Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Purdue vs IU: For A Substantial Amount of Marbles

I thought about titling this post, "Purdue vs IU: Who Ya Got?" but really, if you're reading Boiled Sports, you're probably pulling for the Boilers. Or you're here to bash us. Which is fine. Bring it, bitches.

I kid, of course. We're all about the love here at BS. Unless we're pissed about something. Or feeling punchy. Or just feel like stirring the shit up. Okay, so we are proud and are definitely itching for a fight tonight.

We've stayed rather quiet today (especially Boilerdowd) and that's probably for a number of reasons. I mean, we're "due" for a loss, right? Purdue hasn't let up (at least not enough to lose) since early January. The Boilers are 12-1 in the Big Ten and up to a ranking of 14/15 in the nation. The many freshmen on the team are going to be beaten at some point, right? They're going to be outplayed. Outhustled. Painter is going to be outcoached. It has to happen at some point, right? I mean, it's only natural. Right? Or is it?

See, we (being typical Purdue fans) have been expecting some letdown losses and just general losses of focus basically, well, since Wofford slapped our boys around in December. After a decent but not overly-impressive non-conference schedule, it looked like the predictions were right: Purdue would be a solid team this year but definitely one of those "year or two away" kinds of teams. Big Ten success would probably have to wait.

But something clicked in these guys. Something got them focused and hustling and confident and... accurate. And Coach Painter kept them grounded... somehow. Maybe I'm saying this with such utter disbelief because whenever Purdue athletic teams have even gotten remotely good, the wheels have come flying off in catastrophic fashion.

Yet this team seems to be unaffected by the curse of letdowns. They are 4-0, if you can believe that, against top ten teams this season. Read that again. Can you even imagine the football team doing that? I mean, I think I'd poop my pants if they did.

Yet here we are. Of course, this doesn't mean they're going to win tonight. In fact, the odds are kind of against them, as I illustrated above. They're young, they're on the road... they're "due" for a loss, if you believe in that sort of thing. Oh, and IU is pretty damn good.

However, they can win if IU plays sloppy at all; if Kramer plays shutdown defense on Gordon; if the Hoosiers are at all distracted thinking about playing possibly their last game for Coach Sanctions; and if Coach Painter can keep the wheels on this one for 40 minutes.

No predictions here. I honestly believe it could go either way. No matter what, though, this season has turned into one hell of a ride. Thanks guys, we're really enjoying it.

Game on in less than an hour.

8 comments:

Mr. Fluff said...

No predictions? Come on!!! The Baby Boilers are +5. I have supreme confidence. My only reservation is in the karma department. Much to my horror, the "Paint Crew" brought out "Beat Indiana" posters be about 7 minutes left against NW. That can't be good right?

Anonymous said...

WOW WHAT A BOILERISH POST.

Anonymous said...

Great game by IU... however did anyone see the fans hold up the FLAGRANT foul on Kramer on Gordon with 30 seconds left?

That was funny. Dumb fans.

Anonymous said...

Boilers shoot 72 times and IU is only whistled for 17 fouls?? Man, what a cappy shooting night in general. Martin missed a bunch of open jumpers early, then starts hitting wild shots in traffic. What happened to our free throw shooting? Why do team hit 99% of their free throws against us? I want a rematch at home.

Anonymous said...

I hate jim delaney so much right now. What an asshole. Big Ten schedules in football and Basketball are a joke. Purude misses Mich and tOSU for years at a time. He won't protect the best basketball rivalry in the conference. That said, if we shot in Mackey the way we shot tonight, we'd still get beat.

Anonymous said...

Hurley predicted 77 65... man that guy is a freaking genuius. Purdue may need to practice some free throws tomorrow and get a player over 6'7"

J Money said...

Hurley? You mean the fat guy from Lost is posting here now?

boilerdowd said...

Hurley's a sack who hides behind a handsome Italian/French Canadian's name and pops out like a weasel when his team wins. Boooooooooooooooo!

Lonestarboiler,
I think you are simply nuts to believe Purdue would get beaten at Mackey. Purdue played its worst game since Wofford against Ass Hall's officials and IU's team and still lost by less than a landslide. Make no bones about it, IU is clicking right now and Purdue was due for such a loss...Purdue is the better team, IU has better individual players.