Molto Bravo! Smooge to Italy (and gumbo)

Like a lot of players without guaranteed contracts, E'Twaun Moore is heading over to Italy to sharpen his skills. Moore will have the ability to head back to the NBA if the lock-out ends and the Celtics need him, but he won't be the only American over there as NBA free agents and stars alike are both taking a look across the Atlantic.

Leagues in Turkey, Italy and Greece have all put big dough on the table as an enticement for American-based talent...and some are starting to listen. Granted, Moore's contract will not be one of the larger of the guys that end up playing in Europe, but his experience and guaranteed money are pretty tough to turn down.

People in the front office of the NBA don't seem too worried about players glancing at leagues in Europe...we'll see if the league's general arrogance will continue as the fall gets closer and loss of gametime becomes more and more of a possibility.

Awesome Prognostication, Baby!!

J has been trying to do the impossible via Twitter: Corner Dick Vitale into being somewhat accountable about what he spouts off. Vitale's twitter feed (which I'm intentionally not linking) is a stream of consciousness jumble of words that makes sense about as often as Danny Hope utters a negative word.

So when Vitale's pre-season rankings came out, I didn't cared too much, but J took umbrage at the lack of respect Matty's boys have gotten. I have yet to see a well-known national outlet put Purdue any higher than the mid-20s for next season...and Vitale is no different (I think he has Purdue someplace in the 30s).

Honestly, I love the role of underdog for Matty, Hummel, LewJack, Smith and the rest...it suits them quite well as they will surely feed on the fact that no one is giving them a chance to make noise in '11/'12.

Here's to the national media viewing Purdue as little more than an also-ran through the new year and providing bulletin boards full of motivational material for this squad. I'm positive I'm not the only person in this state who can't wait until 11/11/11.

NCAA Prepares to Slap Buckeyes Wrist

There's a lesson being sent pretty loudly by the NCAA in the Bucknut case: You can break multiple rules, hide the infractions, deny hiding the infractions and get minimal punishment...if you're in Columbus.

Many thought aOSU might get the USC treatment due to the fact that their coach thumbed his nose at the NCAA...then the President of the flipping university made a joke about the whole thing...But no major harm done in this case, according to the NCAA. The NCAA's hardline against college sports' cash cows lasted ONE case.

The NCAA gave the Buckeyes a vote of confidence because they didn't have the lack of institutional control that was exhibited in Southern California a few years ago...True- the athletic department and the rest of the administration is pulling the strings.

Let's all remember that aOSU slapped itself with self-imposed sanctions that amount to nothing really...and the NCAA is A-OK with that. The self-imposed punishment is an asinine idea that only exists in college sports.

Pretend for a moment that I stole your car, took it for a joyride and wrecked it while driving drunk. No one else was hurt in the incident...and I felt really bad for my behavior (after leaving the scene before the cops could arrive). A week later, I haul myself into the court, write you a check for the damages to the vehicle, express my regret and tell the judge that I've already began my self-imposed 3 week house arrest...everything would be square, right?

Well in the make believe world of the NCAA, it happens time and time again.

Let's all remember the last time aOSU's football program knew nothing about those violations- They pushed two fall guys out on their ears: Clarett and A.D. Geiger. Tressel was found to be squeaky clean (by some), Clarett was labeled a pariah (after the Buckeye faithful had milked him for a national title)...Geiger forced to resign. After taking some booster benefits like Clarett, Troy Smith was suspended for two games. This more-than-ample punishment sent a message to the QB and allowed him later to blossom into the exemplary student athlete that he became, win the Heisman and follow the tutelage of his ethical teacher, Coach Vest.

So now that the real problems at aOSU, Pryor and Tressel, have been weeded out, the Buckeyes can get back to ethically winning conference and national titles. Don't be surprised after this upcoming 8-win season when a truly ethical and good guy like Urban Meyer is announced as Ohio State's next coach.

New Big 3 Do It Again as the Boilers win big in East Lansing, 67-47

I'll admit when I'm wrong...and loyal readers, friends, Boilers, countrymen- I was wrong.

Following the Wisconsin game, I didn't see a way Purdue would end the BT season with any fewer than 4 losses, but now it looks like nearly a lock...and I thought I was being optimistic. But this team has grown up and learned a ton in the month of February, and now, they are officially rubbing elbows with the nation's elite.

