Boilers Roll in Riveting CBI Opener: 81-67

While Purdue fans seem to have a disagreement about the importance of this game, I think none of us disagreed on one thing: Losing to Western Illinois would have been unacceptable...but for about 15:00, it looked like that outcome was a very real possibility.

Purdue was flat on offense, lethargic on defense and generally apathetic. Switches were even slower than they had been during the season...and the recurring lapses left Leathernecks open time and again. Western Illinois was having their way with Purdue around the 10:00 mark in the first half. With a seven point lead, Purdue seemed to be OK with the idea of bowing out of the CBI...at home versus a Summit League foe; a league in which Purdue was 12-0 against coming into the game.

I really believe this: Purdue should have been able to dress 7 scholarship players and beat WIU soundly. The talent of the two programs is simply not on the same level. But, the eyeball test and what was happening on the court didn't match up. Hammons was allowing a shorter, weaker and less-skilled PF grab boards and get open. Byrd allowed his man to get lost with just one screen, RonJohn wasn't using quickness to create problems...Purdue looked atrocious...but after just a few defensive stops, Purdue was back in it and at the half, the good guys had a one point lead.

Early in the second half, WIU decided it'd be a good idea to leave Byrd open, time, and time and time again...and he made them pay. His three early second half threes were his only points. Then they thought they'd double team him, and RayDay, Hammons and TJohn got open looks. Purdue's athleticism and effort took a potentially disastrous game for the Boilers and made it a blowout loss for the visiting Leathernecks.

Cornell v. WIU
in '99

RonJohn finished with 14 pts, 4 assists...but a couple early turnovers tarnished his day a bit. That said, as the game wore on, it was clear that he was the fastest guy on the court and could do whatever he wanted to do with the ball...he hit a few open jumpers as well.

RayDay had 12 points and 5 rebounds and went 4 for 5 from the field. Hammons, in spite of a frustrating effort on the glass, finished with 15 points and 4 rebounds. He missed a few bunnies too; probably could have easily had 20 points and 8 rebounds; but he had no physical match.

TJohn had 10 points and 5 assists, but turned the ball over too much early. Sandi had 8 points in 13 minutes of action and went 4/4 from the FT line.

The only guy that played hard in the first ten minutes of the game for Purdue was Anthrop...he was hustling after loose balls and selling out. As J Money said to me via text, he kind of had a Senior night of his own tonight...and was the only guy on the team to fill the stat sheet (so to speak).  He only had 4pts, but added 6reb, 4ast and 3 steals in 24 minutes of action.  His game earned him a very awkward exchange with AXStv's color commentator (who I can't remember, and had never heard of).  He called #14 "his kinda guy" as he rubbed his back during a quick post-game interview; it was pretty odd. A Dru could do was respond by saying, "Thanks." Anthrop played hard and deserved the attention of a pretty co-ed, not a middle-aged man.

At the end of the game, Matty emptied the benches and played a guy that I didn't even know was on the roster.  The line-up looked like this: Beshears, Hale, Lawson, Toyra and Mckeeman. If you knew who John Mckeeman was before tonight's game, you're a better fan than I.  Mckeeman's one official minute was his only of the season.

Purdue's lead was over 20 points with around 4:00 before the dogs were officially called off. Our on-site reporter, Mr. Evens said the atmosphere was comparable to that of an IHSAA 1A women's sectional game...but 5,000 (or so) whimpering fans were the difference maker in this one*.  The lowlight of the game wasn't Purdue being down in the first half...It was an ad for a pre-con game next season on Purdue's press LED board between aOSU and UND. I have no idea why that was allowed or at whom in the audience they were marketing. I can tell you who won't be watching it though.

Purdue will play Santa Clara on Monday at 7:00, I believe in God's country. If they win, they'll be in the semi-finals and the remaining field will be re-seeded according who has the most-handsome coach.

Western Illinois was without their leading scorer and lost their hottest hand to an ankle injury during this one...but they were very motivated and Purdue simply wasn't. Santa Clara's RPI is about 30 spots better than Purdue's...and their 21 wins overshadow's Purdue's as well.  Their win over NCAA dark horse, St. Louis was their best win of the year; so clearly, Purdue is the underdog...hopefully they'll act like it as they prepare.


*not really

Dare to dream?

This has been a tough basketball season, my friends. Rumors of future attrition, attitude problems, ugly 30 point losses...it's had them all. It's quite a contrast to what Purdue fans have become accustomed to in the last six years.

