Purdue Roundball Roundup: Ethan Morton, Brandon Newman and Five Factors

Eric Hunter remains sidelined for a few more weeks, and now Jaden Ivey appears sidelined for at least a few games, so Purdue's skeleton crew backcourt from the Clemson is its backcourt for the time being.

That means Isaiah Thompson remains in a position of particular prominence for the Boilermakers, but also that as Ethan Morton rounds back into form, he'll be right there also.

Morton's improved conditioning can gradually sooth the sting of Purdue's debilitating personnel losses in its backcourt.

Matt Painter said he "appreciated" Morton assuming a 25-minute workload against Clemson, a rare comment from a coach, but an appropriate one considering Morton had practiced just a few times before Florida and played only 10 minutes vs. Liberty not because Purdue didn't want him to play more, but because he couldn't. Mono is no small adversary and its aftermath so insignificant climb back. Painter added that Purdue "easily maxed him out" and that It must be "careful" with Morton.

"There's not just a magic pill I can take to get back in the shape I was before I got sick," Morton said after the Clemson game. "It's going to take time."