While MSU wasn't 'resurgent' like some in the media were calling them, they were playing well- and isn't this just how it's gone this year for our Boilers. Give 'em a white-hot opponent, they can cool them down in a hurry. And MSU, while maybe not white-hot, quickly went from very warm to frigid at the cold, heartless hand of Matty's boys...and perhaps Purdue completely put the Spartans' hopes of an NCAA tourney out of its misery in the process.

The BT officiating was simply horrible early in the second half as Purdue racked up 4 fouls on one MSU possession and nearly everyone, with the exceptions of JJ, Smooge and LewJack was flirting with foul trouble. But once the officials calmed down, Purdue defense began turning Sparty miscues to bucket atop fun-to-watch bucket.

Jackson played the role of Kalin Lucas better than Lucas himself. Sure, Lucas ended with a ton of points, but LewJack made everybody better who was clad in a black uni with gold trim. He dealt 7 assists to go along with 16 points, 5 rebounds and a steal. He worked in traffic versus MSU defenders with ease...even Lucas couldn't stay with the waterbug-quick Jackson.

No one benefitted from 23's play more that JJ, who was extremely-efficient on the day, scoring 20 points while going 8/13. But that's only scratching the surface on the chubby stat sheet that JJ filled up. He terrorized MSU players with 7 blocks (I actually counted 8) as he completely took Sparty out of their gameplan. It didn't matter if it was a guard or power forward, JJ was tossing shots like J Money at a bachelorette party. BUT WAIT...THERE'S MORE!!! Johnson cleaned the glass against MSU by grabbing 17 boards. On the national stage Johnson demanded that he be considered for POY and nearly-guaranteed his spot on the consensus AA squad.

Although he didn't shoot the ball great, Moore was just below his season average scoring 17 points and adding three assists. He played like the game was very important to him as you could visibly see him fired up on more than one occasion...we've said it before, he's at his best when he's angry.

Foul trouble kept Byrd and Smith out of the game for big chunks, but Smith was still a difference maker as he had three steal that turned the court around quickly. Byrd never got into much of a rhythm and only played 13 minutes...rest might be the best thing for him as he struggles to get healthy. Barlow, TJohn and Smith all had a three-pointer each and Carroll grabbed 4 boards in 21 minutes.

Purdue beat MSU on the glass, 33-32 (always a good sign for Matty's squad), and held their opponent to just 9% from behind the arc...this is the 8th time this season Purdue's held an opponent under 20%. Honestly, outside of Lucas doing everything he could to will MSU back into the game, this one wasn't much of a contest. Purdue simply dictated the pace and broke Sparty's spirit much like they did the Illini in Champaign a few weeks ago.

I said it on Twitter, I can't remember a better three week span for Purdue basketball in my life...sure, the 1994 team's run between the win in AA to the Final 8 was pretty great, but gauntlet that Purdue has just cleared puts them in an amazing position for the tournament. They've all but locked up a 2 seed and now have a 1 in their sights. Granted, it'd probably take a BTT championship with a win over aOSU to get it done, but it's possible. I for one think anything after the first win the tourney is really gravy...and I'd rather the team get healthy and stay hungry for the main course rather than ruining their appetite on bread sticks and potato skins of the league in the BTT.

Neato stat of the day: Purdue has matched its win total from the same point in the season from last year...and, is one game better than they were in conference at this stanza. Not bad for a team left for dead by the media in October. Matt Painter should be Coach of the Year, and it's as ludicrous that he's not in the discussion as it is that JJ isn't a serious player in the POY talk.

Next up is Senior Night in God's country as two of Purdue program's most-pivotal players of all time will be introduced on Keady court for one final contest. Tip-off is at 7:00 on Tuesday for the short turnaround game...Tom Crean is angry Purdue has to play two games so close...but I don't think the short time span will hurt this spry Boiler bunch too badly. Due to business in the Northeast, I cannot attend, but Mrs. Boilerdowd will be representing the BD family in W. La La. I hope to hear the Boiler faithful in Mackey 1000 miles away as you collectively and whole-heartedly thank #25 and #33 for representing Purdue so well while winning a few games along the way.

Choo choo, muthas.