Let's talk about the kids for a a few minutes...

Parents, Grandparents, big brothers and big sisters and even regular baby sitters know what Matt Painter's going through right now...as a Dad of a 7 year old and a 3 year old, I can empathize.

I refer to my daughter on here as TBD (Tiny Boilerdowd)...she's kind of like her Dad- bullheaded, smart-alecky, and she poops her pants regularly.  OK, on some things we're not exactly alike...she also has blonde curly hair; something I can only dream about at this point.

She's growing up way too quickly, on one hand- uses chapstick and says it's lipstick like her Mom's. She can sing a song after hearing it only once...and sings it over and over...even if she's only remembering 1/3 of it. She has theories on everything- most aren't right, all are pretty entertaining. And finally, she can put her snow boots on herself...and doesn't need your help, dammit.

She's smart and clever enough to try to trick people into doing things her way.  And back to the diaper thing, she knows she's had an accident...right after it happened.  We keep reminding her that her Mom, Dad, aunts and uncles, brother, grandparents and even some of her friends don't wear diapers anymore...but she's not getting the finite details- you gotta prepare before something bad happens in order to have success...you have to train, listen and change habits in order to make something second nature.  But sadly for my budget, I'm still buying diapers...and things have clicked just yet.

The good news is there's been progress...signs that she might not be wearing diapers when she goes to her prom in 14 years. But in the meantime, I'm kinda stressed about this whole thing...something I never thought I'd be- worried about someone else's digestive activity.

Here's the deal, Purdue fans: Our Boilers haven't forgotten how to hit layups...and the guys who used to be able to bomb from distance (specifically AJohnson), haven't forgotten how to shoot.  But like a toddler, nothing is coming easily for them right now.  Everything takes too much thought, too much effort and too much work to be fluid.

We've all thought it...maybe even aloud- Why aren't these guys like the Baby Boilers back in '07?

Well, there are some key differences that we can look at- That team had three guys who shared the point guard duties, and did it very well.  They didn't turn the ball over very often and two of them played hard and consistent on-ball defense.  Grant and Kramer really weren't made to be point guards...but they brought the ball up the lion's share of the time because they knew their role...and Crump, off the bench, was a seasoned option...Purdue really has no one on the roster who's as comfortable running the point, in the college game, as any of the three of these guys were back in late '07.

But probably more-importantly than who's running the point, this team is learning NOW how to play with together.

I'm aware that Davis played in prep school with Simpson...but Simpson was struggling through injury and wasn't getting a ton of minutes at the beginning of the season.  Now, of course, Simpson isn't playing at all...and hasn't been for a few games.  I also know that Davis played AAU with Hammons...but, once again, Davis' minutes aren't even in the top-7 being played on the roster...so the on-court chemistry between these two is a non-sequiter.

Conversely, Moore, Hummel and Martin played AAU together...not for a summer...but for years, prior to coming to Purdue.  It's probably not a coincidence that they clicked right away, and all three were starters nearly immediately.  It's tough to remember, but JJ took time to develop...and Calasan averaged more minutes than he did during his first season at Purdue.

We've already said that this situation the program is currently growing through has to be laid at the feet of Painter due to recruiting misses and poor program fits. But, you could also say some of the blame could rest on the shoulders of the two guys who should be leading this team right now- Byrd and TJohn have been inconsistent...something the young guys, and the greater team, really can't afford to be around right now. But both 21 and 0 had the luxury the last few seasons of playing behind and with some of the legends of Purdue's program in the last 20 years (if not all time). A consensus All-American (JJ), and a pair of second-team all-Americans and perennial all-conference guys (Smooge, Hummel), a four-year starting point guard (LewJack) and the highest-percentage 3-point shooter in the program's history (Smith) might shoulder a bit of the load. That type of firepower allowed both Byrd and TJohn to be accessories...not focal points.

Now, they must be the guys as this crop of young players simply doesn't have the continuity or maturity, at least yet, to carry this team.  We saw versus Illinois exactly what happens when The Leatherman and TJohn lead...the other guys can fall into their roles.

A few weeks ago, Purdue fans might have felt about their Boilers' season; how I feel about my daughter's quest to become potty-trained: a bit hopeless...at minimum discouraged.

The effort looked minimal, the results even worse...things seemed pretty bleak...improvement was tough to find.

developing...

But now, this team is showing signs of life- RonJohn had 7 assists and only 2 turnovers today...all while being guarded by one of the most-handsy best defensive guards in the league...he also had more steals than the former B1G defensive player of the year. Hammons is clearly coming into his own...a bit quicker than I thought he would as he's demanding double teams from opposing defenses on nearly every possession.  And Rapheal Davis seems to be earning more and more minutes, in important junctures, as he's proving to be one of the only guys on the team that can create scoring opportunities for himself consistently.

The kids in '07-'08 weren't normal- they came in and were difference-makers and grew up within a few games, it seemed. The kids in '12-'13 have taken a bit longer (regardless of the reason why), but make no mistake, they're developing...and even gelling a bit, as the competition gets better and the stakes become higher.

The problem is, this team has already dug itself a sizable hole.  The good news is, there's a ton of basketball left to be played...regardless of what their record is, come March.

Just like parents need to learn to deal with frustrations as part of the process of child development, we as Purdue fans have no choice but watch the development for what it is: a process.  And while it's far from ideal, in fact, this season has been pretty painful at times, I'm pretty sure this is all going to seem worthwhile this time next year and thereafter.

Don't wish this time away...you might miss something pretty great.

A Night at the Pro-Am

Honestly, I don't know how long it's been going on, but with the NBA lockout going strong and tons of Indiana-based talent involved, the IUPUI-based Pro-Am league is a pretty big story this year here in Central Indiana. Of course, with JJ and Smooge both involved and kind of headlining the event, it matters to me...plus, as some of you have read here, I'm not much of a fan of the NBA. But, I am a huge fan of the athletes that represent my alma mater well- and Johnson and Moore have both done that. As a result, I really wanted to get to IUPUI's campus and see some good basketball and be around some of the best players in a more-intimate setting than the typical arena...Some of my goals were reached.

-The brand of basketball was pretty awful. It was a lot like a pick-up game at the co-rec...but instead of a bunch of try-hard guys playing, you had very skilled, world-class athletes running without much direction and little resistance from defense. That said, most co-rec games had some passion as guys like me really wanted to win just to scratch the competitive itch...that didn't seem to be the case from most of the guys on the court.

There were coaches, but they didn't do too much. Guys like ex-Purdue player, Brandon Brantley would orchestrate subs kinda...but I felt pretty bad for these guys. They were like substitue teachers at a high school, but with less power.

-Even with the makeshift lineups and passionless play, you could still see some guys shining. JJ exerted his will a few times in Game 2 and brought the crowd to its feet at least once with a strong finish. His teammate, Shelvin Mack looked for his shot and displayed some of what Butler fans enjoyed the last few seasons as his ole pal Matt Howard and he played some two-man ball.

