Bubble Boilers

Life is hard on the bubble...and it's self-induced.  Every day, major media outlets will say things like, "This team has some work left to do..." or worse, "That team still needs help to get in."

Last night, Purdue did itself a real favor by showing up in Champaign and playing basketball like they're capable of playing.  We've talked about how important effort is for this team, but maybe more than effort, guys knowing their role, and accepting it goes a long way in defining a team's success.

Everyone's gotta know their role

Early in the season we saw position switches and nearly every possession was running through Hummel.  Barlow was moved to the wing and thought that meant he should shoot a three every time he touched the ball.  LewJack, TJohn and Byrd's injuries made them all look like they were out of sync and forcing the issue when they had the ball in their hands...on defense, they had a tough time keeping their man in front of them. Smith, while an effective/efficient three point shooter, was taking too many off-balance shots outside of the flow of the offense...oh yeah, and nobody was rebounding or hitting freethrows.  Combine the last part with the fact that Purdue's team defense was struggling...and you have a formula for painful losses and general struggles like we haven't seen in West Lafantastica during Painter's time as head coach.

I'm not going to go as far as to say they've figured it out...or everything is clicking just yet...because it's not.  But I will say, for the first time this season, this team is moving toward playing basketball like they're capable of playing.

Perhaps the ass-kicking at the hands of the Forehead's team at home was a bucket of ice water on their heads...or maybe having everyone able to practice is helping the team understand itself better...or maybe Smith's sticking his nose into a conflict on behalf of Barlow has brought these guys together.  Regardless of the reason why, things are changing.  And as attitudes and effort has changed, many guys have bought in, it seems.

I have no idea how Hummel's knees feel day-to-day at this point...nor do I know if he's feeling more confident in his injured knees...but he's playing with more confidence.  The last three halves of basketball, he's been taking exceedingly-smart, makable shots and not drifting to the left as he had become accustomed to.  Defensively, he's been a force as well while guarding taller, bigger players.  It seems he's now playing the way his redefined physique is allowing him to play.  While injured, Hummel got bigger and stronger...and for the first time this season, his strength is really making a difference...in the blocks and on the glass.

Clutch

DJ Byrd has been playing with confidence on offense and fire on defense that's been contagious.  He's hitting big shots when they're needed most and still selling out on the defensive end.  In fact, the bigger, more-needed the shot, the more effect Byrd as been, of late. I think one of the big keys to his hot shooting though is the extra pass that's being made by his teammates following drives that cause the defense to contract.  Byrd has been smart enough to find his spots...and drive and finish when the situation lends itself.

And speaking of driving and dishing, Barlow and LewJack are making everyone better on the offensive end.  When Barlow gets that look in his eyes, everyone needs to look out...because something badass is about to happen.  What is that look? It's pretty simple really...it's just a look of determination. Part of Barlow's appeal is the fact that he infuriates opponents.  But, when he is playing an agitator without the focus on playing good basketball, it's pretty worthless. Conversely, when he's dialed in and resolute, very few in the league are better slashers or on-ball defenders.  That's the Barlow we've seen recently...that's the one that's a difference-maker.

LewJack, when healthy or hurting, is a magician with the ball in his hands.  He can change pace in a manner that few in the nation can stay with him...and defensively, when confident in his back, he's fearless and relentless.  Now, this isn't a perfect world, and he's not 100%...but if other players are looking to score, whether it is Hummel, Byrd or TJohn, Jackson will generally find them...that's when Purdue's offense is humming.

Smith's defense last night helped keep two prolific scorers in check...and while Smith is capable of delivering daggers, the amount of shots he's taken lately has decreased, seemingly by his choice.  How many times in the last few games has his pump fake led to an open jumper by Byrd?  While shooters have to shoot, a bad shot doesn't help anyone, and Smith understands that.  I wouldn't be surprised if he gets more open looks in coming games due to the emergence of Byrd and the re-emergence of Hummel.

TJohn has had an up and down season...but the general curve is upwards.  One of the main reasons he's trending toward what many thought he'd become is he is working hard on defense and on the offensive end without the ball.  Plus, once he has the ball, he's not just taking any three pointer that the defense gives him.  Instead, he pierces the defense and goes after his high percentage, but unorthodox tear drop that is nearly impossible to stop when it's working.

