Purdue had just come off of a loss at Wisconsin after winning 14-straight. Their next opponent was the limping Buckeyes. Evan Turner was banged-up, Matta's team was in desperate need of a win and the angry Boilers were coming back to God's country to hopefully get back on track. We all know that didn't happen. Dallas Lauderdale took it right at JJ...and JJ responded poorly. He played one of his worst games, offensively at least, as a starter at Purdue, I'd argue. The Ostrich went crazy in the first half, ended with 35, but really, this game was Evan Turner's. After miraculously healing, Turner didn't show any ill effects of his time off WITH A BROKEN BACK and got stronger down the stretch as he put the game away and kicked Purdue in the collective ribs in the closing minutes of the contest.
That game still stings, if you ask me.
And, if you ask your fellow Purdue fans, most think it's the worst loss this season- At home, playing with a lead and giving it away...not what a team full of veterans is supposed to do.
But the season is different now than it was a month ago. Sure, Purdue has gone on a bit of a run, but much of the national media tells me the conference race is aOSU's to lose. They're right...this Bucknut team is finally living up to its billing- they have a ton of talent, they're confident and they're using it well. From Diebler hitting the big shots...to Turner doing everything well...to Buford blossoming into a special player...to Lighty being the straw that stirs the drink and making everyone around him better...to Lauderdale becoming as intimidating as he looks...at least on the glass. This is a team is chocked-full of blue chips and they're playing like it.
Make no mistake, Purdue's the underdog.
Matty and this great Junior class hasn't cracked the code of Value City Arena...heck, no Purdue team has. In spite of aOSU needing to go two-for-one to get the sellouts, it's been a house of horrors for our Boilers...that's gotta change eventually, right?
I like this Purdue team with its back against the wall. I like this team when it needs to exact revenge...but I don't like some of the matchup problems that the length on this Buckeye lineup creates.
So what will it take for the black and gold to finally win in Columbus? I think it's simple- everyone needs to know their role. Kramer needs to have 3 steals, a couple points and solidify his reputation as the most-hated man in BT arenas. The Ostrich doesn't need to score 35, but an efficient 17 with 7 rebounds and a few assists will suffice. Smooge needs to look for his shot, as he's one of the few guys on the team that attacks the game offensively. But most-importantly, JJ's gotta play aggressively. He's 6'10", but he can sometimes play like he's 7'1"...and others, like he's 5'10". If he makes the decision to be great and fight through what Lauderdale's dealing out, Purdue will be in great shape as they heads back toward God's country on Wednesday night.
Pay special attention to LewJack as well...I think the old mojo that he and JJ had last season is starting to get magical again.
But as a team, they simply must finish strong...and a strong finish v. aOSU will almost-assuredly mean a strong finish for the BT season.Choo Choo.
19 comments:
Please win. That is all.
I really wanted the win at MSU, but this game is the one I've wanted all year. Even before they shocked us at home, I've despised this team. Partly due to our paucity of wins at aOSU, partly due to their gum-smacking coach. Boiler up
Agree that Ohio State is finally putting it all together. I've noticed that unlike years past, they are learning how to play together. Given their talent level, that thought is scary. I still think Evan Turner is a whiny ballhog though.
I don't think our offense is really the thing we have to worry about. In our recent winning streak E'Twaun has proven that when we need a basket, he'll either score it himself, or distract defenders and get someone open. I think the real worry is that our defensive intensity and communication needs to be top notch to keep guys like Buford, Lighty, and Diebler (if he plays) from helping Turner out too much.
Scruffy, I agree in part. But, remember, during the losing streak, the offensive no-shows by most of the team were very costly.
I got in on that 2 for 1 ticket deal. Leaving from WL this afternoon with my wife and brother, picking up my sister in Zionsville, then meeting my other brother on the east side of Indy as he goes to that school down south (but still cheers for the good guys). I hope they can pull it off so I'm not pissed off the whole way home.