Hard work, toughness, chemistry, great defense...all seemed to be optional for most of the team for much of this season...that didn't seem right...and the results showed that it wasn't. Purdue fans talked about how far Painter would let the team fall...how he was trying to break them by allowing them to lose, lose and lose again; I don't really agree with that premise- I really believe he was as befuddled as those of us in the stands as to why nothing was clicking.  But after a week of assessment, rest and re-grouping at the hands of IU in Ass. Hall, things changed, as J detailed yesterday.

We had some people ask why we haven't made any predictions about the tourney...I'll be honest- I've never been one to make predictions about the B1G tourney.  Another honest moment- I don't like conference tournaments too much.  Sure, they're fun to watch, especially as teams, horrible teams, like Liberty punch their ticket and others knock you on your arse with unexpected outcomes...but for Purdue fans, the tournament that starts this Thursday hasn't been a ton of fun for us as fans. The championship of 2010 was fun, but that team was supposed to do big things...then lived up to their billing in the BT tourney.  The committee shortly after gave the 27-5 Boilers a four seed.  So forgive me if I don't care too much for the whole conference tourney thing.

This tournament is a different animal than what we've seen the last few seasons...Purdue is expected to win just one game...expectations are low...the pressure is off.  Hopefully, fans and the league in general are all sleeping on one of Matty's worst teams (on paper); but I doubt it.  If they've checked the RPI recently, they might literally miss Purdue...they're waaaaaaaay down the list at 114.

But a few media outlets like the Boilers as a darkhorse; so do I. So let's dream for a moment...

Purdue plays Nebraska in the first game.  The Cornhuskers' biggest win of the season, by far, was that over the enigmatic, Senior-laden Golden Gophers...But that game seemed like a force of nature more than a game, and Goldy just happened to be in the way of a special night. Minnesota has struggled mightily in the second half of the season while Nebraska has fought to get better...so on Senior night, and in the final game in Nebraska's old arena, the Cornhuskers got the W. Sadly for the 'Huskers, the Devaney Center won't travel with them to Chicago...nor will many of their fans. All of their decent wins came in front of a friendly crowd.  A half-empty NBA arena won't be as welcoming, nor will the Boilers.  Without anyone to guard him but a rotund Brazilian, Hammons gets silly and TJohn stays hot.

#7 Purdue 74

#10 Nebraska 59

Next up, the white hottttttt, well-rested Bucknuts play the Boilers.

Byrdy Dancing?

The last time these two met, Ohio State seemed to toy with Purdue...kinda like a bigger kid on the playground, they just wouldn't let Purdue get closer than seven points.  Purdue couldn't stop Thomas' quick release jumper, and let him get comfortable way too often...and Aaron Craft's blush was just right that night as the carrying machine batted RonJohn's hand away and scored 15.  I think both of those guys will still be a tough match-up...and Matta has them dialed in, but they're due for an unexpected loss...and Purdue believes things will be different this time because they are a different team.  RayDay matches Thomas' output, Hammons gets a double double and adds 5 blocks all while Byrd makes it rain in the United Center.

#7 Purdue 69

#2 aOSU 66

The unlikable combo of thuggy size (not quite sure what that is) and a whiny politician of a coach lead Sparty into the semis to play the Boilers next. Hot shooting Gary Harris helped the Spartans slide past Iowa...and Izzo has dominated Purdue of late, both on the court and on the recruiting trail.  The streak ends in Chicago. TJohn plays his best defensive game of the year, cools down Harris while Marcius beats MSU at their own game and muscles Purdue to the next round...TJohn and RonJon seal it with FTs down the stretch (it's my dream, I can write it however I'd like).

#7 Purdue  71

#3 MSU 67

At four wins, Purdue is on their longest winning streak of the season...I guess it's not really hard to believe when you look at the record, but Purdue, at this point in the dream sequence would be in unchartered water and feeling pretty confident. But ahead lies the big, ugly forehead gorilla of the conference, IU.

IU was either #1 in the nation or in the top-5 for the whole dang year.  Not one, but two all-conference/National POY finalist players led IU as the supporting cast was also damned good.  Purdue barely showed a pulse versus IU as we all know too well; if it wasn't for Hammons 30 point game in the first "contest", it'd be tough to remember if any Purdue players even laced them up to play their rivals.

Nobody puts Rayby
in the corner.

