CHAMPAIGN - In the blockbuster Big Ten Conference, Purdue stands poised to challenge for a season-long run at the elite in college basketball.

In the initial Association Press Top 25 poll, Purdue checked in at No. 7, and the Boilermakers were picked to finish second in the Big Ten, behind only No. 2-ranked Michigan State.

With returning players like Robbie Hummel, JaJuan Johnson, E'Twaun Moore, Chris Kramer and Keaton Grant, Purdue hopes to improve on last season's 27-10 mark that included a visit to the Sweet 16. Purdue didn't bow out until running into top-seeded Connecticut.

Purdue's hopes also hinge on the play of sophomore Lewis Jackson of Decatur, who had a terrific freshman season, starting 30 games while averaging 5.9 points and leading the team in assists.

But Jackson followed up his strong freshman campaign with a detour through the courts system, and he's still trying to win back the trust of the coaching staff, including head coach Matt Painter.

Jackson was arrested in April while driving on Interstate 72 east of Monticello. He ended up pleading guilty to drug and alcohol charges and was sentenced to 12 months court supervision, 50 hours of community service and fines and fees totaling $1,926.

He pled guilty to consumption of alcohol by a minor, possession of drug paraphernalia and speeding. Charges of possession of alcohol and possession of less than 2.5 grams of cannabis were dropped.

Jackson expressed remorse at the time of his sentencing in Piatt County and said he hoped Painter would give him a second chance.

Speaking to Painter at the Big Ten media day gathering in Chicago, he said he is judging Jackson on how he handles himself now and long into the future, not just in the short term.

"Lewis has done a good job," Painter said. "But I'd rather not comment after somebody does something five, six months later. He has time ... he has this time to prove himself and it's not just through the course of the season. It's his career and it's the rest of his life.

"Great kids make mistakes, and I think he falls into that category. If you continue to make those mistakes it's a pattern of behavior. I think he has made a mistake, so hopefully he can improve and learn from his mistake."

In addition to the court-imposed penalties, Painter is suspending Jackson for the team's two exhibition games. And the NCAA has tacked on an additional game - the Nov. 13 season opener against Cal State-Northridge, for playing in an unspecified contest that was not authorized by his coach or the school's compliance department.

That means Jackson's debut won't come until Nov. 20 against South Dakota State.

Painter said Jackson's practice time has been curtailed due to some early injuries.

"He's had kind of a hip flexor or something in his thigh," Painter said. "Then he scratched his cornea the other day in practice. So he's been out a little bit, but he's not going to be in the first three games, so we'll have to learn to play without him. But he gives us a great spark.

"We have some good athletic combo guards in Kramer and Grant and Moore. (Jackson) gives us a different look. He gives us that quintessential point guard that can pressure the basketball, that can push the basketball, and he allows us to steal some points in transition.

"He was all-freshman team last year. People don't really talk about that. But to get that experience as a true freshman at that position, those guys always seem to make a big jump their sophomore year after getting that experience as a point guard."

The bottom line is that Purdue needs Jackson's quickness and explosiveness. He earned those minutes as a freshman and he'll be better this season if he stays healthy and learns from his offseason misstep.

He's short, but he's strong, and now that he knows what to expect he should be able to finish with more confidence at the rim. If nothing else, expect him to shoot more free throws.

Jackson has a chance to look back on what happened to him in April and say it was the luckiest night of his life. Not everyone gets that chance. He needs to take advantage of it. Purdue needs it, too.

Illinois notes

Joseph Bertrand continues to have swelling in his surgically repaired knee and Illini coach Bruce Weber said Friday they are sitting him in some practices, hoping the knee can heal.

"We sat him on Tuesday and yesterday we were off," Weber said. "(Trainer) Al Martindale came in this morning and said we have to sit him at least today and maybe one more day. We have to get it to settle down before we can make any progress."

Bertrand tore his meniscus in September and had surgery. He bounced back quickly and Weber said he was surprised to learn that Bertrand has the toughness to jump back into practice with such determination.

Now, though, they are having to back Bertrand off.

"I called him in late last week and said, 'You have to be patient.' We understand the injury. He's probably pushed it too far and now we have to deal with it."

No decision has been made about Bertrand's freshman year, but if the knee continued to swell, he could become the only candidate to redshirt. Weber said he's not sure if Bertrand will be cleared to play Sunday.

- Weber said Stan Simpson, who did not play in the exhibition opener because he had failed to meet some academic guidelines, is on track to play in the final exhibition game at 4 p.m. Sunday against Quincy.

"We probably plan on playing him, but he has to have a good finish to his week," Weber said.

- Weber said Jeffrey Jordan also expects to see his first action. Jordan left the team last spring but asked to rejoin the squad early this fall. Weber wants Jordan back, but he wants to be sure Jordan is committed to the team and to the conditioning it takes to play on the team.

"He's done a nice job ... what we envisioned him to do," Weber said. "He still hits some walls as far as conditioning, but he has been fine so far. He has a good attitude. I'd like to get him in there a little bit (vs. Quincy).

mtupper@herald-review.com|421-7983