WOODEN CLASSIC : Keady Gang Can’t Shoot Straight : First game: Purdue shoots 27.7% in 67-50 loss to Villanova.

Most of it was great. Purdue enjoyed the people, the area and the arena, and would welcome another trip to the John R. Wooden Classic.

But the Boilermakers won’t sit by the phone. They don’t expect a call any time soon after losing to Villanova, 67-50, Saturday afternoon before 11,582 at The Pond of Anaheim.

Villanova (7-0) looked every bit the nation’s second-ranked team as it outplayed Purdue (4-2) from the outset. Purdue shot 27.7% from the field, made two three-point baskets in 21 attempts and had only seven assists and 12 turnovers.

The game spoiled what had been a great West Coast trip for Coach Gene Keady’s team. On the positive side, the Boilermakers didn’t break any all-time school records. That’s not much, but it’s all they can take from this one.

“The game is supposed to be the best thing about the classic, and it was the worst thing,� Keady said. “The banquet was great, the people were great, and [Orange County] was great.

“Then we come out and stink up the place. I would never invite us again.�

Villanova helped a little. All-American guard Kerry Kittles scored a game-high 19 points, and center Jason Lawson played his best game with 17 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots.

Kittles and forward Eric Eberz applied pressure from the outside, and Lawson and forward Chuck Kornegay were the muscle inside. In a hole quickly and thinking about it, Purdue couldn’t find the rim or a clue.

“It’s my job to run the offense, so I never think we’re out of it as long as there’s time left on the clock,� Purdue point guard Porter Roberts said. “But we didn’t shoot with confidence. No excuses, we just didn’t do it.�

Kittles and Lawson scored eight points each as Villanova took a 35-21 first-half lead. The Wildcats’ defense, sparked by Kittles and point guard Alvin Williams, forced bad decisions by the Boilermakers, but it wasn’t responsible for all that went wrong. Or even most of it.

“Our defense was very good; it functioned at a very high level,� Villanova Coach Steve Lappas said. “But they just had one of those days shooting. We all have those days, and they had it today.�

Keady couldn’t explain the Boilermakers’ shooting. However, he had plenty to say about their effort.

“We didn’t play hard,� he said. “We looked like we were playing junior high ball, or maybe Villanova is that good.�

Kittles said it’s the latter.

“We’re playing good basketball, but we’re not at the point where we need to be,� he said. “We can play better.�

Maybe. But Purdue proved it can.