The stats and not-too-distant past would tell us this one is a cakewalk for IU...but in the ethereal land where I sleep, things have changed since mid-February.

Byrd/TJohn combine for a masterpiece from long distance as Purdue knocks IU out of the number 1 overall seed for the dance...Sheehey's dunk to win clanks off of the back of the rim as time expires.

#7 Purdue 77

#1 IU 76

If this dream scenario was to play out, Purdue would probably be a 12 seed playing in the so-called first round (play-in round), playing a team like Iona or Virginia.  They'd be 19-16, and miraculously would have salvaged a season made for the junk heap into one that would be remembered and savored for a legendary run.

Purdue has an improbable road ahead of them starting Thursday at 6:30pm...just to get to the NIT.  To get above .500, Purdue must beat the tenth-best team in the nation.

To go to the dance, they'll have to beat #8 and #3 (or possibly #5) as well.  They'll have to best three of the nation's best players along with two of the conference's best Freshman...they'll have to beat three top-10 teams in a four day period, two of the conference's best coaches in March, an up-and comer and a fraud cheerleader great motivator.

It's not impossible...but it's damned close.  It truly would be something that I'd have a hard time believing was anything but a dream following a nightmarish season (at times).

By finishing the regular season the way they did, Purdue gave fans, and more importantly, themselves, a reason to hope for what's on the horizon...if they could even make some noise in the tournament, it might help me enjoy the big dance a bit more than I feel like I will at this point.  I love this time of year, but as much as I love it, I hate Purdue not being a real part of it.

There's typically a surprise story that grabs the attention of the nation during the conference tourneys...The 20 loss Liberty Flames might be the worst team to ever enter the NCAA tournament, but much of the nation doesn't care about this team that will probably be knocked out before 3/21 even arrives. But if Purdue waltzed through this tournament to earn its way to the ball, our Boilers might be the most-unlikely entrant in a long, long time.

Has a switch truly been flipped from mediocre-also-ran to world-beater? One can dream.

What Makes a Team Great?

I've spent way too much time analyzing this year's Purdue squad...why they seem to be getting worse since early January, why this many 4-star players play like a 2-star team and why they simply don't compete at times.

I think the answer to this question has a ton of facets...but have said it before, continuity is the very base of all of team's problems.

All that said the ripple effects of one player's effect on the program have been costly and I'll tell you why.

A few years ago, when Kelsey Barlow was being recruited to Purdue, I went to watch him play to get a first-hand account of the player.  At that point, I didn't understand his recruitment.  He played lazy basketball...he didn't move on offense, was inconsistent on defense and didn't seem to use his length and athleticism effectively-enough on that level. But Painter liked the guy. He probably liked his ability to get under other people's skin...Ironically, that's part of the reason he's no longer on Purdue's team.

At BS, we liked that too...but just as Barlow pissed off IU fans with his antics his Freshman year, Barlow pissed off his teammates at Purdue. If you read him on Twitter, it's tough to tell at times if he's an evil genius, a troubled individual or just an immature kid...might be a little of each.  There's no doubt Barlow could have been very good (if not great) for Purdue had he developed differently...but hypotheticals don't matter...things are what they are.  Barlow didn't buy into Painter's philosophy and never was a fit.

After a few troubled years, Barlow was officially kicked off of the team one year ago this week. The void he left sent Painter scrambling to find another point guard to fill the void...one which he couldn't fill in time.  A few Seniors who were looking to transfer for their final year of eligibility didn't pan out...and this year, Purdue has had one true Freshman PG on the roster and a bunch of shooting guards in disguise trying to direct an offense that has no direction.

How important would another Senior been, especially a versatile, athletic point guard, been on this year's Purdue team? We don't really need to answer that question, do we?

But, Painter simply had to do what he did last winter.  The fallout from the tough decision left Barlow in transition as he sat out a year...and Purdue's program in transition as it had no identity.

Ronnie Johnson leads all Freshman in the nation in assists...that's a pretty good stat. Sure, he has a ton of turnovers and shoots at the wrong times...but he's a Freshman...one surrounded by an incomplete, discombobulated team.

Barlow's loss was and is important...but Barlow's dismissal was overdue. Painter couldn't have had a captain that continued to abandon the team when he was needed most...and more importantly, couldn't have a Senior creating disciples with the same philosophy.  The long-term effects of leaving a player, ANY player, on the roster for four years who is divisive, can kill a program.

