PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Gicarri Harris let his hand hang in the air a bit on the follow-through, Purdue basketball’s sophomore guard finally feeling the surge for the first time this season.
Late in the first half of the No. 1 Boilermakers’ 81-65 victory at Rutgers, his 3-pointer provided the final flourish on a fast break. The season’s first few weeks included so few opportunities for Harris to revel in the moment on offense.
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Harris took the time Tuesday, briefly, to absorb the vibe. He served as an early catalyst for an eventually comfortable victory.
It was only a matter of time — but still, it was about time. Add this night to the growing list of evidence Purdue’s functional roster is as deep as they come.
“Just being shot-ready at all times — I feel like that helped,” Harris said. “I was sprinting, just doing my job defensively and offensively. Tonight was a good night for me, and looking forward to just building off of that.”
Over the first six games, Harris totaled 15 points while shooting 21.7% from the field. He still played his customary tough defense. He avoided turnovers and chipped in on the offensive boards.
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Shotmaking, though, was supposed to be a sophomore season step forward.
No need to give Harris the “stick with it” pep talk. He lived it his entire freshman year. Inconsistent minutes off the bench means inconsistent opportunities to shoot the ball. Inconsistent baskets means a few scattered 0-for-1s suddenly turns into a paper slump.
How frustratingly familiar a 2 of 8 start from 3-point range across the first six games must have felt. Even more so, perhaps, because Harris by all accounts put together a strong summer and preseason. He nearly unseated classmate C.J. Cox from the starting job he held at the end of last season. That decision went down to the wire — decided by Cox’s edge in wins in competitive drills and scrimmage sessions.
Making freshman-to-sophomore improvements and impressing everyone with your play for a few months should come with a reward. It did — for Cox, who has started every game and came in averaging about seven more minutes per game.
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It tested Harris’ patience, his resolve and his maturity.
“It was kind of like how it was last year, but I didn’t let it affect me too much this year,” Harris said. “It’s still tough, but I had just had to keep a clear mind. There wasn’t a time where I wasn’t looking for my shot and stuff like that — being aggressive, being confident.”
The turn came Friday against Eastern Illinois. The 3-pointers still didn’t fall, but his other four shots did. Harris also collected six rebounds, three steals and two assists in a season-high 25 minutes — much of it in garbage time. His 12 points constituted a new career high.
Tuesday night, the 3s did fall, and he nearly equaled that career high in the first half.
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He made his first deep attempt a little over eight minutes into the game, giving Purdue an early 20-9 lead. Rutgers surged back with a 10-0 run. The Boilers responded with one of their own, capped by a Harris 3 off a fast break.
He was trailing a break a couple of minutes later when Braden Smith drove the lane, twisted around under the basket and found Harris approaching the top of the key. His final 3 of the night made it 38-25. Purdue led by at least 13 the rest of the night.
“He’s the difference there in the first half,” coach Matt Painter said.
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“… It was a punch in the arm for us. He gave us that energy — just came off the bench and made some solid plays, knocked down some shots. It was good to see him get going.”
Harris did not score in the second half, missing the chance to set a career high in consecutive games.
Yet considering Purdue’s recent history in Big Ten road openers — five losses in their last six coming in — those first-half minutes helped keep danger at arm’s length. They were especially helpful on a night in which Cox, Fletcher Loyer and Omer Mayer combined to shoot 5 for 21, including 2 for 13 from 3.
“Anywhere else, he’d start,” said Trey Kaufman-Renn, who posted 19 points and 13 rebounds. “He doesn’t openly show it or anything, but I remember — even when I was a redshirt freshman coming in playing behind Zach (Edey) — I was like, man, I could give some minutes.
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“But it’s great to see him coming in and all his work show, because he deserves it.”
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Debate is growing as to whether Purdue deserves to still be the nation’s No. 1 team. Michigan swept through the Player’s Era tournament and owns arguably the nation’s most impressive collection of wins. Arizona’s coming on strong. They’ve cut into the Boilers’ share of No. 1 votes.
Harris exemplified why Purdue may be the nation’s deepest team. It could be the deciding factor when the arbiter switches from polls to brackets in March.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Gicarri Harris shooting, defense key for Purdue basketball at Rutgers