Butler Sophomore, Chrishawn Hopkins did pretty much everything right in game 3- passing well, shooting well, hustling and throwing down some nasty dunks.

Pacer and former Bearcat, Lance Stephenson played a pretty damned mean iso game and was just physically intimidating when he decided to play hard.

After that, I honestly don't remember a ton of individual performers...other than IU SF, Will Sheehy putting on a display of impressive dunks as the court pretty much cleared for a dunk contest toward the end of Game 2.

-And speaking of Sheehy, this format creates some pretty odd combos...for instance: JJ and Smooge's team (E'Twaun didn't play tonight) had Jordy Hulls and Sheehy on the roster.

Gene Keady used to speak of how the AAU circuit weakened rivalries like Purdue v. IU because the kids all played together in the summers leading up to their college careers...and I think there's a lot of truth in that idea. This Pro-Am felt kinda like an AAU tourney on the next level. But, in this case, I guess it's nice that Sheehy & Hulls got to play with JJ- they seem to be big fans of his. Afterall, he's kind of been a teacher to both of them the past few seasons.

-The oddest part of the night was watching refs in NBA referee kits (as soccer fans call them) call these games in a half-assed manner. But after their games were over, some of them would retreat to top row of the not-too-tall stands to take it easy and even run the cameras that were filming the games.

-There was no shortage of hangers-on and handlers from the entourages of the big-time players in attendance...sadly and surprisingly, I was not able to find a way into the inner-circle and subsequent payroll of a locked-out millionaire.

Along with the guys that were there to play, there were a lot of faces in the hallways that I couldn't quite place, but knew that I recognized...some were ex-NBA players, others college stars...all pretty ginormous.

-LBD got to re-connect with JJ, who is always great with the kids that are fans...and specifically, my son...and I really appreciate that. JJ said that in spite of not being able to work in his chosen field just yet, he's doing well and enjoying time with his Mom & family back at home.

I'm glad I went tonight and appreciate all of the effort by the event's founder...but watching just made me look forward to football season even more.

In Case You Missed it...JJ & Smooge on The Journey

Two of the Big 3 were featured on The Journey last week as they prepared for their entry into the NBA. As usual, it was a good episode...much better than some other players they focused on following their Senior years. A couple players had almost all repeat footage just spliced together, but 33 & 25 had a review with old footage and then a whole bunch of new stuff that I hadn't seen or heard.

Here are some of the things that really stuck out to me:

-JJ and Smooge lived in the same building as they trained in Chicago...but didn't know it until they both lived there.

-Both rode the emotional roller coaster while waiting for their names to be called (no surprise there). I got the idea that they were both promised some things that never came to fruition...that's par for the course. I also felt like their handlers were both super-silver-tongued in their commentary. I guess that's a given though.

J Money often makes fun of me because I get choked up at times watching Purdue-related things. This program was no different. The thing that really got me was seeing JJ get emotional when his dream was realized...that and the interaction and positivity that Smooge displayed when talking to his pal at the end of draft night. I hope these guys both have long careers in the league. Regardless of what they do in the coming years, I'm pretty sure they'll both continue to represent our alma mater and themselves very well.

Tuesday Gumbo

For the first time ever, I'll be forced to root for the Celtics

JJ and Smooge spoke with the press together outside of Boston about playing together again and looking ahead to next season. There were a few interesting tidbits I took from the presser.

-Since the Celtics have more retired numbers than any team in the league, the former #25 & #33 don't have a ton of options for next season.
-JJ will be number 12 to honor his Mom who wore that number in high school.
-Moore will sport 55...as he used to be a fan of Jason Williams a few years ago. But a few people on the message board think it's more because he was #22 in HS and #33 in college (add 'em up, Einstein).
-The two didn't have any tryouts together prior to the draft in spite of both making multiple stops at common teams.

JJ will learn under the capable, but aging (he's 35), Kevin Garnett...and Moore will will have to fight and scratch and claw his way onto the roster...but we all know what he's capable of. And in my opinion, he's always reminded me of Ben Gordon who surprised a few people a few years ago by making noise for the Bulls early in his career.

Keady Court Revamp
Back when I was at Purdue in the mid/late 90s, I had a chance to play on Mackey's hardwood a few times...and I was simply amazed at how many deadspots the old wood surface had. A few years later, the athletic department replaced the wood and gave the court a new paint job...a few years after that, it was re-named Keady Court.

Due to the sheer pounding college courts take, they need to be replaced every 10 or 15 years, so a change was imminent. But, hard rain and on-going construction have combined to form a destructive force that sped up the replacement calendar for Keady Court.

A concept of something I'd like to see on the new surface

Looking Ahead
This summer has gone pretty slowly (from a sports standpoint). The Indy Car season, paltry recruiting morsels and classic games on different networks can only tide us over so long...so in the coming weeks we'll take a look at Hope's squad...what to look forward to, what has us concerned and what flat-out scares us to death.

Stay tuned.

The Boston Boilermakers

What a cool night at the NBA Draft. Oh, well, other than it being the usual boring, David Stern-level-hip event that it always is. ESPN did their usual awkward interviewing because I guess that's what they think we want to see/hear. But the good news of the night was in the fact that the two winningest players in Purdue history will both be playing in the NBA next year. Even cooler was that they'll remain teammates.

JJ was picked by the Celts using a traded pick from NJ at #27, becoming the first Purdue first round pick since Big Dog went #1 overall in 1994. Not a bad journey for the lean 2007 version of JaJuan to go from timid freshman to first round NBA pick.

Smooge then went with the #25 pick of the second round to, again, the Celtics.

Danny Ainge likes E'Twaun's abilities:

“He’s played strictly a 2 in college, but he can handle the ball,” said Ainge. “But he’s a scorer, no doubt about that. He’s only 6-3, but he has long arms. He’s a good shooter. I saw him score 38 against Ohio State this year.”

Yes, indeed you did, Danny.

It's hard to say right now how critical these two will be for the Celts in the near future as it appears the Boston brain trust wants to make at least one more run with their own Big Three. Add to that the fact that Doc Rivers almost didn't come back for this coming season and it makes you wonder if the Celts will have a completely different look in a couple of years -- if so, maybe these Boilers will be leading the charge.

Unfortunately, numbers 25 and 33 are already retired in Boston, so we'll have to wait and see what Celtics jersey numbers will become the new faves of Purdue fans.

We couldn't be happier for these two. Congratulations, guys.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Matt Painter -- while happy for these two -- has his laser focus set on the upcoming season. Just the way we'd like him to.

Building Block Boilers

Business took me to the Northeast a few days ago, and as a result, I haven't been able to post. Now, J is on one of his many junkets, so he isn't available to post. We'll back to full strength in the very near future. But, as I have before, let me suggest something again, if you feel like you can't get enough BS- follow us on Twitter and FB- the links, as always, are in the margins. And even when on the road due to work or pleasure, we try to post content at those two places.

