas that need expansion from you readers. Yesterday's post on the our new addition did not fail to deliver in that regard, as I found this comment concerning graduate transfers Errick Peck and Sterling Carter:

Neither of these guys appear to be a B1(4)G player - Both of these guys averaged around 10ppg in leagues that aren't the most outstanding. Cornell and Seattle's teams are about as good as a solid Indiana AAU team. No disrespect, but the level of competition just isn't there. And for these guys to only get 10 a game in that type of league tells me that when going to Michigan and facing a GRIII level player, they're going to be closer to the 2-3ppg range. - BoilerAxe

I agree with this point partially. The competition that Seattle played as a D-1 Independent for two years before joining the WAC is nothing compared to the Big Ten. Neither is the Ivy League for Peck when he was at Cornell. Still, these guys did play some solid teams and performed well in their careers. Let's look at how each played did in games against teams from BCS-level conferences:

Errick Peck:

2009-10 (Freshman)

11/14/2009 at Alabama (W 71-67) 6 minutes, 1-3 FG, 6 pts, 1 reb

11/24/2009 at Syracuse (L 88-73) 13 minutes, 3-8 FG, 8 pts, 6 reb, 2 ast

12/21/2010 at St. John's (W 71-66) 4 minutes, 0-1 FG, 0 pts, 0 reb, 1 block

1/6/2010 at No. 1 Kansas (L 71-66) 2 minutes, 0-1 FG, 0 pts., 0 reb, 1 ast

3/19/2010 vs. Temple (NCAA 1^st Round, W 78-65) all zeros, entered game very late

3/21/2010 vs. Wisconsin (NCAA 2^nd Round, W 87-69) 2 minutes, 1 ast

3/25/2010 vs. Kentucky (NCAA Sweet 16, L 62-45) 6 minutes, 1-3 FG, 3 pts., 1 reb

Cornell was a pretty good team when peck was a freshman, making the Sweet 16 with him as a key reserve. As you can see, in some games he played a lot, and others very little. He had a career high 14 points at Dartmouth and played in all seven games against "major" competition.

2010-11 (Sophomore)

11/30/2010 at No. 7 Syracuse (L 78-58) 24 minutes, 5-9 FG, 14 pts, 2 ast, 1 steal

12/4/2010 at No. 13 Minnesota (L 71-66) 33 minutes, 4-14 FG, 16 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast

There were only two games against BCS conference competition in this season, but Peck played extremely well in each. The Minnesota game was one of his best career games as he got to the line 9 times (hitting 7) and even hit a three. He also had a three against Syracuse and shot the ball extremely well.

2011-12 (missed due to knee injury)

2012-13 (Senior)

11/18/2012 at No. 22 Wisconsin (L 73-40) 16 minutes, 1-5 FG, 2 pts, 3 reb, 1 steal

11/20/2012 at Arizona State (L 64-53) 20 minutes, 2-8 FG, 4 pts, 3 reb, 1 blk, 2 steals

12/17/2012 at Vanderbilt (L 66-55) 18 minutes, 0-6 FG, 2 pts, 3 reb

12/19/2012 at No. 1 Duke (L88-47) 16 minutes, 2-9 FG, 4 pts, 5 reb, 1 ast

There is a much smaller sample size here, but players are commonly much more limited in year one after a major knee surgery (he had a torn ACL) than in year two after the surgery. Overall, Peck's minutes were way down as he likely struggled with conditioning and with the knee. By later in the year he was playing 30-35 minutes per game and had a high of 26 points at Dartmouth.

Now let's look at Carter's career.

2010-11 (Freshman)

11/8/2010 at Maryland (L 105-76) 5-14 FG, 11 pts, 1 reb, 2 ast, 1 steal

11/17/2010 Oregon State (W 83-80) 6-11 FG, 20 pts, 2 reb, 2 ast, 2 steals (one was game-clinching steal)

12/22/2010 at Virginia (W 59-53) 6-14 FG, 19 pts, 3 reb, 2 ast, 1 steal

2/22/2011 Washington (L95-74) 7-15 FG, 20 pts, 2 reb. 1 ast, 1 steal

3/1/2011 at Stanford (L 77-66) 5-16 FG, 12 pts, 2 reb, 2 ast, 2 steals

Not a bad run here, especially when you consider that Peck never played a major conference team at home. Seattle with Carter got Oregon State and Washington to play them at home and Carter went for 20 both times. He later had a season high 28 in a game at Pepperdine. He should also be used to playing on the road, as Independents don't get many home games.

2011-12 (Sophomore)

12/4/2011 Stanford (L 72-49) 1-6 FG 4 pts, 2 reb, 1 steal

12/21/2011 Virginia (L 83-77) 6-16 FG, 17 pts, 6 reb, 1 ast, 1 steal

1/10/2012 at Washington (L 91-83) 4-13 FG, 15 pts, 8 reb, 3 ast

This is another small sample size with his first bad game coming against Stanford. We're already starting to see the pattern emerge that he is a volume shooter, but he is not afraid to shoot and he is often decent from long range. Later in the season he would go 8 of 16 from long range in scoring 28 points against Longwood.

2012-13 (Junior)

11/17/2012 at Virginia (L 83-43) 3-15 FG, 8 pts, 2 reb, 1 ast, 1 steal

11/28/2012 at Stanford (L 68-57 1-8 FG, 3 pts, 2 reb, 5 ast, 2 steals

12/10/2012 Washington (L 87-74) 3-8 FG, 9 pts, 1 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk, 3 steals

Carter only played in eight games total last season, but three were against major competition. He did not shoot the ball well against Virginia, as you can see, but I am seeing a pattern emerge defensively. In every game against major competition in his career he has had at least one steal. That tells me he is an active defender, and that is something desperately needed by Purdue.

Both Peck and Carter are different types of players. Carter is more of a shooter that stays on the perimeter and can play some defense on the other end. Peck is a bit of a bruiser with his size. He may not score a lot, but he can if needed. He's going to battle for boards and play defense. Many of his questions about last season surround the knee and how healthy he was with it. If he is better this year in regards to the knee it will greatly impact his effectiveness at Purdue.

BoilerAxe did say that both of these guys were a short-term, quick fix and he is right in that regard. Both of these guys are one-year hired guns looking to show they can play overseas by challenging themselves against much better competition. Peck is seeking professional career opportunities by pursuing a graduate degree at Purdue while Carter, with some of the large numbers he threw up on the west coast in his career, wants to prove he can play with the Big Boys.

I don't think we're going to ask both of these young men to come in, start immediately, and each average 15 points and seven rebounds per game. That is ridiculous. What they can be are dangerous options on the floor. When the baby Boilers were humming you know JJ, Rob, and Smooge were going to get theirs. Purdue was better, however, when a guy could come in and contribute in addition to what they gave.

Remember: John Hart was never great, but his Illinois game is the stuff of legend because he was ready and contributed when needed. In That Game at Minnesota Hart only had three points, but it was a huge three points as it stopped the lengthy Minnesota run and started Purdue's comeback. Purdue does not win the Big Ten title without John hart that year.

That's what we're asking out of these guys. We're asking for defense, shooting, the occasional game where they get hot and give us 10-15 points, rebounding, toughness, senior leadership, and other "little things" contributions. That's why I think they're the perfect additions. They are played that already have a ton of games in college under their belts. That experience can only be a good thing for a team that is still very young.