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Today’s player is our lone four-year senior and he can leave Purdue as one of the most accomplished teammates in school history.
Tommy Luce - Sr.
Jeffersonville, IN (Jeffersonville HS)
5’10”, 155 pounds
Guard
2019-20 Projection: Naismith Award winner
We all know Tommy Luce is the king of Mackey. He is the human victory cigar that enters in the final minutes of blowout wins and wows the crowd with his handles. In his career he has appeared in 36 games, scoring 16 points. He brought the house down last year by contributing to the school record of threes made when he hit one against Appalachian State. He also scored on senior day against Ohio State. His career high was four points against Lipscomb in 2017-18.
Luce may not play a lot, but he has been along for one hell of a ride. He already has a pair of Big Ten championships during his career and was a single rebound from going 3-for-3 so far in that area. He has been to three Sweet 16s as well. Last year’s senior class of Grady Eifert and Ryan Cline left Purdue with 109 victories in four seasons, more than any other players. Luce is currently sitting with 83 wins in his three seasons, so a 27-win season will have him stand alone.
Luce can also stand alone in a another category. Because freshmen were ineligible until 1972-73 he can become the first four-year player in Purdue history to go undefeated against Indiana. Freshmen during the 1967-68 season could have done that had they been eligible. Purdue’s current five-game win streak in the rivalry coincides with Luce’s time on the roster and is the longest since Purdue won 7 in a row from January 1968 until March 1972. Purdue won nine in a row in the late 20s/early 30s, and 12 straight from 1908-1914, but I have no idea if there were freshmen eligible back then.
Let’s be honest: We’re not going to see too many meaningful minutes from Luce this season, but it is generally a good sign when he does play. Purdue is 35-1 in games where Luce plays at all. The lone loss was to Kansas in the NCAA Tournament, and he has only played in a road game once: at Iowa two years ago.