One last thing, before we get into the tasty content you're craving, get a Mission Houston shirt if you haven't yet pulled the trigger. They're flying out of the BS warehouse right now...and sizes are starting to run out. Plus, is a top-5 team playing amazing basketball not enough to have you looking at flights to Houston? What we're seeing isn't an idea conjured up by Purdue fans- this team is officially a contender.

BB
Over four years ago, we started this site because we thought it'd be good to use some of our energy about Purdue Sports in a productive manner instead of sending out mass e-mails to our friends and families at the top of each week. When the site began, Lil' Boilerdowd was under a year old...and the infant Boilerdowd wasn't the only little one one the BS staff's collective mind.

I did a search, and found the first time we used the term Baby Boilers was in November of 2007. Painter's team looked thin and needed a ton of help, so JJ, The Ostrich, Smooge and another freshman were forced into significant minutes right away...and they answered the bell. Sure, growing pains like losing to Wofford at Mackey stung, but it was clear by mid-season how special this group of three really was.

Moore wore all-black shoes and black socks while the rest of the team wore white Nikes with a black swoosh. He was poised and skilled, but needed some work on defense. He calmly handled hostile crowds and pressure situations...almost as if he's a machine.

Hummel looked just old enough to drive, could do a lot well, wasn't afraid to shoot, but got in a ton of foul trouble, especially when battling on the glass. But, his combo of length, shooting ability and hustle made him an impossible match-up.

Johnson was lanky and long, very raw, but could leap as well as any big man I had seen in W. La La. And from the very beginning, he seemingly loved getting pushed around in the tunnel by his teammates like a ragdoll.

But these three Baby Boilers quickly lost the name as they earned all-conference honors and the national press began to notice them. Big shots and big wins became something that Purdue fans came to expect from this core group...and these Baby Boilers were simply Badass.

That hasn't changed. This core of three has fought through injuries and adversity and seems to love defying popular opinion or prognostication. Whether the media was picking against this team in an early NCAA tourney game to lose to a media darling or they were picked to finish below Izzo, Ryan and Matta's clubs, this team loves defying the odds...and plays with a chip on their collective shoulder.

Sure, these guys can score...but defense has been their calling card. Skinny JJ turned into one of, if not the premier shot blocker in the nation. Laid back Smooge became an on-ball defender who frustrates some of the best offensive players in the league, game-in, game-out. They've bought into Matty's persona...and this class reflects him as well as he reflects them. After Painter struggled through some players that didn't really have his identity, the class of '07 represented a turning point for him as a recruiter...and a greater pivot for the program.

Boilers to Men

This morning, I caught up on some of the great videos posted by the Paint Crew and others on Youtube that honor this class. These make me nostalgic as I remember all the games that I watched in person, or where I was when they beat Wisconsin back in '08 all the way up to MSU in '11. It's tough for an emotional person like myself not to get a lump in his throat as you think about how much fun this run has been...but I'm quickly tempered when I hear Painter say this, "We're sad to see them go...But we still have a lot of basketball to play."

And just like these players believe in Painter's defensive philosophy...they believe they're not done...not even close- and neither should you and I. So let me take (and distribute) some advice that I read on Twitter and elsewhere: Let's hold on to the rest of our emotion until the season's over...in Houston.

Sure, the ice-cold on-court assassin, E'Twaun Moore couldn't help but be moved to tears by the outpouring of appreciation by the uproarious 14,123 in attendance on Tuesday night...but he gathered himself pretty quickly to finish the job at hand...he knew there was business he had to attend to.

There will be plenty of time to reminisce in April.

One last thing
I love this class because they put Purdue back into the elite of the Big Ten and brought the Boilers back to the national consciousness as a basketball program. But what I really love about this group, this team, is that they're leaving an amazing legacy. The guys that are coming in to campus in their wake are the next piece of puzzle and have a great model to follow...They've won more games than any class in the history of the program...and they've done it with class and were true student athletes. But the best news might be that the future is stunningly-bright, even after these two icons, 25 & 33, ride off into the sunset.

On Senior Night, JJ and E'Twaun Do What They Do: Win 75-67

Thank you.

The game almost felt secondary tonight, as the Boiler faithful sent off 33 and 25 with many resounding Mackey cheers, as thanks for four years of dedication and hard work. Once again, the place was clearly deafening even through the TV broadcast. Let's say that first, everyone: great work again, especially the Paint Crew who always brings it.

As is always a concern on a night like this, the home team fell behind. However, it wasn't really that Purdue was playing poorly -- Illinois was just shooting the lights out and playing like the team we all thought they were capable of bring this season. Of course, that only lasted about ten minutes and then they reverted to the Illinois who resides on the bubble.

The Illini rode that hot early shooting to a 13 point advantage of 31-18. From then on, the Boilermakers ground them into dust, outscoring Illinois 57-36 the rest of the way. Yeah, that's a little more like it.

The forces of good showed again how this team just might be a little different than some of the others over the years. There has -- as of yet -- been no terrible letdowns. Beating Wisconsin was followed by a convincing win over OSU which was follwed by the requisite beatdown of IU which was followed by a senior night victory over Illinois. Assuming they can close the deal against the lowly Hawkeyes this weekend, this will end one of the best regular season stretches we've ever seen from Purdue, and that includes some pretty great seasons.

As for the game itself tonight, the scoring leaders were -- who else? -- JJ and E'Twaun, who had 23 and 18, respectively. They combined for over 50% from the field, 4 of 9 from three, seven assists, 11 rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Two performances indictative of the seasons these fine young men have had. Both Smooge's steals resulted in breakaways; one ended with a one-handed jam and the other with an "and 1" three-point play.

Kelsey Barlow effectively got under McCamey's thin skin tonight, as well, and though McCamey's numbers wound up pretty good (18 points on 50% shooting) it's tempered by the fact that most of his damage was done early in the game.

Ryne Smith chipped in 8 points and 9 big rebounds, not to mention a level of hyperness I haven't seen out of him this year. He was bouncing around, flailing his arms, playing to the crowd...Ryno was having some fun. And I love it. It looks to me like this guy is ready to be a senior.

Lewis Jackson had a fairly quiet night but as has been the habit of this team, the mythical "third scorer" baton was passed again -- this time to DJ Byrd. DJ hit three treys and scored 16 points, to go along with his seven rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block. Not a bad all-around game from a guy who when he plays his next game in Mackey will only be a junior.

Matty shortened the bench considerably tonight, with only eight guys seeing the floor. I don't know if this was just an anomaly or a sign of how things will tighten up as we head into March basketball.

Senior night was perfect for the seniors themselves, as JaJuan had another game that typifies his season this year, as well as a beautiful monster jam off a feed from DJ Byrd. It reminded one of so many jams that made us talk about what a manchild JJ was.

And Smooge had his jam on the breakaway (not bad for an "unathletic" guy), but more a propos of his time in black and gold was his final basket of the night, a triple with two guys in his face and under a minute to go, the shot clock down to 4 seconds and the Boilers leading 69-64. Naturally, it rattled home as the sniper hit his target.

