Robbie Hummel: 3 NCAA Tournament Predictions for Purdue Star

Purdue's Robbie Hummel is going to rock the 2012 NCAA tournament.

Hummel has missed out on the last couple of tournaments due to injury, but he gets his shot to further his accomplished career with a strong showing in this year's tourney.

So, what's going to happen?

Hummel will average more than 20 points per game

Hummel didn't exactly finish the year with a bang, averaging just over 10 points a game in Purdue's final three games. 

The previous six games told a different story, though, and Hummel averaged almost 24 points a game during that stretch.

I'm expecting Hummel to revert back to his stellar play once the tournament begins.

By the time Purdue plays St. Mary's it will have been a week since their last game. This break will be just what Hummel needs to recharge his batteries and get back to scoring buckets of points and plenty of three pointers with his fresh legs.

Hummel will average double-digit rebounds

Although Hummel only averaged seven rebounds a game during the regular season, he's going to go berserk in the NCAA tournament.

Since February, Hummel averaged just over nine rebounds a game as he continued getting stronger after recovering from a second knee injury in as many years from 2010-2011.

Count on the fact that Hummel will be geeked to finally get to play after missing out the two previous seasons, and his energy will be indomitable.

He's going to be a monster.

Hummel will stay healthy

Before the start of this season, the last game Hummel played was on February 24, 2010. He missed two tournaments and nearly a season-and-a-half due to two torn ACLs.

Mercurynews.com reporter Ben Enos recently spoke with St. Mary's head coach Randy Bennett, who was impressed that Hummel recovered as quickly as he did from the second injury, saying:

"

It's amazing that he's as good as he is with as short a time he's had to recover from his second ACL (injury). I'm just amazed he looks the way he does. He's a really good player.

"

Really good player and healthy. Healthy and getting stronger. 

Hummel isn't going to suffer another miserable tournament sitting on the bench. 

Instead, he's going to be out on the floor knocking down three-pointers and having the time of his life.

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