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Indiana native Kiermaier pumped for Purdue hoops

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Kevin Kiermaier is a Purdue basketball lifer.

On Saturday afternoon, that meant rushing to an Applebee's to see the final minutes of the Boilermakers' 76-59 win over Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament.

"I've loved Purdue basketball since I was a little kid," Kiermaier said. "I try not to miss a game."

The Rays' center fielder acknowledged that being a Purdue basketball fan hasn't always been easy.

"They went through a tough stretch there when I was growing up," Kiermaier said. "Then this class at Purdue came in. It was Robbie Hummel, JaJuan Johnson, E'Twaun Moore and Chris Kramer.