The recruitment, signing and subsequent abridged career of one player was/is important...not because that guy was a super star, but because timing is everything.  Purdue's program needs to know what defines it as it moves forward. And everyone who is part of the program needs to be on-board with that definition.

So what makes a team great...or even good?
On paper, the team from '07/'08 was OK...but in three dimensions, they were pretty darned good.  Why?

Here are some things that I believe make teams great.  Nothing earth shattering...and I'm no rocket surgeon...these are just a few thoughts.

DEVELOPMENT
Hard work in the off-season makes a player better and helps build chemistry as everyone focuses on the same goal.

LEADERSHIP
Having players that define the team in positions of earned respect go a long way in making a team a force.  Whose team is it?  The answer to that question says a lot about a team.

BUYING IN
Do players believe the coaches plans and vision for the program? Are they executing these plans, not just in games, but during practice and off the court? Players need to feel like they're fortunate to be playing where they are, with whom they are, right now.

TALENT
Elite talent obviously covers up a ton of problems...but having talented people in the right places; in key areas, makes everyone else better.

CONTINUITY
Do the parts mesh? Much of chemistry is about time together- players that have played together and have been together become cohesive.  Teams that don't have history often aren't teams at all (what we've seen this year from Purdue).  Teams that have great continuity believe in the guy next to them and are willing to play hard for/with him.

________________________________

Look at the really-good teams in the nation...and those that are on the other side of the coin.  Teams like UNC and Kentucky have talent, but have a dearth of leadership...so they have no identity.  Leadership doesn't have to come from Juniors/Seniors (but that helps)...but it has to come from someplace; and a coach isn't enough.  Coaches need to put leaders in the position to succeed to help them be a focal point for the guys that need to develop.

Sorry...you probably didn't think you were coming to a motivational site, but this stuff has been rattling around my head for a bit and I wanted to put it down someplace.

Boilermaker Basketball: Freshmen Drive the Train

The Purdue Boilermakers faced the Penn State Nittany Lions who were riding a 13 game conference losing streak tonight at The Bryce Jordan Library Center.  The Boilermakers were able to pull off a victory after a strong second half effort winning 58 to 49. If you didn't watch the game you would say, a nine point win to Penn State? How is that a strong second half?

Well in the first half, our Boilermakers were down 9 with 5 minutes to play but after a strong last three minutes, the Boilers were able to get on a roll at the end of the half and carried that through half-time to take over the game.  Let's make one thing clear though, this Penn State team is AWFUL. They really miss Frazier and would be a completely different team with him.

The highlight of the night was the performance of the Boilermaker freshman.  The group of Ronnie Johnson, Donnie Hale, Raphael Davis and A.J. Hammons were a combined 54 percent from the field and amounted for 49 of the Boilers 58 points, pretty impressive.  Hale had a double double off the bench and Hammons had one as well.  Pretty impressive for a rather low scoring game.

Ronnie Johnson was impressive tonight. At times he looked unstoppable driving even going right a lot of the time, something we didn't see a lot out of him at the beginning of the season, and with only one turnover some progress is being made.  The free throw shot still needs some improvement.  At the end of the game he missed five in a row, ouch.

Davis had just a solid performance tonight but nothing special. He took a limited amount of shots and shot 50 percent from the field.

One thing that was concerning was the lack of 3-point offense again.  Once again the team was blanked again from beyond the arc for the second time this season.  DJ struggled and even looked hesitant in the second half.  Good news for the Boilermakers, Penn State wasn't good enough to capitalize.

DJ and TJ were still MIA tonight.  A combined 3-18 is impressive for two upperclassmen.  It is unacceptable really.  These two are what this team is missing right now.  I understand that you cannot be hot every night, but that is just awful.  Terone was taking bad shots and DJ just wasn't hitting good attempts, but hopefully they will start to click soon.

Overall it was good to see the Boilermakers battle back and get a victory, even if they were playing an awful team.

Here are a few of the Penn State stats that stick out, 19-62 from the field and 2-20 from beyond the arc. That says it all right there.  I didn't know if there was a worse shooting team in the conference than the Boilers, but Penn State takes that one, hands down.

A road victory isn't the easiest thing to come by in the Big Ten and it's nice to come out and get a win tonight, especially after such an awful week.  Now that the paper lions are in the record book it's time to refocus onto the Spartans coming into town on Saturday.  If you are doing nothing, you might as well get out to Mackey for this one, even if it's for no other reason than giving Brandon Dawson hell.

Choo Choo Muthas.