WEST LAFAYETTE — On Tuesday evening Purdue basketball and head coach Matt Painter enjoyed a fifth straight win over Indiana University.
With that, the Boilermakers are already on to the next thing. As they've done all season long - a lot of roles now on a roll.
The scenery hasn't changed this season around Mackey Arena, but the feel around here certainly has.
And on Gene Keady Court, RTV6 had a chance to catch up with Matt Painter who is now in his 14th season after Keady's retirement.
DF: "Clearly, you're a better coach now than you were two months ago?"
Painter: "No question. When the ball goes in, you're a much better coach."
It wasn't that long ago when Painter's Purdue lost five of seven games. But it might as well be ancient history now; as a young team grew up quickly.
Painter: "And we have good guys. And so everybody's realized it. Not that big of a deal for them to accept a role. Buy into that role. Do the little things. And when you come out - it's not that big of a deal. Just cheer for your teammates, be ready to play when your number is called."
The change didn't happen here, it happened in here.
Their state of the art practice facility, a balance of teaching and tough work. The stuff Ryan Cline's heard about when his dad played at Ohio State University in the mid 1970's.
DF: "When you say there were a couple of tough practices around Christmas time, how tough were they?"
Cline: "I wouldn't say like gut wrenching."
DF: "Like throwing up on the sideline?"
Cline: "No... yeah. Not quite like that. My dad told me a couple of stories back in his day."
Grady Eifert likes Painter's coaching style. Eifert is a Purdue walk-on that worked his way up to being one of the hardest working players who is now a starter.
Grady Eifert: "He's the ref. If you could imagine that. There's not many rules. I like it though because I think it plays in my favor - being able to scrap."
Painter: "Last year, we had a team and this is what I've tried to get toward - is getting guys to understand the game. Getting guys that are competitive. So as they grow in your program and get older, they coach them."
As a result, that old familiar feeling is back. In what many are calling Painter's finest coaching job in his 14 seasons. At least, his finest so far.
DF: "Personally, do you feel satisfaction in a season like this?"
Painter: "If it continues."
DF: "Good point."
Painter: "You just move to the next game. You don't get satisfaction. You beat Indiana or you beat Michigan State or you beat Penn State. It's good. The bus ride's cool. And then you wake up the next day and it starts over and you don't think about it. But, you do think about it if you lose."
Painter coached his 500th game on Tuesday night. He has moved up the charts on the all-time wins list in the Big Ten, just two behind Harry Combes for 10th place.
