Klemet: D.J. Byrd will leave his mark at Purdue
By SAM KLEMET
ISL Correspondent
I am not a musician – outside of my moments bellowing out a little Teddy P or Boyz II Men in the shower – so, I don’t really know what it’s like to be on stage, with the spotlight shining and a stadium full of people watching me.
I imagine it’s a very intimidating experience. But it was one D.J. Byrd handled quite well in October during Purdue’s Midnight Madness event to kickoff the basketball season.
The senior grabbed his guitar – an off-court hobby of his – donned a cowboy hat and wig, and played in front of Boilermaker nation as his alter-ego, Dirk Hunter.
His performance wasn’t Grammy worthy, but it wasn’t a flop either. Byrd’s – I mean Hunter’s – skill set was somewhat limited, but he still put on a show and got a rousing ovation as his set came to a close.
Byrd’s basketball career is quite similar to that of his made-up musical character.
He has at times been the star of stars and at others it seemed like he was struggling to find his note. But one thing that was consistent in Byrd’s four years in West Lafayette? He gave it all he had and never let a bad performance keep him down.
Byrd was a four-star recruit out of Crawfordsville who appeared in 29 games his freshman season at Purdue. He started to make his mark in year two, playing in 34-games, averaging 5.2-points-per contest.
Last year – his junior campaign – he rose to a different level.
Despite an off-court distraction of getting arrest for an incident outside a West Lafayette bar which resulted in a brief suspension, Byrd became a leader. He was a spark off the bench that the Boilermakers desperately needed after losing two of their top scorers to the NBA. Byrd’s nearly nine points per game helped him become the Big Ten’s Sixth Man of the Year, the first Purdue player to ever earn the honor. That success set expectations sky-high for his final year playing in Mackey Arena.
Byrd’s senior season has been a challenge. He’s had epic moments like during the Big Ten opener when his hustle plays and three-point shooting helped Purdue upset a then-ranked Illinois team.
But, he’s also had nights like February 9th against Michigan State when he was held scoreless and took just one shot. And, barring some miraculous run through the Big Ten Tournament, this will be the first time in Byrd’s career that he won’t end the season playing in the NCAA tournament. It seems like an anticlimactic end to a career built on overachieving.
Byrd doesn’t have great speed or size. He struggles to create his own shot and is not the best ball handler. But he willed his teammates to fight harder. He pushed himself to be better and he inspired the Paint Crew to cheer louder.
D.J. Byrd won’t have his #21 raised to the Mackey rafters. He won’t be included in conversations with the likes of Rick Mount, Glenn Robinson, and JaJuan Johnson.
But, he undoubtedly left his mark on Purdue. And, Saturday, when he plays his final game at Mackey Arena, you can bet D.J. Byrd goes out like a rock star, one even greater than Dirk Hunter.