I can only imagine how great it was to be in the house tonight. This team loves one another and it is very obvious. They want to succeed together and they want to celebrate those successes with one another. We've seen a lot of Purdue teams and at the moment it's hard to think of one that is more cohesive than this one. A lot of that is probably because of Matt Painter, but a lot also has to do with the character of these young men.

As much as the guys are enjoying the ride, one thing that remains very clear as you watch this team is that each of these victories, milestones, steps and celebrations are all seemingly part of the journey... the mission continues.

Senior Profiles: Those Guys

In the past, we've done a "Senior Profile" on each senior on their special night. But this year, there are just two and, well....you know damn well who they are.

We've all been very lucky to watch these two over the last four years. We've seen them perform earlier than expected as the "Baby Boilers" (much to the chagrin of guys like Terry Hutchens). We've seen them give teams a run for their money in the tourney, including final four and championship teams.

We saw them improve year after year. These guys took a program that was in the basement (16 wins over two seasons) and immediately helped it become a winner. Goals were set. Goals were met.

In front of a less than packed Mack



Get back to the tourney. Check.

Win the Big Ten. Check.

Win the Big Ten Tournament. Check.

 And then last year was hopefully to be the potential coronation. These guys as juniors, along with running mate Rob Hummel, put together with veterans like Keaton Grant and Chris Kramer...and a Final Four slated for Indianapolis. It all fit...perhaps a little too well. We know what happened next. And then what happened again in October.

Rather than fold from the stomach punches they had received, these two seniors -- who had come back for one more run together -- decided that it was still their time.

Hoping this cowboy finds a
way back to Houston

The first tourney for these guys ended with a second round loss to the Elite Eight-bound Xavier Musketeers.

In year two, they lost in the Round of 16 to Final Four team UConn.

And then last year, despite being considered the smartest bet to lose to a double-digit seed in the first round, the Boilers clawed their way to another Sweet 16, where they did their best to hang with Duke -- the eventual National Champion -- and even were within a point at halftime. However, the shots weren't falling, the team was still finding itself without Rob, Chris Kramer had one of his worst overall games as a Boilermaker (unfortunately, in his final appearance) and, quite frankly, the Dookies were too good.

The JJ and Smooge combo is 5-3 in the NCAA Tournament. They are 105-30 in their nearly four seasons, which is a .778 winning percentage. Take a look around for four-year players who have amassed that kind of record -- the list will be very short.



One of the sickest dunks I've seen in person.

One of the greatest things for us in watching these guys is the fact that we've gotten to watch them grow up before our very eyes and actually improve considerably from year to year. This doesn't always happen, especially these days. Often guys don't stay in school long enough or they just don't do the things necessary to get better. Take a guy like Demetrius McCamey at Illinois. Tremendously talented, but seemingly unable to focus for long periods, apparently not interested in listening to coaches, kind of just wants to do whatever he feels like doing. Has he improved? Not much.

Or to take it across sports, look at a guy like Curtis Painter at Purdue. When he came in, we could all see the raw talent. And when he left, he had some impressive numbers. But did he ever develop? Did he ever get better at any part of his game? No, not really.

With JJ and E'Twaun, you can see the development. They improved their defense every year, to where JJ now leads the Big Ten in blocked shots and you can count on Smooge for a few steals every game.  

JaJuan now takes over when his team needs him most, rather than waiting for the game to come to him. E'Twaun does the same thing and when he's not taking over, he's quietly amassing the points needed to put the team over the hump.

Smooge has also demonstrated that he can still be the "red button" and carry this team on his back, as he did against perhaps the best team in the country nine days ago.


These two have also helped to make their teammates better. It's been amazing to see how many open looks Ryne, Kelsey and LewJack are able to find -- partly because they're good, but partly also because opposing teams are most concerned (as they should be) with where JJ and E'Twaun are.


College basketball allows for nights like tonight, where the seniors are paid tribute as they should be. In pro sports, you don't always know when a guy will be playing his last game at home, what with playoffs and things like that. But in college ball, we have a night like tonight, where before the tournament begins and before you really, really can't lose, you have a night to focus on the guys who have made your team what they are.

And make no mistake -- these guys are perhaps the biggest reasons (along with their coach) that this program is back on the map in such a major way. Gene Keady, as beloved as he is, left the program in a pretty sorry state. This senior class has played ball at a .778 clip and put Purdue back to not just respectable, but elite-level good.

Often we complain about a lack of respect that Purdue gets, and more than anything it's because we know just how good these guys are, both as players and as men. We know how much they've done for their school. We know what kind of a situation they came into, yet as teenagers were able to see the potential and believe it could happen -- and that they could be the guys to make it happen.

And here we are. The cusp of an undefeated home season (which would make them 62-6 all time at Mackey, if my quick check is accurate) for two of our favorite Boilermakers of all time. No matter what happens, they'll go down among the Purdue legends, simply for what they did for the program. If they can add a Final Four banner or more to the list, well, I'd suggest a parade in their honor.

In all seriousness, it's a happy day and a bit of a sad one. There will be some moist eyes in the house tonight. If you'll be there, please let them know how much we all love 'em. It's your night, boys.

Choo-choo.




Thanks, fellas.



Playing The What-If Game

One of the easiest things to fall into when looking at any sport is the "what if" game. What if Butler's heave goes in at the buzzer last year? What if David Tyree doesn't catch the ball against his helmet against the Patriots? What if Kyle Orton doesn't fumble against Wisconsin in '04? What if IU never fired a good coach and hired a cheater?

It's only natural to think about Rob being healthy now and then. It's okay, too. It's a little selfish, but it's not a terrible thing to dream. And early in the season, I said that as much as I wanted to look forward and see what this team could do as constituted, I did admit that no matter what happens, we'll always be able to say, I wonder what would have happened with Rob. Basically, anything short of a national title and it'll be possible to wonder that.

However, I've begun to honestly change my thoughts on this. I still see clowns like Goodman tweeting after the OSU win "Just imagine if they had Hummel." Why, Jeff? So they could have beated OSU by 20? I don't get it. This team is playing as well as anyone in the country right now....yet people like you are still saying "what if they had Hummel?" How much more could they be winning right now? How much more dominant could they look? Seriously.

Let's consider things for a moment. What might be different right now, had Rob not torn his ACL for a second time in October?

Would JJ and E'Twaun be the players they are right now?

I'm not suggesting Rob being healthy would make them worse, so let's understand that right now. But let's also understand that there is zero doubt that these two simply looked at the situation and immediately understood what they had to do. Down 1/3 of the trio, they needed to cover that gap, be it in points, leadership, minutes, whatever. 

Would JJ be a player of the year candidate? Probably not, simply because he would be ceding some of his points and rebounds. Would Smooge have had that monstrosity of a game vs OSU? Probably not, for the same reasons. Again, Rob wouldn't have stunted their growth, per se, but he would have changed the distribution of responsibilities.

