I was just watching the WVA - Baylor game and seeing coach Huggins, I had an irrelevant thought.

If you remember the TV show "Two and a Half Men" and think about the kid on the show, "Jake", to me, I thought that Jake would look just like Huggins, when he got to that age.

Does anyone else see that?

Slow work day, so I decided to wander over the IU Free Board so everyone does not have to and I found one of the hot questions in couple threads was whether the IU fans/students should or will storm the court after they beat us on Thursday. This leads me to two questions.
1. Could you imagine storming the court in Mackey after defeating little brother IU?
2. When was the last time(if ever) Purdue fans stormed the court in Mackey?

Didn’t realize ZE wasn’t the tallest player in college basketball. Sharp is 7’5” and plays for WKU.

maybe we could get her m to WLaf for his Sr year.

apologies if already discussed, but I was surprised by the sequence with he dirty play by Omar Payne (the Flagrant foul and technical).

According to the rules, in short a F1 is 2 FT, and a F2 is 2 FT with player ejection.

Payne was hit with a F1 and Technical on the same sequence, yet was permitted to remain in the game.

Sounds like a 'loophole' (?) in the rules, but he really should have been ejected.

FS1 - Georgetown at Providence 5pm This stinks, because we more than likely will miss the start of the game...

Now that football is over Coach Painter should ask Payne Dunham to join the team. He would just sit at the end of the bench and never really come in the game, unless let's say there is a Omar Payne on the other team. Payne Durham would simply apply a little therapy. A little thump therapy! So what if he get kicked out, better than a starter picking up a foul. We need an enforcer. Let Omar Payne pick on someone his own size. It's only fair.

Anyone know where to get one or have one they are willing to part with?

Boilermaker Statue

stipend.info/purdue

Pretty cool take on NIL. Would be awesome for young athletes. The costs are super reasonable as well and it supports the student athletes.

Hope we cleaned up the locker rooms well after they were here. Further hope it doesn’t become a problem when the men go down there on Wednesday/Thursday.

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Always interesting to compare how teams like to score.

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Illinois may be the second best team in the big ten to us. I’d rather play wisconsin again than Illinois. They lost to Marquette in a close one with Cockburn out, bad loss vs Cincy, tough game against #3 Arizona, and has played really good even with curbelo out. This may be our biggest win as a loss for Illinois might be more important than a win for us. I’d rather beat Illinois on the road than Rutgers for that reason.

He is a native of Columbia, Mo. Not sure who Purdue is now targeting among portal RBs.

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These videos were on his twitter feed in
late Dec & early Jan. so you may have
already seen them.

Berg working on 3's. Love the ball return.
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...more 3's & drives...
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Should be a monster once they get him in the weight room.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A few final musings from No. 4 Purdue's 96-88 double-overtime win at No. 17 Illinois, because I know how you like musings.

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• I think this was a big day for Zach Edey in terms of very important people taking notice of him. That said, everyone already knew what he could do in the low post, but he proved his toughness today and the way he's been running the floor, he's shown a real motor and competitive streak.

• I've told you before that Purdue's had teams full of nice kids that didn't always raise their competitive levels against the brashest, mouthiest and dirtiest teams out there. Today was a positive step.

These were grown men Purdue beat today on their home floor, grown men who'd won 20 of their last 21 Big Ten games, with two 23-year-olds in the backcourt, a bunch of transfers, and the freaking Iron Giant at the rim.

Sasha Stefanovic gets hit in the face by a dude with a history and turns around and beats Illinois with threes.

Big moment for Purdue beyond just the win, IMO. I do think Illinois was a hump they had to get over, and they did it today. Four or five times, actually.

• I will repeat: If Trevion Williams just shoots his normal percentage on high-percentage shots in the second half, this game never gets to OT. No real rhyme or reason to a lot of those shots he missed. Just one of those nights, I guess. Purdue got what it wanted on offense.