Off the bench, Carroll has embraced the role of bodying up on defense, and blocking out to create lanes on offense.  Lawson, while his minutes have been sparse is beginning to understand that without playing at a high energy level, his athleticism will go to waste.  Marcius has provided a few valuable minutes and fouls as he's used his strength and size to give other players some rest...and AJ can still score at will; when he's patient and not trying to force the issue...he'll have games in the next few years that he takes over...but first, Painter wants his defensive effort to be consistent; and it's getting that way.

Every player has a role...and this team is finally embracing those roles and the system that creates them.  And what do you know? Good things are starting to happen. But for Purdue to get into the tournament, they'll have to continue doing what they're doing.  At least six games are remaining, three-plus wins will all but guarantee a chance to play in the real tourney...but to get in the big dance, our Boilers will need to continue to do the little things.

Huge Win in Champaign: 67-62

It's pretty simple- if this team plays two halves of basketball, they either win or are in the position to win at the end.  The Forces of Good did just that today and held on for the five point victory in The Assembly Hall.

I never like watching Purdue go into a game in which a team has been backed into a corner...and Illinois was flat-out trapped coming in.  Like Painter said about his squad a few weeks ago, Illinois needed to fight to change its situation...and they did.  But, by the time they figured out the importance of the game, Purdue was up big.

Illinois fought their way out of a 13 point hole that they had put themselves in...but couldn't get over the hump.  The closest they got to the Boilers was a two-point deficit...twice...in the final five minutes.  But Purdue finished.  Perhaps Illinois just tired themselves out while coming back...or maybe this Purdue team has figured out how to finish again.

This was a game that the Boilers would have surely lost earlier in the season...Big lead cut down to a slim margin...high pressure environment...we've seen it before; but it felt differently.

Unlike the other games that put Purdue in this situation, the defensive intensity was there...the effort was there...the smart passing on offense was there...and at the end there was another game in the left column.  As a team, Purdue out-rebounded the taller, more-talented Illini 31-26, and the team that deserved the win got it.

Bruce Weber came out in his orange jacket and the game started out with a thunderous dunk by Illinois' resident headcase, Myers Leonard.  But the Boilers showed that substance over style almost always wins.

Hummel worked like a rented mule on the defensive end, guarding the 7'1", soon-to-be professional basketball player, Leonard...and frustrated him pretty soundly.  During more than one deadball, you could see Leonard chirping like a baby bird...but it didn't matter.  Not only did Leonard not score a whole bunch, he didn't even get the chance to shoot very often.  But it wasn't just Hummel that was playing big on defense, but Travis Carroll was sound as well.  His box score doesn't tell a fair story for what he did today for Purdue...but the fact that Carroll can clamp down Leonard the way he did today and in Mackey earlier in the season must drive Leonard nuts...gotta love that. Big. Ugly, Effective.

Let's get back to Big Shot Rob for a moment.  He and Jackson's two-man game helped Purdue put this one away...and he made big, difficult shots, pulled down key rebounds and looked like #4 from yesteryear.  He let the game come to him...and it did.  He finished with 19 and 11 in another high-minute game (37).

Jackson was back in the starting line-up today...and had an up and down game.  He had two of the best stop-and-go drives I've seen this season as he toyed with Illini defenders to get to the rack.  On both cases, he finished the play and didn't even end up hammered to the ground. He finished with 13 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds.  His fellow Senior class member, Smith, started on the bench for this one as Painter continued to play with the starting line-ups based on what he thought might work instead of a formulaic starting five.

Who wants it more?

TJohn had an efficient night- 12 points, 6 assists in just 23 minutes while shooting 50%.  His teardrop proved to be difficult for Illinois to stop. DJ Byrd hit a few more big shots, as we've become accustomed to, while going 3/6 from three, and earning 13 and 5 in just 25 minutes.

I don't know if a ton of Purdue fans expected victory tonight in spite of Purdue coming into this one with a 6-game winning streak over the Illini...but it seemed that Painter and Co. fully expected it. I said it after the loss to aOSU- This team will be defined by its work ethic and effort at the end of the season...Tonight's victory showed just that.  Next up, Purdue gets to welcome Class A Asshat talented Freshman Branden Dawson and co. to Mackey Arena.

I'm looking forward to being part of the crowd for this one...and I'm pretty sure Matty and the boys are excited about this one as well.  Time to protect Mackey again, gentlemen.


Sidenote:
Gus Johnson sucks at his job.  People who don't see that he's an attention whore from the same mold as Dick Vitale, Ed Hightower, and Kim Kardashian need to look at when and why he gets excited during games.  Teenage girls are exempt from this criticism...everyone else has no excuse.  He used to be better at calling games; at this point, he is a caricature of himself.