Would Ryne Smith be who he is right now?

Sure, Ryne comes and goes, but would he have had that hot start to the Big Ten season, including four straight double digit scoring games plus three games with five or more treys made? I don't know, but I kind of doubt it. Purdue needed a third scoring option in those games and Ryne didn't have Rob to defer to, so up the shots went...and down they fell. Kind of makes the tandem of he and Rob firing away next year sound delicious, doesn't it?

Would Kelsey Barlow be playing as much?

With Rob in the lineup, where does Kelsey fit? I guess he's spelling LewJack still, but that's about it. Does he develop as a player as he has if Rob is there? Again, do not misunderstand -- I'd love to have a healthy Hummel. But there are side effects of his absence that are going to ultimately be good for the development of guys like Kelsey.

Does Terone Johnson redshirt?

Going down the depth chart, how much would Terone have played? Would it have been more prudent just to redshirt him? And if the answer is yes, while that's nice in terms of having him around longer, he loses all of what he has gained this year. As many people say, by this time of year, freshmen are no longer freshman. We've seen TJ go through the growing pains of learning the college game, adjusting to the speed, feeling his way through conference play, etc. And now we're seeing him hit big-time shots. Think about how valuable that experience might turn out to be in the tournament this year and for years to come.

Is the resolve this team has shown there?

There is absolutely no doubt, this team was marked for great things this year with Rob. Everyone was saying so, with top five preseason rankings a certainty. Then it all changed and Purdue's season reportedly went with Rob's knee. Now, I'm not saying the team would have been less focused, but I think it's reasonable to think they might have....expected...to be great. With Rob's injury and the resulting media remarks about Purdue, I think our boys got pissed. They'll never fully admit it, but they hear what gets said. They know they were absolutely left for dead. One of my favorite recent digs from another site was that we "manufactured the chip on Purdue's shoulder." This is one of those remarks that simply underscores ignorance. We didn't manufacture anything. We simply report what we see.

So would this team be this focused? I honestly don't know. I have faith in Matty and the boys and I think they do a great job of keeping things in perspective and staying the course and keeping their eyes on the prize. In the past it was making the tourney. Then it was winning the conference. Now it's a lot more than that. And whatever you thought might happen back in mid-October, you couldn't have asked for things to be in better shape than they are at this moment.

The train is coming, folks. Choo-choo.

Three-Headed Monster Slays Sparty: 86-76

We knew it would happen. We knew Smooge would return to his old form. He showed a bit of it v. PSU on Wednesday, but he showed it all versus MSU tonight. He created his own shot, knocked down the long ball and *gasp* even shot a free throw or two!! It was good to see Moore back at it. But, he wasn't the story tonight in God's Country. The win was a team effort.

Let's look at the supporting cast first, shall we?

Alright, before we address the large, athletic gentlemen on the hardwood, let's talk about the 14,123 who surrounded them. The first thing you guys did is made it a tough ticket for MSU fans to get- nice going! Second, you guys were amazingly-loud and clearly made a difference in the game- If nothing else, you gave the Forces of Good something to look forward after the upcoming short roadie to the land of squeaky-clean BT athletics. Many accounts tell me this might have been the loudest Mackey's been in the last 20 years...that's saying a lot.

Now, onto the playahs, playah.

J's favorite player right now, Carroll, didn't play a ton of minutes, but he helped close the door a couple times on defense. I think the minutes he's getting now will be important during the post season when Matty unleashes JJ defensively. He's destined to get into some foul trouble at that point, and these minutes for Carroll are getting him comfortable playing good competition in various conditions. Even Marcius played a couple of minutes and looked tough battling the sizable MSU PF/bigboy Nix.

Ryne Smith had a couple very good looks from deep. But, my favorite part of his game was his rebounding tonight. He did a great job coming up with key boards in the second half as MSU struggled to get back into the game. He also had a few plays in which he simply sold out defensively...that stuff is contagious.

DJ Byrd did what Purdue fans love of him. He scrapped like an underdog fighter, matched up admirably against bigger forwards, distributed the ball like a guard on offense, had a few timely buckets and made the most of his 20 minutes.

Kelsey Barlow played my favorite game of his this season. His stat line isn't too loud: 6pts, 4ast, 2blk. But, he played with his normal chip on the shoulder, yet had some discipline about him. He pulled the ball back a few times wisely instead of driving into a double-team. He hit some key free throws, he frustrated multiple MSU players as he rotated in on defense and was completely in the head of those guys- specifically Green and Lucas. He also had a thunder slam in traffic late in the second half that tore the metal roof off of Mackey like J ripping into an XL can of Hormel Chili. Mmmm, Mmmm!

Now, let's talk about the stars of tonights really big show.

JJ was pretty quiet for much of the game. Izzo and co. double teamed him and beat on him in order to keep him from making too much of a difference in the contest...and the tactic was effective for about 25 minutes. He finished with 20 points, not enough rebounds and a block. But once again, shot his free throws well (6/7). On a few occasions, it seemed pretty obvious that Matty had instructed him to not go for the block. This resulted in a few easy scoring opportunities for the Spartans. I think this is pretty wise at this point as it keeps him fresh on the offensive side...but there will be a time when he simply must be a difference-maker on both sides of the court again...perhaps Tuesday v. anOSU?

The smallest guy on the court was nothing but HUGE. LewJack out-Lucased MSU's Lucas. His on-ball defense was stifling and frustrating as usual. He shot the ball well from the field (6/9) and from the stripe (7/8). But his pace was amazingly-quick...and he finished amongst the trees, with a ton of contact time and time again. Since the turn of the year, this is all 23 had done: 10pts,3ast,4reb/gm. Not too shabby, huh? But tonight, his 19/2/5 game was a thing of beauty...and was arguably the best game of his career so far.

The game ball, of course, goes to 33. He was nearly-unstoppable for the first 30 minutes of the game. He finished with 26 points, but had 24 with over 11 minutes left in the game. He had 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals to go along with his 9/18 shooting night. He played a very complete game and exuded the confidence that we haven't seen since last decade (see, that's a joke because it's 2011).

For much of the game, Purdue's team effort, solid defense & opportunistic offense kept them up by double-digits over Sparty. In spite of that, Izzo used three time-outs in a 1.5 minute period and had his boys fouling Purdue with over 2.5 minutes left. His effort to extend the game did just that...but I think the real reason you employ this tactic is to shrink the deficit and try to win. Even when it seemed pretty clear that it wasn't going to happen, he kept telling his team to foul and kept calling timeouts. At the end of their effort, Purdue still won by 10 points.

MSU falls to 12-7 overall and 4-3 in conference...they'll surely still be getting first place votes come Monday morning in both polls...at least that's what Vitale tried to convince me of as Purdue was drubbing the Spartans (another quality color job by Dickie V!!).