• I guess Sasha Stefanovic can shoot on the road, huh? RIP to that tired story.

• Purdue doesn't win this game without Eric Hunter. Big moment for him as part of a season that hasn't been a straight line. He's outplayed Isaiah Thompson a few games in a row now. I don't know if it matters who starts and you don't f*** with a winning streak (Credit: Crash Davis), but maybe that merits some thought now.

• This messaging from Matt Painter about how hard it is to win needs to resonate now that Purdue's winning, because the Boilermakers are caught back up now, and can't afford to screw around and step on any more land mines.

• Keeping Illinois off the offensive glass was a monumental task for Purdue, and they did it. You could see Purdue tractor-beaming to blockouts. Need to keep it up.

• Good minutes from Brandon Newman again.

• Worst take of the day: Me thinking Andre Curbelo would hurt Illinois more than he'd help. Eh, you win some, you lose some.

Thanks for reading, everybody, and have a good night.

Largest difference between free throw attempts per game and opponent free throw attempts per game, since 2015:

Cryin' Illini and 15 (yes, 15) pages of crying about the refs.

And it is almost exclusively crying about the refs. They are taking screen grabs and everything. It's ridiculous. Of course, there's no mention of their uncalled fouls.

Oh, but it does include a post where someone calls Edey "Ming." So, all in all, it's a great look for the Illini fans.

I haven't had a chance to read the Board much since the game, so I don't know if this has already been brought up, but I did see someone bring it up during the in-game discussion, and I completely agree w/ him. Why did Purdue keep going over the screen defending Curbelo? That kid is a terrible shooter that relies on his ability to drive, dish and finish at or near the hoop. Purdue played right into that the entire 2nd half by going over the top on screens.

Lots of posts during and after this game from Illinois fans. Generally, they were realistic about their own team's faults, grudgingly complimentary of Purdue players, and death and plague wished on the officials. Overall, I was surprised regarding the lack of inflammatory posts about Purdue, Painter, and our team. They genuinely seemed to respect us. The officials, on the other hand, Holy Shit!!!

I'm betting we see a little Curbelo sprinkled in throughout the game as a change of pace.

Let's blow them out so we can see Curbelo play.

How about a little Curbello helps us blow them out!!

An appearance by Curbelo with some positive minutes on national TV could push us toward the #1 overall seed!

We need Curbelo back not only for his value as an excellent basketball player, but also for his swagger and overall theatrical value for the benefit of national audiences.

Curbelo back is monumental. I don't care how many minutes he plays. I can't wait for him to annoy all of us with some insane turnover on a pass attempt, followed by blowing our collective minds with an assist no one else could possibly see!

What did we do to get these refs game in and game out?

Because the short walk to the Hall across St. Mary's Road from the I Hotel involves negotiating just about as much traffic as Boroski can handle without completely depleting his cognitive faculties for the week.

If it's any consolation, my son is a Purdue alum and a huge Purdue fan and he hates Borowski & co. as much as we do. This officiating helps no one, but does increase the randomness of the final result.

I've always had respect for Purdue and its program, whereas I've had nothing but enmity for IU over the years. And I really like Mackey Arena. It's a great venue.

What is best in life? TO CRUSH YOU ENEMIES, SEE THEM DRIVEN BEFORE YOU, AND TO HEAR THE LAMENTATION OF THEIR WOMEN. Okay. Let's do that to Purdon't.

Curbelo back, nationally televised game against a top 10 (maybe top 5 by game time) team while we sit alone at the top of the Big 10. LFG!!! I hope everyone is savoring the hell out of this.

If Plummer and Frazier hit their 3's, we've got this.

OMG BARDO WEARING INDIANA CRIMSON TIE!!! HE HATES ILLINOIS!

He said something good about Purdon’t - that proves it!

Edey is a problem. His length is really bothering Kofi.

Looking like one of our typical slow starts.

