Purdue's Robbie Hummel All Cleared After Successful ACL Surgery

Reports are in that Purdue Basketball forward Robbie Hummel was cleared today for a full season of basketball.  This is very important to the Boilermakers, as Hummel is an intricate part to the highly ranked Boilermakers.

Hummel is an essential part to the Boilermakers success throughout the year.  In the 2009-2010 season, Hummel racked up 15.7 points a game, 2 assists, and a three-point percentage of 36.4 before he went down with a season-ending ACL injury against Minnesota on February 24.  After Hummel went down with that injury, Purdue was not the same team.

With Hummel the Boilermakers were ranked in the top 10, and had compiled a record of 24-3.  With Hummel Purdue was a completely different team than without him.  After Hummel went down the Boilermakers lost three more games, including a humiliating 69-42 affair with Minnesota in the 2010 Big Ten Tournament.

Not only did the Boilermakers miss the offense that the junior forward brought to the squad, but they missed his leadership and his energy he brought forth every game, every minute.

With the presence of Hummel again, the Boilermakers will be one of the top teams in the nation.  With the help of returning seniors, JaJuan Johnson, who averaged 15 points and seven rebounds a game, and E'twaun Moore, who averaged 13.8 points a game, and had a three-point percentage of 34, the Boilermakers will once again be dominant.  

With Hummel healthy, and an experienced team, look for the Boilermakers to make a strong run at the Final Four this season. Boilermaker fans have lots to look forward too this coming basketball season.

James Evens is a Purdue student and Basketball/Football Featured Columnist for the Boilermakers, along with being a Writing Intern at Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter.