WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue basketball mainstays E’Twaun Moore, Keaton Grant, JaJuan Johnson and Robbie Hummel aren’t easily impressed.

So imagine how well freshman guard/forward Kelsey Barlow must be practicing for the No. 7 Boilermakers, who open preseason play tonight against California of Pennsylvania in Mackey Arena.

The 6-5, 199-pound Cathedral graduate has played well during the first two weeks of practice and should transition nicely into coach Matt Painter’s rotation, along with fellow scholarship freshmen D.J. Byrd and Patrick Bade.

Freshman Sandi Marcius, who would have had plenty of playing time at center, is out four to six weeks with a broken bone in his right foot.

“I don’t know if Kelsey is a point guard, a shooting guard or a small forward,” Hummel said. "He has done well at all three positions. He has done a good job guarding. He still has a little to learn about guarding off the ball, but on the ball, he is very good.

“On offense, he has done a good job getting to the basket. He still is trying to figure out our structured offense. He could be very, very good for Purdue. Fans should be excited about him.”

As has been Painter’s policy for the past four seasons, freshmen are off limits to the media until after they participate in a game.

Grant said Barlow embraces Purdue’s defensive principles. Moore likes his competitive nature.

“I definitely like Kelsey Barlow,” Moore said. “He might be able to help us win some games this year.”

Etc.

The ongoing construction project at Mackey Arena will affect traveling and parking all season. Gates A, B, D and F are open for ticketed fans. Gate C is closed indefinitely, and Gate E is available as an emergency exit only. Spectators will not be able to enter Gate E. . . . Jay Simpson , a 6-8 sophomore forward from Champaign (Ill.) Central, became the third player from the 2012 class to verbally commit to Purdue. Simpson describes himself as a combo forward. He hasn’t started a varsity game, but his coach, Scott Davis , said Simpson has “a Big Ten frame.”