What's a little sad is that they can fill a 105,000 seats or whatever on Saturdays but have to give 2 for 1 deals to fill their 17,000 seat basketball arena. Weird.
This better be worth it. I turned down a game I was supposed to cover tonight in order to watch this.
For those who don't follow the FB or Twitter feeds, we were featured in the BTN preview of the game tonight:
http://www.bigtennetwork.com/brentyarina/index.asp?post_id=3688
I agree with Ryan - just win, baby!
Doesn't matter what it looks like, just win.
David, it's not that surprising. Some schools are simply football schools, and besides, Ohio is a football state anyway. I would guess people travel for high school football there the way some travel for basketball here. If the Buckeyes are a solid team, then more fans show, but even then they don't come near to filling the place regularly. It isn't like a certain school that has averaged 14,123 on a number of occasions (like 1970, the first season for which the NCAA provides attendance leaders on the website).
In fact, Purdue was in the top 10 in attendance from 1970 through 1978 (fun fact: in 1976, Purdue outdrew national runner-up Michigan, another football school) and stayed in the top 25 from 1970 through 2000. Not much the Boilers could do at this point: in 2000, Purdue was 18th in the country. The school in 17th, Maryland, averaged 14,148 ... more than Mackey's capacity. I don't think the renovation is adding to the capacity, and if it doesn't, then Purdue will have to continue targeting percentage of capacity. There are just too many larger arenas.
Other fun stuff: Purdue had the 8th-largest increase in attendance last year, an average of 1,363 fans per game. In total attendance (all games, no matter the venue), Purdue was 12th, outdrawing all Big Ten teams except Michigan State (which, duh).
Top conference attendance: Big Ten, with 12,519 fans per game, easily over the SEC (almost 1000 fans per game difference). Yeah, bitches. And that was with the SEC posting a record total attendance. (In contrast, the Pac-10 had a record average ... 8,541. Don't be surprised. Have you seen the gyms they use? I've seen a game at Maples Pavilion once, and it's about half the size of Mackey. It was like a high-school gym, and it's not like Mackey or IU's home or most of the other Big Ten arenas are ultra-fancy. They're just bigger and they still fill.)
The Big Ten tournament almost outdrew the SEC tournament, just a difference of 3,100 fans or so in total. Our tournament attendance: up 1,101 over the average conference game (including tournament games). SEC: up 231.
There's more data here if you're interested. The NCAA is great at keeping records of things ... everything else, well ...
Anyway, Purdue needs to be strong offensively. None of this thing where four people stand around and watch Hummel shoot. Kramer in particular needs to be willing to shoot when he is open: I guarantee you there will be times when OSU will treat it as a 4-on-5. No stupid fouls (like a reach-in foul 40 feet from the basket or contact with 1 second left on the shot clock). Keep it close and let it come down to coaching ... what was it Knight said about Dale Brown? "I looked down at the other end of the bench and saw [coach's name here], and I knew we had a chance."
Bonus! Word verification is "calasa", which is almost Calasan. It's a sign of something.
Damn - have you been drinking the happy juice?
lol, sorry. Sports data mining. I got carried away.
My head hurts after reading that.
My heart's been racing since the morning. Its going to be a long night either way. I do have a good feeling about tonight though and really agreed with the "I like this Purdue team with its back against the wall".
P.S. That's what she said.
Bring the "A" game..hit your shots, rebound and smothering defense.
Stay ahead until the game is over. We owe them a dagger.
Boiler Up!
http://davecaolo.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/1223512827678.jpg
BOILER UP BITCHES!!! GREAT WIN!
Congrats, you guys. HELL of a game.
We'll try and help you out at East Lansing this weekend
Thanks, Jeff, we appreciate that.
I have to admit, it was an unexpected and impressive performance to watch. Any time you can go to Columbus and play a game where you score the first points and never look back ...
One big one down. Two to go (Illinois may not be quite as good, but at 9-4 they are still a threat), and the Boilers need to take care of business in the other two games.
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