Nathan Baird

nbaird@jconline.com

WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue sophomore Ryan Cline headed back to the bench in search of answers.

While the Boilermakers handled Iowa State's potent offense overall in the first half of Saturday's Midwest Region second-round game, Cyclones guard Matt Thomas was going off. He scored 12 first-half points on 5 of 7 shooting — much of it with Cline right on top of him.

An exasperated Cline asked Purdue coach Matt Painter and associated head coach Jack Owens for help.

"There were about two or three times where I went to the bench and was like, 'What else do I do?' " Cline said. "Coach O and coach Paint were like, 'There's nothing else you can do. They're just hitting good shots.' "

It was an important lesson in Cline's continued development. He's been in the starting lineup for the past six games, and his increasing reliability on defense is one reason. Cline also didn't allow the frustration against Thomas to affect the rest of his game, as he collected five rebounds, four assists and two steals.

He'll likely always be matched up with another perimeter threat against top seed Kansas in Thursday's Midwest Region semifinals. This wasn't necessarily the role Cline expected to play at this point in his career. But he's surprised even himself by how he's come along in areas such as dribble containment.

"My awareness and my positioning has always been pretty good, especially coming from Carmel and coach (Scott) Heady," Cline said. "Being able to move laterally and be able to contain my man has gone really well."

Painter recruited Cline as part of his mission to find at least one talented shooter in each class. It says something about Cline's overall value that he continues to start and play despite a shooting slump.

Cline made a 3 on the opening trip down the floor against Iowa State, then missed his other four. He didn't even attempt a shot in 14 foul-affected minutes against Vermont. He's 4-for-16 from behind the arc since joining the starting lineup.

"It gives me an opportunity to get in the gym and get more shots up," Cline said. "But I'm helping out in other aspects. Sometimes the ball just doesn't go into the hoop for you."

Etc.

Purdue's open practice will be held from 1-1:50 p.m. Central time on Wednesday at Sprint Center. ... Last week in Milwaukee, Purdue scored 80 points in back-to-back tournament games for the first time since 1998. ... Purdue and Kansas have played five previous times, with the Jayhawks leading 3-2. The series began with a 1948 game in West Lafayette, which Kansas won 47-46. ... Kansas ended the regular season ranked No. 3. Purdue has not beaten a top-five opponent since a Feb. 20, 2011 win over No. 2 Ohio State. ... The Boilermakers have never beaten a No. 1 seed.

Follow Journal & Courier Purdue sports reporter Nathan Baird on Twitter: @nbairdjc.

Thursday's game

Midwest Region

at Sprint Center, Kansas City

4 Purdue (27-7) vs. 1 Kansas (30-4)

Time: Approx. 9:39 p.m.

TV: CBS

Radio: WYCM 95.7