Purdue suspends A.J. Hammons for violating team rules

A.J. Hammons, a top post player in the Big Ten, will sit the first three games of the season.

Andy Manis/AP

"This right here, I think if it happened right in the middle of Big Ten play, I think it would fit that category," Painter said when asked about the adversity of losing Hammons. "But since it's at the beginning of the season, I think we can use it as a positive."