As for our Boilers, they're in a pretty great situation heading into the game versus the #1 team in the nation. From what the media tells me, they have little chance to win...so they've got nothing to lose. aOSU has a ton of length and creates difficult match-ups for Purdue...and they have so much talent. Perhaps our Boilers shouldn't even show up in the Discount Arena?

Whether Matty will take the entire team or not for the road trip, I haven't yet heard. But, you and I can tune in to watch this David v. Goliath story on EsPN at 9:00 on Tuesday.

JaJuan Johnson Gets Coffee This Morning

Do you know why JJ gets coffee this morning?  Because coffee is for closers.



Yes, I realize some of you are too young for a Glengarry Glen Ross but it amuses me nonetheless and we all know that's what is important around here.

JaJuan got the ball on the game's critical final play last night (well, the final scoring play anyway) and he drained a jumper in calm, assassin-like fashion. It seems to me that the entire team is getting more icy-veined by the game. We used to feel that way about E'Twaun primarily... and then, I think we began to feel that Ryne Smith was capability of similar assassin-like calmness. And now here is JJ draining jumpers after he jukes away from his man. See his complete performance against PSU here, courtesy of the Paint Crew. (Nice work, guys.)

One thing I did want to mention that I was a bit concerned about was something that has been an issue in years' past. And that is the Boilers being horridly outrebounded. It was 26-14 last night, in favor of the Kittens. That's just... weak. And it will be Purdue's undoing if they continue to be so lax on the boards. JJ and DJ tied for the team lead with....3. Three? Seriously? JJ should accidentally get three rebounds -- per half! I was concerned about this last year, but had recently begun to actually think Purdue had solved their rebounding woes, as there hadn't been many (if any) complete lopsided rebounding battles like this one so far this season. Ah, but here it is, back again. Are they not working on it in practice? Are they somewhat....soft? I surely hope not. We'll learn more in the coming weeks...about every aspect of Purdue basketball you could ever want to learn about.

Other observations from last night....

Tim Doyle is a putz. I mean, seriously, I think we all knew that but what a doofus. In the opening, he and Collins are talking and Doyle is gazing lovingly at Collins and someone must say something in his earpiece to look at the camera...and Doyle's head snaps towards the camera hard enough to strain a muscle. Check it out if you've got the game on DVR. Other Doyle-isms included him referring to Jackson of PSU as "pretty young thing," and saying "Jeff Brooks has been Brooks Brothers tonight...fantastic!" I guess we know where Tim gets his sport coats.

Travis Carroll Isn't Advancing. I know the guy has potential and he must impress in practice because Patrick Bade has basically been buried on the bench. But it's not translating. He had one shot attempt last night and I remember it clearly because it was so awful. The PSU defense was collapsing down on JJ and JaJuan dished to Carroll...it reminded me of when you'd let the really bad guy at the co-rec have a shot at an easy layup. Carroll proceeded to hammer it off the bottom of the rim, or so it looked like. Just a terrible, rushed, nervous shot. Maybe I'm reading into things and am way off (wouldn't be the first time), but I think Travis just needs to settle down. Maybe the Big Ten games are moving fast for him...I don't know. But having two rebounds and two fouls (and a turnover) in 11 minutes (and no points) is just not cutting it. Bench production is needed.


E'Twaun Moore is Back...Sort of. Smooge got back into the groove it seemed, scoring 16 on nearly 50% shooting, BUT....still no free throws. E'Twaun is now at five games since he got to the line. That is, frankly, astonishing to me. How can a guy this good not get to the line at all? Like, literally, at all? His last free throw was December 31 against Northwestern. Goodness. No attempts in 2011. I'll be brutally honest, as we try to be here: This is not what a potential All-American does. You must get to the line, as that is where many of these games are won. If Smooge is getting to the line at all, he's easily averaging 20+ PPG...but he's not. In other 33 news, his three-point percentage has dropped below 40% for the season. If three-pointers aren't falling and free throws aren't happening, that's not a good combo. But you know that. Let's hope last night's mini-resurgence is an indicator of things to come.


Speaking of Free Throws... The Boilers actually had the free throw advantage last night...at 10-8. That's just...silly. But hey, whatever. At least it was called evenly.


Next up, as Boilerdowd very calmly mentioned, is a big Saturday night game against Sparty. The ESPN GameDay crew will be in Mackey all day. We'll have more about this event later today.

Turning Point for Boilers? Purdue squeaks one out in Mackey 63-62

A rare occurrence happened earlier this evening- no, I'm not talking about Penn State nearly beating our Boilers at Mackey. What happened is astonishing and a little sad actually. J and I both missed watching our Boilers live. I am in SLC on business and couldn't find the BTN and J had a family engagement. But have no fear, you'll get to savor our delicious analysis...just a few hours late.

Based on stats and a tiny highlight clip I saw, here's what I gather:

-JJ's been torching Purdue's opponents...and they all know it's coming. But, they can do little about it. Kinda like the end of tonight's game. OK, well maybe not exactly. How PSU neglected to stay with 25 on that out of bounds play is beyond me. But they didn't and because of Johnson's 19 footer, Purdue escaped a third-straight loss. He finished with a ho-hum night- 25 points...But, he was well off his rebounding average and ended with just three boards. He continues to hit very important free throws as he went 7-8...but he missed a key freebie in the closing minutes. But, he made up for it, obviously.

-Smooge is back...kinda. His 16 points are still off of his average, but he shot better from the floor and had a couple drives including a strong finish in traffic that seemed to be out of frustration. He also had 5 assists and only 1 turnover.

-After that, there's not a ton to write home about. No other player had more than Barlow's 6 points. LewJack only finished with 3 assists...but had 0 turnovers and the game-sealing steal as he intercepted a long pass in PSU's final possession. Maybe the most-noteworthy stat to me is from Ryne Smith. Last time v. PSU, Smith went 5-5 from the three point line and finished with 20. Tonight, he was only 1-2 from deep and finished with 5 points. But, he had 5 assists and only one turnover.

Matty's teams have been resilient and had short memories since he came to Purdue. But, tonight's game might turn out to be one of the most-important of the season...a turning point of sorts. I think they really needed this win especially going into the sizable MSU game on Saturday with EsPN's gameday in town and Sparty needing a win after their loss to Illinois.

While Penn State at home is a game Purdue should win in my opinion, but sweeping PSU this season is no small feat- ask MSU and Illinois. Purdue plays the Spartans at 9:00 on Saturday night.

It Takes Moore to Win on the Road in the Big Ten (Boilers Fall 67-70)

As everyone in the college basketball world knows, Purdue is a team built around the premise that defense is the utmost priority and offense comes as a result of defensive stops. So, when our Boilers allowed 41 in the first half, we should have known that it'd be tough sledding from there...and it was.

Coming into the game, I thought Purdue would struggle handling Iverson, Sampson and Mbakwe, but I thought Purdue's four-headed defensive monster of LewJack, Barlow, Smith and Moore would be able to shut down the Golden Gophers guards. That wasn't the case as Hofharber dominated from the perimeter and Nolen chipped in 13/8.

