They're Grrrrrrrreat!

More imaginary hardware for the Ostrich and Smooge. Always good to have people on the national stage give Boilers their due.

Moore is a third team All-American according to some guy who can't tighten a tie and fell asleep under the tanning lamp.

And, Hummel is a third team All-American according to another expert who kinda resembles Mr. Potato Head.

It's odd to me that two experts who both know so much about the game of college basketball don't include the opposite Purdue player in any of their 3 or 4 teams (depending on the site). Parrish, of course thinks Purdue is deserving of a 7-spot drop in his poll since Hummel went down...but he's not anywhere to be found on any of the three of his AA teams.

But, they both agree that the Villain is the player of the year...good news, I guess- anybody other than a Teflon John recruit.

Getting back into form

Beating UM didn't take heroics from a guy who no one had heard about or anything too out-of-the-ordinary. But, Purdue kind of got back to its roots, at least a bit, on the way to beating the Manny Harris-less Wolverines.

Without Harris, Michigan looked uninspired and out of sync early in the game, except DeShawn Sims, who scored the first 13 points for the Wolverines. Sims was a one-man wrecking crew as he flashed a barrage of weapons in his offensive arsenal...and JJ seemingly was just there to watch. Johnson looked a half step slow as Sims blew by him, out-muscled him and simply out-played him.

I remarked to my brothers that it almost seemed that JJ had low blood sugar or something because he simply didn't seem to be playing at his highest level, especially defensively. And while JJ had little answer for Sims' effort, the Ostrich fared quite well v. UM's 8th-year Senior. Hummel gives up about 40 pounds to Sims, but he stood his ground very well on multiple occasions as Sims tried to pull Michigan back into the game in the second half.

Purdue did a lot well, at times in the game, and honestly looked flat-out great for stretches during the game. But, our Boilers also had scoring droughts in which it seemed that nothing worked...but one of the problems we've seen quite a few times this season snapped at Matty's backside once again- poor bench output. Granted, Painter at one point had a line-up of guys who simply have little chance of scoring many points- Smith, Byrd, Hart, Kramer and JJ. UM's zone collapsed on Johnson and Purdue not only didn't have many options, but kinda looked like little more than a passing drill in practice. Plus, UM's press gave Purdue some problems, predictably, but, UM wasn't able to stick with the press as it seemed like the effort was tiring out the young Wolverines.

It by no means was a pretty victory, but there were some good things sprinkled throughout this one. First off, while JJ struggled defensively, he had a solid game...but his rebounding needs to be in the double-digits for Purdue to do the things it wants to as a team. The Ostrich didn't make a ton of noise offensively, but his defense and rebounding kept the Purdue maching humming during the hot streak that ended the first half and started the second. Smooge created a ton of opportunities for himself by fighting through double-teams and squaring his shoulders after contact. And even more impressive was the way he and others found the open man. Purdue did what they couldn't do v. aOSU- draw the double team and exploit the soft spot on the zone. Defensively, he was great once again as he had three steals and seemed to recognize UM's offense before the plays completely unfolded. I also liked what I saw from Hart once again- sure, he didn't wow us with offense, but he surely wasn't detrimental as he relieved the starters...and his play helped the pace of Purdue greatly. I don't think that can be said for all of Purdue's bench players.

And speaking of pace and quickness, that's what really made the difference in the game, to me. Purdue's overall pace for about 15 minutes was simply too fast for Michigan. They got to loose balls faster, closed down passing lanes and made cuts to the basket that were just short of amazing. During the three-game losing streak, we simply didn't see any of that pace from our Boilers.
I got to see this one from the lower level in Mackey, so I was blessed enough to see some details that are sometimes missed on TV. Details like Smooge getting his jersey tugged on twice during a fast break and having no foul called. Things like JJ not being given a chance to land as he went up for lobs from the exterior...but once again, the officials swallowing their whistles. Zelton Steed seemed to be around the blown calls time and time again...and over-shadowed the King of noticeable officials, Ed Hightower. But as I always say, if you leave the game within reach, the officials can play a major role. But thankfully, a few sizable runs made the poor officiating unimportant.

NCAA Basketball

Purdue won by 10, but in the 69-59 victory, Purdue kept Michigan under 60 points and even with a still-hobbled Chris Kramer were able to remind us why this team was a top-5 club just a short time ago. That said, I look for a better effort in the next few games as Matty's boys start to hone in on the stretch run of the season.

Next up, Wisconsin in Mackey in 5 days.

Gazpacho is also best served cold.

