I don't know if I feel real great about Purdue's initial match-up in the tourney...Hopefully, I'll get a gut feeling in the coming days. But, here's what I know, so far:
Purdue will be playing in DC...a good thing for the Boilers. Why? Well, first off, they're in closer proximity to the venue than is Baylor. But second, DC has a killer Purdue alumni association, one of the biggest in the nation. I know the president of the group...I'm pretty sure he'll get 'em energized and hopefully have the Purdue faithful there in force.
Baylor's Coach, Scott Drew, is a son-of-a-coach...a pretty good one. He grew up around the game, and like his Dad, has fundamentally-sound players. This team is solid...and they have something that causes Purdue fits: Skilled and legitimately big centers. Two seven-footers split time for the Bears. On top of that, they've got five players averaging about 10 points each. One is an ex-McDonald's All-American (Carter, Soph.), another is a former top 25 recruit (Dunn, Soph.) and their leading scorer, who averages 15/gm. is a Junior who has been receiving Big 12 accolades since arriving on campus. They can also shoot from behind the arc, three players shoot over 40% from 19.9. And they do the little things...like hit free throws. Nearly the whole team shoots over 70% from the free throw line...And finally, they can score. They've reached the century mark five times in '07/'08.
All but one of their losses came against NCAA tournament teams...and they have no Wofford-like games on their schedule. In other words, they're a pretty good, consistant team. To tell you the truth, it may seem like Purdue got absolutely screwed playing a team this good in the first round...But, like I've been saying all weekend, Purdue can only blame itself for the position it's in.
What's your take on the 10-seed Bears?
Addendum:
Purdue finishes season 18th
14 comments:
Digger Phelps:
"Of course, Baylor will take care of Purdue."
Baylor is sort of like Purdue in that of late they have not been playing as well as earlier in the season. I do think their size will give us problems. I watched half of a Baylor/Texas game over a month ago and they held their own. We seemed to do okay against MSU, and they have a number of big guys. We'll just have to see.
Listened to Dickie V. ramble on last night. He talked about all the great teams in the Hoosier state. You know, IU, Notre Dame, Butler. Dick.
I heard him say that, but whoever makes the picks that they had listed in the sidebar picked Purdue to win.
#25, wasn't that what Dick said right before he pleaded with Bob Knight to return to IU "because he belongs there?" I'm no Bob Knight fan, but he was hilarious when they asked him if he wanted Dick's mike cut off and he said "I would, but he'd probably have a backup mike anyways." The look he gave was priceless, it was like "Shut the f up Dickhead, I'm not going back there. Quit running your mouth."
Baylor is an 11 seed.
Being from the region, Scott Drew is a very familar name. His dad coaches at Valpo U and we all know his brother Bryce who played at Valpo High and Valpo U. Good to see him having success. Hope we can beat the Bears.
That was a good look Knight gave. The Vitalian Stallion seems to have forgotten that Knight was run out of town. Why would he want to go back. Sometimes I like listening to him, but yesterday he was an absolute moron. Too bad that throat condition of his didn't keep him sidelined a little longer - like a few years.
This is a very young team who, for all intents and purposes, is way ahead of schedule. I'm a patient man (I still cheered for the Twins even through the 90s) and I realize that they're going to be back better than this year next year, and if they lose in the the first round, they'll just be hungrier next year. That being said, I'll probably have an aneurysm watching this game.
From Rivals.com:
Most underseeded: Purdue and BYU have a case that each is seeded a spot too low. Purdue finished second in the Big Ten, swept Wisconsin (which was a No. 3) and won a neutral-site game with Louisville (which also is a No. 3). Plus, Purdue was playing well at the end of the season, coming in having won nine of its past 12. Evidently, the Big Ten tourney loss to Illinois hurt more than anticipated.
With our losses to Ohio State and Illinois, we really fell out of the national conscience. This commentary on Rivals was the only thing I could find that mentioned Purdue at all.
i was ecstatic when i found out we'd be playing in DC. i live like an hour and a half from there, and am going to do my best to get a ticket. BS represent!
Atta boy, Mo!!!
Represent!
I was just in DC from Thurs night to this morning. My timing is effing brilliant.
Hey, the Final Four is in San Antonio... if they make it there, you're all invited for a party at Chez J. Then we can trek the three hours over there.
(Author reserves right to rescind offer.)
I know the River Walk well, I may take you up on that offer.
river walk is indeed very cool. Obviously they're not going to the Final Four, BUT... if, by chance, a mistake was made with the scoreboard or something and they wound up there, I am going no matter what. I will stand outside and mug somebody for tickets if need be. That is all.
J --
Why mug? If i was a full-tiem emplyee with the NCAA instead of lousy temp (for 8 months) I would actually get tickets for free. As it is I know people that aren't going.
If that's an offer, consider it accepted.
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