Just as in the Richmond game in which Purdue gave up 41 in a half, and allowed an opposing guard to dictate the pace of the game, Purdue got away from what makes them great. And, in both cases the loss felt nearly-inevitable in the closing minutes.

We said it months ago, as the media beat the drum that Purdue needed a third scorer- Purdue has had the third scorer all-along. It's a committee of players- one night it'll be Smith, one night Jackson steps up, perhaps it's Barlow another it might be TJohn. Purdue can count on the Big 2...but the third is important for a successful season.

But wait, we've now seen three straight games in which Smooge has significantly fallen off in points production. In the PSU, Iowa and Minny games, he's averaged 6.7 points/game (his season average was nearly 20 before this stretch). Granted, he's still rebounding well and distributing, but as we all knew coming into the season, he's very important for Purdue on the offensive end. Purdue faired quite well in Empty Valley and at home v. Iowa, but it took Ryne Smith playing at an out-of-this-world level. Matty and co. simply can't expect that...but they should be able to expect Moore to consistently score. The biggest concern for me is that when he's not scoring, Moore doesn't seem to try to create contact and get to the line. Tonight, he had 0 free throw attempts.

We've seen this before, by the way. Last season, he had a stretch in which he just went cold...that happens for shooters, let's just hope this stretch is over. On the positive side of his game, he led the team with 7 assists.

And it wasn't all negative for our Boilers. Purdue won the rebounding battle, yet again, LewJack played at a fast pace and created problems for Minnesota. He finished with 15 points on 4 of 8 shooting, had 7 rebounds and dealt out 5 assists (while going 6 for 6 from the free throw line). TJohn looked good in stretches, played great defense and finished with 8 points. Smith came back down to earth, but wasn't getting any space on the perimeter. As teams take away the three from Smith and Moore, it should open up the middle for the drive and give JJ opportunities.

And JJ, once again, took advantage. He finished with 29 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks and was 5 for 5 from the stripe. What J and I question most from Johnson coming into this season, his will, has been not been in doubt. He's played tough, especially when facing 7 footers. His ability to make perimeter jumpers and post up creates problems that most big men simply cannot match.

Games like this are good for a team- to go into a hostile environment, not have things go your way, and play a game that can be won in the final minutes. The problem is, Purdue seemed completely unable to finish. On the last possession, before calling a timeout, Purdue's guards looked like the Globetrotters as they ran a weave and dribbled around at the top of the key. Without a confident Moore, there seemed to be no one who wanted to, or more importantly, was able to take the ball and win the game.

If I wanted to, I could focus on some of the most-inconsistent, one-sided officiating I've seen this season, that we witnessed tonight in the Barn. But, as we all know, that's part of the equation in the BT. These showy buffoons in black and white clown costumes love lathering up a home crowd. With dramatic hand signals that mean nothing, anticipatory whistles and overly-emphatic change of possession pointing, these guys are simply awful at what they were hired to do. But, if you rely on officials in any way to aid your success as a team, you're going to lose a lot of games.

Matty's boys simply must learn how to win the close game if they want to win the BT, get a high seed and end their season in Houston.

Next up, Purdue plays an odd out-of-conference road game against the unlikable Bob Huggins-coached WVU Mountaineers at 1:30 on Sunday on CBS.

Our Midseason Review

As I'm sure you all know, JJ is a mid-season All-American according to the Sporting News. While the media see Johnson for what he is, I'm sure 25 doesn't care too much about that. Versus Penn State, JJ didn't fill it up, but it might be one of my favorite he's played this season. He quietly went about his business, grabbed 15 boards and made some very important passes to move the ball around the perimeter. As PSU's zone sucked in on JJ as a diversion, space was created for Jackson to drive and Smith to get open looks.

That's really what the best players do- make everyone better.

Same goes for Moore. Like JJ, he's been scoring around 20 points/game, but he doesn't get much media attention for his defensive effort, his rebounding and his distribution. Plus, and I don't think this surprises anyone in the Purdue family, when his shot hasn't fallen this season, I haven't seen him pout, whine or take one possession off. Moore quietly plays with a chip on his shoulder...but we haven't seen him get angry (at the other team) this season like he did late last year toward the end of the year. And while his opposition wouldn't like him when he's angry, Purdue fans and his teammates love him that way.

Both JJ and Moore have played exactly how Matty has wanted them to...and probably precisely how Purdue fans expected. Compared to last year, here's how their numbers have changed:

Player Min Pts Reb Ast Stl Blk

JJ +2.7 +3.8 +1.4 +.4 -.2 +.3

Smooge +.8 +2.9 +2.1 +.3 +.2 +.2

Both players were good-enough to garner conference and national honors last
season...and both have gotten better in nearly every category. They're much
of the reason Purdue is in the position it's in at this point...but that's obvious.

Here are a couple of other players that have impressed us so far and some honors
that we're bestowing on the just because we care.

Defensive Player of the First Half

Kelsey Barlow

Like Chris Kramer had to do, Barlow has been given the toughest assignments time
and time again. And other than Richmond's Kevin Anderson, he's pretty much shut
all of them down.

Offensive Player of the First Half

JaJuan Johnson

He's simply taken over the game time and time again. I think the interesting part
of JJ's game is the fact that he seems to play bigger and better on the bigger stage.
It'll only get larger from here out as Purdue begins to play ranked opponents and the
conference and nation's elite. Sampson, Leuer & Sullinger will all square off v. JJ
in the next three weeks.

Most-Improved of the First Half

John Hart

I know, I know, Smith is the "it" guy right now, but before Hart went down, he
was consistently providing a boost...and Purdue really needed it at that point
because no one outside of the Big 2 were stepping up. I'm looking forward to his
return. If we were only judging on the BT season, there'd be no question who
received this award.

One of our readers said Matty should be leading for coach of the year at this
point. I don't think there's any doubt about that...especially if the media looks
at where they thought Purdue would be following Rob's injury. Painter's quote,
"Our goals haven't changed." (which is emblazoned on the front of the
Mission Houston shirts) showed exactly the way he has approached the season.
And his team is beginning to believe that regardless of who's injured, they're
still one of the nation's elite. Hats off to Matty.



(please excuse the technical difficulties...our provider has been pretty lousy the
last few days)

Boilers Close Out Pre-Con with Win over IPFW 77-52

Question: Would you rather give up the game you love or wear this every time you play it?

For weeks, if not months, we've been hearing that Purdue needs a third scorer...well, one finally emerged in tonight's easy win over IPFW at Mackey Arena: E'Twaun Moore.

I mean JJ is going to get his points...so is DJ Byrd. So, it's nice to see Moore chipping in and picking up the slack. Right?

Like you, I'm pretty sick and tired of hearing the groupthink by the media that covers Purdue basketball. And I'm a firm believer that the third option by-committee will be enough if guys are willing and ready to take shots. We saw tonight how deadly Purdue's offense can be, even if for a few minutes, if multiple players understand their role on offense.