Weekend Wrap-Up

Runnin' Boilers
The LJC had a great story this weekend about some of Matty's boys and what they've been up to.

First, they all run like a team of deer, it seems.

The entire team runs a sub-6:00 mile, even Marcius and JJ. That's nifty. But, Robbie Hummel runs a fast 4:49 mile. I'm pretty sure I can't drive one that fast. Hummel humbly denies this as noteworthy saying that he ran the mile in middle school. Okie dokie, Ostrich.

The article also talks about Chris Kramer entertaining the idea of Chris donning shoulder pads for our Boilers in the fall of '10. This actually makes a ton of sense to me- Purdue graduates a lot of defensive backfield talent...perhaps Kramer can help out back there.

For those of you who have been Purdue fans for a while, this might remind you of Kip Jones who played football for Purdue after his basketball eligibility was up...Jones actually blocked a field goal while playing for Fred Akers...I'm pretty sure Kramer will look more the part than did Jones.

I'm a fan of blondes, I guess
I haven't done this in a while, so I thought I'd do it- here are some ladies on the TV that have caught my eye recently. First off, probably the best-looking woman on TV right now is a bit commercial actress on Budweiser commercials- Christina Scott Bennett.
The next two are a sign that the BTN is run by smart people. One, a favorite of J and I who my wife doesn't think is anything special (let the record show, Mrs. Boilerdowd thinks Erin Andrews is A-OK). Charissa Thompson isn't new to the network, but is noteworthy.
Second is the new co-host of a tailgating show in BTN on Saturday mornings...and while Melanie Collins is no where near as good at being a studio personality as Thompson, she is awfully nice to look at.

Around Indiana
Not all of you who regularly visit the site are in Central Indiana...so you don't get to hear/see a lot of the fan reaction from Purdue, IU and UND fans after game weekends like this...As a service, I'll share what I heard out and about today.

Purdue fans are generally excited...I'm one of those. My adjusted prediction for the season is now 6 or 7 wins, up from 4 or 5...no surprise there.

IU fans are funny...some are smart, they seem to think this season's going to be long and painful and the squeaking out the first two games versus bad opponents is an awful omen. Others are the typical IU fans- they see 2-0, and nothing else...and are talking about a bowl game already. They think that a win is a win. I'm actually impressed at their level of energy...but think their talent level is still low (with the exception of a few receivers who are very good).

My favorite fans are the Domers. Most are still convinced that a BCS bowl is all but a sure thing...but UM is just back and that good. Heck, how else could they beat the might Irish? This is classic, old-school UND BS...and I love hearing it. A pal of mine who went to UND once told me that Notre Dame students would spend evenings after losses (back in the early 90s) trying to figure out what had to happen for Notre Dame to win the national title. If the question was asked today by the same people, perhaps they'd say, "get rid of the Manatee"? Nope...he's on solid ground. Sure, the outsider can see that he lost Saturday's game with plain-dumb play calling down the stretch. No matter. Ignorance is b...eing a Domer.

Did anyone else see King Charlie demanding satisfaction from the refs as if his opinion mattered to those guys after the clock hit 0:00 in AA? I loved it...hope to see more of it very soon.

Here's to an angry Spartan team circling the wagons this week.

Quarterback-Heavy Gumbo

There were so many things to talk about today, many related to QBs, that I thought I'd just dump it all into a gumbo post. So let's get started.

Own a Piece of History

Yes, that's right -- you can get the pictured Curtis Painter Colts jersey for the low, low price of just $200. It's rare that a young man has the chance to be a local hero (cough) for his college team and follow that up by staying local with the beloved pro team... and then get cut from the practice squad in August. Curtis clearly (and wisely) did not demand his familiar number 12 from Jim Sorgi.

Irish Don't Get The Montana They Really Want

It'll be fun to see how the UND loyalists spin this one. Legacy Nick Montana has decided not to attend Notre Dame despite his father having gone there (and his brother Nate being there), and instead will attend....wait for it... Washington. The same Huskies who went 0-12 last year. Wow. To choose a program in the kind of disarray that UW is in over the supposed up-and-coming and ready to pounce UND program is rather telling. Could Joe Cool have advised his son to stay away? Who knows? Maybe Nick was just worried about living up to the legend of Pickles Clausen.

So Much For Those "Turning Over A New Leaf" Headlines

Sadly, Ryan Leaf's life continues to plummet down the toilet. He's now wanted as a result of a grand jury's indictment on nine charges against him relating to prescription painkillers. I no longer want to make jokes about him, and really nobody should. He's a troubled man and it's just plain sad.

