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It's that time again! Just 44 days from today the first regular season game of the 2014-15 Purdue basketball season takes place in Mackey Arena as the Boilers will face Samford to start the season. In truth, I missed it by a day and this should have gone up yesterday, but that's my fault. It is really 43 days to Purdue basketball, but I can't set up an excel spreadsheet right.
The first player on the countdown is No. 44, a freshman from Alabama who was the highest rated recruit in the 2014 class.
Isaac Haas - Fr.
Piedmont, Alabama (Hoke's Bluff HS)
7'2", 297 pounds
Center
2014-15 Projection: Contributor at Center
Haas might be the biggest player to ever suit up for the Boilermakers. He gives Purdue the luxury of sending in an even taller player when their 7' NBA prospect center needs a breather. Rivals rated him as the No. 64 player overall in the class of 2014 and ESPN rated him as No. 86. He very nearly signed with Wake Forest during the early signing period, but a late trip to Alabama by Matt Painter landed him in West Lafayette over the Demon Deacons.
Haas averaged good numbers last season for his HS team. He had 10.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks while his team won 27 games. His "get to know you" page on Purdue Sports has some interesting facts, such as his go to music, which is a 300-violin orchestra.
At minimum, Haas is expected to contribute on the floor whenever A.J. Hammons needs a breather. It is my hope that he gets in the gym and starts kicking Hammons in the butt up and down the floor to get the absolute maximum out of the big guy. With both Hammons and Haas Purdue should be excellent in defending the paint.