Monday, December 19, 2011

Is Purdue a Tournament Team?

Three losses to date.
It may seem hard to believe it's being asked, but that's a fair question right now. The Purdue basketball team is in trouble if things continue on this path, not because they have had a horrible pre-con, but because the conference is stout, as we all know, and the road is not going to get easier.

I think you can make arguments that Purdue has shown better than it feels right now, with quality wins over Iona and Temple, in which they did not fold down the stretch, even when playing a tempo they didn't want to play.

However, their three losses -- particularly the last two, to Xavier and Butler -- were excruciating and make you begin to wonder how this team will compete in the Big Ten against all the quality big men.

Do they go back to the four guards and a forward approach of a few years ago? Do they hope that a combination of Sandi/Lawson can give them enough quality big man minutes in conference play?

As much as we appreciate and trust in Coach Painter, this will now be a test for him. Purdue not making the NCAA tournament would be a very bad thing for the program and a crushing way for the careers of Smith, Jackson and Hummel to end.

So this week's poll is to the right and it's pretty simple -- in your opinion, is Purdue a tournament team?

26 comments:

Jeff Keller said...

They can make the tournament if they learn to close out games. It seems that in the final few minutes they stop running their offense. That may have worked when they had 2 All-Americans that could create their own shots, but this team needs to go straight into their motion, no matter what the scoreboard says.

BoilerWhat said...

If healthy and well-conditioned, this is a pretty solid team. Unfortunately, as usual, poor low post play and free throw shooting will be a problem regardless of health

COD said...

I think the limited practice time Hummel and Jackson (and maybe others) are getting is showing late in the game. We are wearing out down the stretch. That said, I think they'll make the 20 win line and sneak in to be a one and done team in the tourney.

Unknown said...

It might just be semantics...

Rather than an issue with closing out games, I think its more of an issue of burning out after 30 minutes. Perhaps the team is playing in a manner that is unsustainable for 40 minutes, due to the health and conditioning issues of Hummel and Jackson.

BoilerRick said...

The answer is yes and this may be wishful thinking but I think if we are on the bubble, the committee will give us the nod because of Robbie's story. Haven't heard anyone (even the opponents) that don't have total respect for him as a person and player so I think the committee will want that story to talk about

Scruffy_P said...

I think they make the tournament with some guys finally getting healthy and a few changes, but moreso because of the guys you mentioned in the post: Smith, Jackson, and Hummel. I wouldn't want to be on the other side of them scratching and clawing for a tournament berth, that's a scary set of guys that can have a big say in how a game goes if they know they've gotta step up.

some guy said...

Wait a second....weren't John Purdue fans making noise about "THE PAINTER ERA" and a possible run at an NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP just about 4 years ago or so?

And *now* you've got John Purdue fans saying that "well, if we're a bubble team, maybe the story about Robbie's knee will push us over the top". Really? Seriously? I mean, it's fun to laugh at the continued, abject futility of Purdue b-ball and all of that, but have you really sunk so low that at least some of you are hoping that a human interest story and Bob Costas looking for a tear-jerker will be your ticket to the the Big Dance?

I'm shaking my head in amazement and laughing at the same time. At least you've got the world's largest drum to be proud of....

Anonymous said...

I realize having standards and expecting quality play is hard for IU fans to understand. Try very hard to focus like a laser beam and not be so facile. Purdue students and alumni expect hard-nosed and fundamentally sound execution on the court. When we dont see that from Purdue players, a sense of nervousness sets in. By the way, have fun in the NIT: again.

Batavia Boiler 2015 said...

This some guy troll must lead a very sad and depressing life. But on another note, Purdue should be a tournament team by the time the end of the season rolls around, but conditioning looks to be the problem to me. I've never seen a group of guys looked that gassed at the end of games.

J Money said...

Some guy -- Oh my goodness, WE GET IT. You look down from your high and mighty perch at Purdue.

POINT TAKEN! Understood! You think you and your ilk are superior because IU has started 10-0 this year and a long time ago was very good. Outstanding. Bravo!

Yes, yes, you're "shaking your head in amazement." We are on the EDGES OF OUR SEATS! I hope you'll tell us more what you think! What, I wonder, does an anonymous toolbag think of our debate about our school's basketball program?? WE ARE SO ENTHRALLED WITH YOUR ENLIGHTENED OPINION.

If we promise to miss you, will you go away?

some guy said...