Compliance is the Word of the Day At IU

According to this story, compliance "comes first" at Indiana. Well, at least something comes in first at IU. From the story:

Fred Glass gathered the Indiana coaching staff before he was introduced as the school’s athletic director and told them his top priority: compliance.

It was a word one of the coaches just didn’t want to hear.

“A coach said, ‘You know what, we’re sick of hearing that. We’re sick of hearing compliance,’ ” Glass recalled being told during a visit to Fort Wayne last week. “ ‘We are a compliant place with a compliant culture, and we really don’t like hearing that.’ ”

Yes, I'm sure you indeed don't like hearing that, coach. Being reminded about compliance when your basketball program was sort of decimated by a non-compliant coach just two years ago must be a real drag.


JaJuan and Ostrich Continue USA Basketball Tryouts Against Our Advice

Yes, they're all "honored" and stuff to be trying out for the USA Basketball's World University Games team. The rest of us would rather they sit in a barcalounger for the summer.

Five of the 16 players initially invited to try out are from the Big Ten, more than any other conference.

Oh, but yeah, the Big Ten is weak, right Digger?

The Indy Star Has A Purdue Football Opinion?

According to the Indy Star, the Boilers have a "Tough football schedule." It says so right in the headline. However, I might argue that starting the season with three of four at home against Toledo, No. Illinois and Notre Dame (all winnable games, even for this season's expectations) means that a 3-1 start, while not necessarily likely, isn't exactly far-fetched. We'll keep an eye on the Star to see if they contribute anything noteworthy, or instead continue to just be an IU lapdog.

Have We Heard The Last of Justin Siller?

This is completely unfounded, but according to on-campus BS sources, Siller remains enrolled at Purdue and appears (appears) to have no plans to leave. He has not transferred and apparently is readying to take classes this fall. If this is accurate, what does it mean? Has Siller had enough of football? Is it only a matter of time before he transfers to a school that makes him an offer? Or is it possible that he'll lie low for another year and then knock on Coach Hope's door? If you have any insight, shoot us a note.

Sunday Poll

-Steve Curry made a good NCAA tourney run last season that nearly propelled him into the lottery of the NBA draft (let's be honest, he probably should have left after last season).

-Carmello Anthony left Syracuse after just one National Title season for the Orange(men).

A great NCAA tournament run can make a solid player into an overnight high NBA prospect. So, let's say one of Purdue's talented Sophomores gets on a hot streak. What would the team have to achieve for you to be A-OK with his hypothetical departure?

Boilermakers Slap OSU

Well, that was convincing. The Boilers made quick work of the Buckeyes in West Lafayette yesterday, smoking them by 25, their most lopsided Big Ten win of the season and their biggest rout since a couple of wins over hapless nonconference opponents back in December.

The biggest difference between this game and the Michigan game Thursday night was the following:

The Boilers shot the ball. No more putrid shooting really helps. Purdue shot 55% from the field and 47% from beyond the arc. (OSU - 44%, 24%) Add in our trademark stifling defense and the Bucknuts had no chance. Especially given who their coach is.

Big Shot Rob Hummel once again led the team in scoring with 17, which continues to leave us all wondering if this is a good sign or if it simply means nothing.... will the back act up at the worst possible time or is this what we have to look forward to? Because it's kind of awesome having him play and play well.

Nemmy got over his sniffles. The big Serb poured in 14, while Smooge added 11 and JJ had 12. A terrific all-around effort from the boys.

The defense was back. Chris Kramer remember he was Chris Kramer and played solid defense again. Maybe being at home helped, who knows?

Misc other info...

For those wondering about the green shirts, as you may or may not have heard, the Paint Crew was wearing them to honor Marcus Green, the last remaining player from Coach Painter's first recruiting class. After the game he went up and posed for pictures with the students. A nice touch by the Paint Crew.


So now we're rooting for Illinois to take down the Spartans today.... and then go to PSU and lose. While we beat MSU at MSU, of course. Oh, and without tripping up over Northwestern at home on Wednesday. Yeah, that's all.

BT POW

Robbie Hummel's performance v. ISU helped push him to receiving this week's BT Player of the Week...it's good to see especially since he started the season in foul trouble so often, and then had back problems. He should prove to be a tough match up for Davidson as well.

