Overview: Pritchard is a 6-9, 250-pound junior forward from Westlake, Ohio. He started 22 games last seaosn after starting all 31 in 2008, and his points per game total dropped from 9.7 to 4.2. He was more efficient, however, shooting 60 percent from the field last season compared to just 47 percent the year prior. He averaged 3.5 rebounds per game last season, swatting away 18 balls and coming up with 15 steals. Pritchard was the Cleavland Plain Dealer Player of the Year and an All-Ohio player coming out of high school.
Best case: Pritchard begins as a rebounding and low-post force - and stays that way. The play that gives Hoosier fans hope against non-conference opponents translates to the Big Ten, as he cleans the glass and flushes home passes from penetrating guards for easy points. He's solid on the defensive end, using his body not for fouls, but as a wall opponents have to go around because they can't get through. He complements - or supplements - Guy-Marc Michel in the starting lineup as a useful fourth or fifth option.
Worst case: Pritchard goes into hibernation mode when the competition stiffens, and he loses significant ground in the rotation to Michel, Bobby Capobianco and Derek Elston. When on the floor, he's a perennial fouler and tentative post player. His minutes per game diminish as Michel and the sophomore forwards simply help the team more, and Pritchard is forced to work himself out a hole he created.
Outlook: Coach Tom Crean has talked about how he wants Pritchard to watch plenty of last year's Purdue game at home - a game in which he exploded for 13 first-half points on 6-of-7 shooting. Given it was the brightest spot not only in his season, but his career, that's probably a good idea. With Pritchard, it's all about confidence. When he has it, you can see why he had high expectations coming to IU. When he doesn't, you could blink and he'd have two fouls and three turnovers. As he grows older and stronger with each passing year, the bar gets set higher for Pritchard. If he is to average anywhere near the 20 minutes per game he had last season, he'll have to turn the corner from spotty performer to consistent contributor.