Our Boilers had a 9-point lead as they entered the second half, but after a five minute burst to

begin the second half, the game was over. Purdue's stifling defense combined with an offense that had purpose. LewJack and Smooge found JJ in creative ways. JJ demanded the ball and made a bunch of different shots. Smooge and Jackson both created opportunities for themselves and Byrd simply shot well and took good shots. Terone Johnson also got in on the act before tweaking his shoulder while diving for loose ball. I haven't heard anything, but it didn't look too serious.

This game started out like so many this season (and in previous seasons)- Purdue struggled to get into an offensive rhythm and looked a bit lethargic on offense. But, they forced IPFW to look even more out of sync. Some people think that's a bad habit to get into. But, I'd argue that it's a worse habit to rely on offense to carry you- that goes away...effort on defense, once it's the norm can be counted on time and time again.

Hart's return is now just week's away and Purdue doesn't play for another seven days...so the offensive options should look even better in the near future.

Here are a few things that were noteworthy tonight to me:

-JJ continues to feast on undersized bigs. But, unlike last season when he did the same thing, he seems to be more assertive and is absolutely more-dominant than ever. He finished with another double-double 24/13. But, the high-level of effort we've been witnessing might be the new norm for the potential All-American. He was a force, yet again.

-E'Twaun didn't light it up...but that didn't stop him from changing the game. He finished with 9 points less than his season average, but he was tough on defense as he had 5 steals and 1 block (I think he actually had another he didn't get credit for). And on the offensive end, he fed the beast and finished with 6 assists to go with along with 5 total rebounds.

-LewJack played very smart and had 8 points...but as usual, that's not the story. This is: 8 assists, 0 turnovers. Honestly, that, and his on-ball defense, is really all that's needed.

-DJ Byrd got hot from behind the arc and didn't really cool off. He was 5-of-7. If you visit here regularly, you know that I love his effort and we saw that again tonight. He finished with 15 pts, 3reb, 3ast and a steal.

-Barlow only had 3 rebounds, but he was generally disruptive to IPFW. I think we're going to see him dominate a game this year in multiple facets...If he decides it's important-enough to put the effort into it. I love his upside.

Next up: @ UM in 7 days.

sidenote: Lil' Boilerdowd had a problem with this game before it started. He thought the opponent's name was simply wrong- "They should be called PIFW...Purdue's better than Indiana."

JJ Powers Boilers to Victory in Indy 65-52

If you watched it, you saw what I saw- a team that looked rusty and uninspired at times versus a team that really wanted to win, but just didn't have the firepower to do so. Thanks to a pal of mine, who is a fellow Purdue grad, I got to watch the game as it's intended- In a Founder's Level Box. While rubbing elbows with the important people, here's what I saw:

-Purdue fans in Conseco are more-receptive to my vociferous ways than those in Mackey. Even in the expensive seats, I generally got a positive reception...that's not normal amongst fellow Boilers.

-Purdue fans in Indy actually come to games, unlike those in Chicago (ooh, burn).

-Indiana State fans, like the team they root for are a spirited bunch. They represented their team/school well.

-A few of ISU players kind of looked like white supremacists that had just gotten out of prison. I'm not saying they were either, it just looked like they were from the stands.

Now for the obvious stuff:
-JJ was absurdly-good in the first half of this game. With about nine minutes left in that half, the score was 15-13...JJ with 15, ISU with 13. He shot the ball well, demanded it in the blocks, played tough defense...didn't dominate on the glass, but you can't have everything. Johnson finished with 31pts/4reb/3blk.

-It seems ISU was determined to stop Moore in the first half as they rotated into the double team on 33 on multiple occasions. As they did this, it left JJ either wide open or guarded by someone who didn't belong guarding him in the first place. Honestly, the 'Mores (can I call them that?) didn't have anyone who was close to matching up with 25. All that said, Smooge was playing a bit lazy in the first half as he wasn't asserting himself on either end...that changed in the second.
-Not surprisingly, after keeping Moore quiet for 20 minutes, ISU couldn't contain him in the second half. They stayed packed in a bit more in an effort to stop Johnson and E'twaun seemed as if he had a wake-up call at the half. He had a couple of key steals and drove the ball assertively instead of just taking the easy jump shot. On top of that, he followed his shot aggressively. If you've played gradeschool ball, you've heard a coach say that you need to follow your shot- Moore was fundamentally sound and it led to multiple second-chance buckets. He finished with 16pts/5reb/2stl.

A closer look
-It's pretty simple to say Johnson and Moore were/are good, but when the rest of the team totals 18 points, the positives aren't as obvious.

-I continue to love watching DJ Byrd. He plays with a similar intensity to Chris Kramer at times, but does in on offense without the ball and disrupts the opposition as much as anything else. He hit Purdue's first non-JJ points of the night with a three in the first half, sadly, he only had three more points in the next 30 minutes. But, he had 6pts/5ast/4reb.

-Barlow has to be the single most-frustrating player for me, as a fan. His length creates problems for the teams Purdue plays, and his numbers show that- he finished with 3pts/11reb/2ast. He demonstrated his athleticism by attempting to jump from the bottom of the circle and dunk over an ISU defender. The missed dunk was one of the most jaw-dropping plays of the night...and ended with Barlow being whistled with the charge.

-Marcius only played for 4 minutes, but had 2 rebounds. I know he has a long way to go in his game, but he does seem to understand that it's his job to crash the glass when he's in...Hopefully that can rub off on Carroll and Bade (and hopefully Patrick is back in the regular rotation again soon).

-Purdue shot their free throws well tonight as JJ, LewJack, Smooge and Barlow all took advantage of the easy ones. Byrd was 1-4 from the stripe, but the team combined for 80%, ISU was only 53.8.

Playing the cards you're dealt
We hear it all the time- someone's gotta step up and be the third option for this Purdue team. J and I discussed this a few days ago- I think the third guy doesn't have to be any one player, but can be the combo of different guys on different nights. But, someone simply must have hart's mindset which is to look for his shot...and Painter-coached players seem to have that beaten out of them. Whether it's Byrd, Jackson, Johnson, Barlow or Smith, someone has to begin looking for his shot. I'm hoping that guy is T. Johnson, but he seems to have hit a bit of a wall already. Perhaps Matty & Co. are kicking his butt in practice to prepare him for the BT schedule? Hope so.

Looking Ahead
Purdue played a team that was inspired tonight. They were coming off of their best game of the season and, after playing Notre Dame tough two weeks ago, they saw Purdue as an opportunity to gain momentum. Our Boilers, on the other hand looked tired at times and didn't play an inspired brand of basketball. And, for the 5th time this season just seemed out of sync for big chunks of the game. This Purdue team is still a work in progress and I think their best basketball is in front of them. That's not a bad place to be as they sit at 10-1. The final tuner before the BT season is in three days v. IPFW, then to UM, and back to Mackey versus a scary match-up against Northwestern.