@J Money - IU fans look down at Purdue. John Purdue fans look down at...well, Ball State or Indiana State, I suppose.

IU has started 11-0 this year. Thanks for noticing, it means a lot to know that you've been paying attention.

If you haven't been able to guess how I feel about the debate and internet hand wringing that you, Boilerdowd and the other anonymous "toolbags" have been having about Purdue b-ball...then you really haven't been paying very close attention. Or maybe you really just can't figure it out. Based on your internet blog story about Morgan Burke, it's readily apparent that certain concepts that most grasp easily tend to elude you.

If I went away, you *would* miss me. Evidently I accidentally stumbled upon one of the dullest and least trafficked sports blogs on the internets. I've brought a swagger to these message boards (if you can really call them that) that hasn't been seen before. So yes. I do believe that you will miss me when I grow tired of your scintillating site and move on. Until then, try to keep up.

J Money said...

Oh dear god, you're so awesome.

Oooh nooooo!! You made up insults about our site being "dull" and the "least-trafficked" -- Something you couldn't possibly know. Ah, but that's right! You know everything!

You are the epitome of an IU toolbag. All talk...make that nonsensical talk. Your comments don't even make sense (my "internet blog story" about Morgan Burke? Internet blog story? As opposed to a print blog story, I suppose?), yet are fraught with a haughty, misplaced superiority -- it's just terrific. People like you are spectacular to have around because you represent the school you pretend you went to perfectly!

Enjoy your freshly purchased IU hat.

Batavia Boiler 2015 said...

^ How about this. You're an annoying troll who clearly has nothing to do in life as evidenced by how often you frequent a blog of a team you don't even cheer for. You don't bring "swagger" to it either. That honestly sounds like a child or a Xavier player talking. Please stop being immature and get off this blog. I respect IU and what their basketball team is doing this year, and we all acknowledge that they are playing at a higher level then they have in the last 4 years. But it's people like you who make me hate IU. Go be scintillating somewhere else.

some guy said...

@Batavia Boiler - I'd be pissed off if I lived in Batavia, too. Or if I was from there. I was pissed off that I had to stop there for gas once.

@J Money - thanks for playing along, even though you don't even know what the game is.

Batavia Boiler 2015 said...

If you actually know where Batavia is, then I doubt you would stop for gas. It's expensive as hell here. Nice try though

J Money said...

Batavia -- Why do you guys care what she says?

Batavia Boiler 2015 said...

Because I come to this website to read opinions about my school's sports teams by proud alumni, students, and fans. Not have my intelligence insulted by some troll.

J Money said...

Yeah, well, I understand. But someone like that little daffodil never will understand something like that. And that's actually fine with me.

some guy said...

@Batavia - I'm talking about Batavia, IL. I used to have relatives who lived near there. I may have even stopped for gas there more than once. I wasn't all that impressed...

Now please continue being a proud John Purdue fan. Carry on.

some guy said...

@J Money -

"She"? "Daffodil"?

Is that your "A" game? Seriously?

Step it up, cupcake.

Hurr dee durr.......I called you "cupcake". Aren't you angry now?

J Money said...

Your act became tired long ago, young lady. Now run along. Future insulting comments to our readers will be deleted, which I assume was your goal here. So congrats!

Now shoo!

zlionsfan said...

I don't think going smaller is a good idea with this group: for Hummel to be most effective, there needs to be a bigger man on the floor. (Not that it's possible with this group, but if anything, I'd rather see Purdue go even bigger, with Hummel at the 3.)

Purdue isn't turning the ball over much at all (14.8% of possessions, third-best in DI), so that really helps to offset the miserable foul shooting. Without post scoring, though, I'm afraid there are going to be more games where Purdue is cold from the outside and there are no easy shots to be had. Purdue will make the tournament, sure, but between their over-reliance on the three and average three-point defense, I don't think this team can make a long run.

some guy said...

I win, J Money loses. Not much of surprise, but he didn't last even a week.

Anonymous said...

Purdue is a solid ball club that hasn't found positions for their players as of yet. I am a big fan of Hummel but on that I fell that he should get more rest in a game and play a forward position not a 2 guard. Rebounds and more rebounds is the key to boiler success. Boiler up from ky.

J Money said...

I've been here five years, Alice, putting up critical opinions as well as supportive ones. Your silliness is as irrelevant as you are.

Mark said...

Why is Terry Hutchens posting on this blog site?