– Coach Tubby Smith announced that the team has suspended junior guard Kevin Payton indefinitely for academic reasons.

Payton has played in eight of the team’s 18 games and hasn’t scored. Smith, a stickler for academics, said, “It’s very disappointing. But life is like that, you make your own bed and have to make some decisions, but hopefully he’ll get what he has to get done done.”

– Smith also said Jonathan Williams will be "limited" by a strained calf. It seemed from Smith’s comments that Williams is doubtful to play against Purdue.

– Westbrook called the game "the biggest of my career."

– Smith opened his intreview session talking about President Obama’s innaguration for a few minutes.

"It’s been a great week so far, with the innaguration. Whenever a transition is made between one administration to the next, it’s always interesting to watch how it’s done. I was certainly impressed with the way things went, because I’m from the Maryland, D.C. area. To see that city host that many people and not have any major incidents was remarkable. Hopefully Barack Obama’s transition will go smooth and he will get some things done in this country."

Added Westbrook: "Personally, me being black, it was big to be that President Obama was elected. We all watched his innaguration. I think it inspired everybody, black people and white people together."

– Former Indiana and Texas Tech coach Bobby Knight made an appearance at Williams Arena after practice on Wednesday.