Tiller Bowl Goes to Orton in OT

In a pretty amazing scene last night, Kyle Orton's middling Bears squeaked out a victory versus the mediocre Saints in overtime. Neither quarterback particularly shined...both threw two interceptions, but Brees threw two TDs as Orton only ran for one. The special teams were extremely important on the day as the Bears had some big run backs, the first of the game for a TD...Manning knew he was going to score as he crossed into Saints territory; horrible coverage. But, the game provided a fitting salute to Coach Tiller as he was in attendance and even got together for a photo op with his two students after the game...while wearing a Purdue letter jacket (sadly, I can't find the picture).
In typical Brees fashion, #9 led his squad back from a 14-point deficit late in the game to take the lead in regulation...Then Orton got the Bears in field goal territory, and Gould sent it into OT...Thanks to the NFL's dumb OT rule, after winning the toss, the Bears marched down the field ended the game, once again on Gould's leg.

I hope a large print of the post-game love fest between the three ex-Boilers gets a prominent spot in Mollenkopf and every QB recruit who comes through the doors sees the shot. You can't fake stuff like that...and only one other school shares this status with Purdue (BC- Ryan & Hasslebeck).

Notes

Brock Staying Put for now
Brock Spack was passed over for the BGSU job. It sounded like it was all but a done deal as Spack had a few connections there and is a pretty respected DC in the college ranks. The reason Spack doesn't get these jobs could be pretty simple. I've been told that the guy loves Purdue...and he probably always thought he'd be coaching at Purdue when Tiller left. Maybe his heart isn't into the interviewing process? Who knows. Regardless, BGSU hired a coach with previous head coaching experience and who was recently fired at Tennessee. Sounds like a meh pick to me...but maybe it was a good one for the MAC. I'm still hoping Spack gets another look someplace, there are a lot of openings...and his name continues to pop up; most of the openings are for DC positions elsewhere, which I don't think would push him to leave Purdue.

Quan
Purdue is the late leader for the services of 3-star prospect Quanthony Fletcher, another Florida product. I think it's exciting, because Purdue needs more great names on the roster...While Fletcher seems a bit heavy to play linebacker right now, perhaps he could run a bit off and be ready to play as a Freshman? That'd be helpful. Another LB that I'd like to see Hope snag is Sam Barrington. He seems to be cut from the same cloth as Landon Johnson.

Ostrich
Our boy Robbie needs a haircut...nothing else to report. While everyone, from coaches, to players to media all respect his game, no one can respect that do. I know it's cold, but sack up, Ostrich!

Initial Poll Positive for Purdue

The ESPN/USA Today poll is out for men's college basketball...and my favorite team is smack-dab in the center. This makes me look forward to basketball season, but, as I've told you before, it doesn't mean too much. What does mean something is that last year's Freshman "stars" are working so hard that their faces are getting burnt on the floor of Mackey Arena...Unlike what many members of our congress seem to think, hardwork pays off and success is something earned not bestowed by a bunch of heads.

Boilers Down Under Put Up Big Numbers and Win

E'Twaun continued his assault on the Aussies as he scored 35 and our Boilers won in overtime 115-107. Also noteworthy, Nemanja ripped it up with 27 points and the Ostrich had 22. They improve to 2-2 on the tour.

How good would Smooge be with a real point guard?

Hear what the Clis has to say about it here.

Ostrich, Smooge, Painter & Others Honored

Don't mess with the ostrich.
Despite their awkward appearance, ostriches can run 40 miles per hour and can kill attackers with the strength of their leg kicks. Ostriches are also extremely aggressive and when they knock down a foe, they are known to kill that animal in order to protect the rest of the herd.

The real All Big Ten Team and the rest of the conference honors were released this afternoon and the boys from West Lafayette cleaned up yet again. First off, Matt Painter was Coach of the Year according to media and coaches voting.



Robbie Hummel was on the first team for all-conference, Smooge was second team, Kramer was third team (media) and Grant was honorably mentioned by the coaches. Kramer was also Defensive Player of the Year and on the All-Defensive team while Hummel & Moore were both on the All-Frosh team.

Also noteworthy, the Wooden Award Finalist List came out, and The Ostrich was one of the 24 players on that list.

I think Purdue received all of the hardware simply because yes, they were good...But also, they were surprising to a ton of people, both in the media and within the game. They have set a high bar for themselves in coming seasons.

So how talented, and how disappointing is IU as a team?
-D.J. White was player of the year
-Eric Gordon was Freshman of the year
-Both were First-Team All-Conference; both are Finalists for the Wooden Award
-Armon Bassett & Jamarcus Ellis both were also recognized

-IU finished third in the conference
(Kelvin Sampson did not receive any votes for recognition)