Jan 14, 2004
Purdue-Wisconsin Box Score in PDF Format
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By JON KRAWCZYNSKI
Associated Press Writer
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - Wednesday night was special for Purdue coach Gene Keady.
He earned his 500th career win with the Boilermakers in a 53-51 victory over No. 19 Wisconsin. Most important of all, Keady said, he did it in front of the home fans who have cheered him on for 24 seasons.
When asked his thoughts on the big night, Keady said, "My thoughts are happy," in his typical deadpan fashion.
Kenneth Lowe scored 13 points and held Devin Harris in check and Austin Parkinson hit three big free throws in the closing seconds to seal the win.
Wisconsin (11-3, 2-1 Big Ten) had a chance to tie with 20 seconds left when Mike Wilkinson went to the free throw line with Purdue leading 50-48. Wilkinson missed his second free throw and Parkinson followed with two for Purdue (12-4, 2-1).
The Badgers had one last chance to win or tie with 4.4 seconds left, but Harris' 3-pointer at the buzzer rattled off the rim.
"It was awesome to give coach No. 500," Parkinson said.
Keady was given the game ball during a postgame ceremony, and the near-sellout crowd chanted "Keady! Keady!"
"Because of you, that's why I stayed here," Keady told the crowd.
Keady has an overall record of 538-258, including two seasons at Western Kentucky. Bob Knight is the only other coach to win 500 games at a Big Ten school, doing it at Indiana.
The NCAA does not recognize Keady's mark because Purdue had to forfeit 19 wins in 1995-96 after a player was ruled ineligible.
Keady said he was touched by the outpouring of support from the fans and players, but did his best to deflect attention from himself.
"I'm just glad it's finally over so you guys (reporters) quit asking me about it," Keady said.
Lowe went 10-for-10 from the free throw line and once again was stellar on defense.
Harris entered as the Big Ten's third-leading scorer, averaging 18 points. Lowe, last year's Big Ten defensive player of the year, limited his shots, and Harris wound up with 12 points on 4-of-10 shooting. He didn't make a field goal in the second half.
"That's pretty damn good, isn't it?" Keady said. "That's what I'd say."
The Boilermakers took control of the game early in the second half after Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan lost his cool.
Ryan was given a technical foul after he appeared to make a choking gesture at official Dan Crisman. Crisman had just called an offensive foul on Wisconsin's Andreas Helmigk and Ryan disagreed. Crisman had his back turned when Ryan made the gesture, but referee Art McDonald saw it and assessed the technical.
Harris then had to restrain Ryan several times.
Ryan said he wasn't making the gesture at Crisman. Instead, he said he was trying to show the official how one of his players was hit in the throat.
 | I don't feel like it's 500 for me. I feel like it's 500 for Purdue. Gene Keady |
McDonald called the technical nevertheless and Lowe made both free throws to cap an 8-2 run that gave Purdue a 39-28 lead with 12:46 to play.
"It was a huge mistake by the official," Ryan said. "But our guys came back. It didn't affect them."
Wisconsin made several runs down the stretch, and got within two when Ray Nixon hit a 3-pointer with 3:18 to play that made it 48-46.
Harris' miss at the buzzer snapped the Badgers' three-game winning streak, but Ryan said he had no regrets about getting the ball in the hands of his best player and going for the win.
"That's a no-brainer," Ryan said.
David Teague added 11 points, including 3-for-5 on 3-pointers, for the Boilermakers.
Wilkinson led Wisconsin with 12 points and nine rebounds.
But the night was all about Keady, who has built a reputation as a hard-nosed grouch on the court and a lovable teddy bear off it. He gave credit to his wife, the Purdue administration, students, players and fans for his success.
"I don't feel like it's 500 for me," Keady said. "I feel like it's 500 for Purdue."