CURBELO IS ENTERING THE GAME!

So that's a foul on Slim Jake, but all the busting and hip-checking on Kofi and Payne aren't??? These refs.....

Sadly, if Kofi cannot find out how to make reasonable attempts to score, Purdue will control the play all night. Perimeter shooters simply must hit shots. They become much more dangerous on offense with Edey on the bench, which is scary.

Purdue playing physical. Literally punching us in the mouth. Ok, it was an elbow from Edey, but still. Gotta be tough mentally and physically.

This is the most physical game I have seen since MSU last year. Wow.

Edey is significantly better than last year. Just having him in the paint has guys intimidated. Grandison got the first one stuffed, then the next two he rushed and was short. Kofi is outmatched vs Edey. Better matchup when Williams comes in.

Wow, Grandison is missing a lot of shots he is 1 for 4 and Plummer is 0 for 3 as a team we are shooting 2 of 10, the Boilers are 5 of 8 it is early hope we get into our groove.

Come on Curb Appeal, get that ball moving!

This Purdue team has some weapons.

No fouls on Purdue 8.5 minutes in—sounds about right.

This is like a home game for Purdue. Ridiculous.

I haven't seen anything this bad since Saturday NW at MSU. So yes, it's getting to the point of serious debate.

Gonna be tough to win this rebounding battle....8-7 PU now.

Don't like this Edey guy.

Edey is eating us alive.

Kofi would have 4 fouls already if he was banging like Edey.

Edey probably gonna regret talking so much.

If I'm Purdue, I don't have a single possession without Edey getting a touch down low.

How does PU have 0 fouls more than 10 minutes into this game?

Not often you see Kofi get his shot blocked up top. Those against him are normally gotten as he goes up.

TRENT FOR THE LEAD!

Payne shutting down Trayvion.

We are so deep. I mean blue water deep.

I love going on ten 0 runs. Let's do that more often. The crowd has been utterly incredible so far. Lets GO ILLINI!!

DJ bald head was saying “I saw it” to Williams right before the break. I’m sure he did. Screw that guy.

Actually thinking it's close to a Flagrant 1 after the behind the basket angle.

Looked like Stepanovich made the first move to me, but the 2nd guy always gets called for it.

Saw Stef take a swing at Payne... nothing else.

Oh, for God’s sake! Kofi gets worse contact every possession.

We never, ever seem to get home floor advantage with the zeebs.

11 straight for Purdue!

Edey is unstoppable.

I could be unstoppable if I never got called for a foul.

Purdue is GOOD good.

Well, it is not a 2022 Illinois basketball game without a 12-15 pt. opponent run to end a half.

We need to start hitting threes because it the only way we’re going to neutralize Edey getting two every time he touches the ball.

Is the arm bar shove to make room for a shot legal? Seems PU players are doing it a lot.

Not sure if Purdue is really good....but Edey and Williams give them something that no one has ever seen. They still weave in some weak play, but when they use Edey properly, they are a really tough beat. Pretty sure the Illini are going to be down 15 or more at halftime.

Big difference with the movement of Purdue on offense vs. our perimeter passing game.

Purdue owning our board.

Who put the lid on our basket?

There’s cold and then there’s dry ice!

Well, some work to do at halftime and then after.

Do we even practice the press? That’s the one thing Purdue can’t break.

That Payne technical is going to haunt me all day.

Okay. So what did everyone else see for the altercation against Payne. And company. I saw the shine from syauajovich. That was it!!! Anyone else see something different?!? Please open my eyes.

Yet another poor shooting game. This is how we've been letting lesser teams hang around, but Purdue isn't a lesser team.

No, Edey and Williams have haunted us.

I hate to say it, but Kofi hasn't held his own.

31% fg, down by 5 on rebs...Kofi's body language has been terrible...would like to see a zone for a bit.

Some of y’all acting like if 3 more shots didn’t fall for us we wouldn’t be saying “wow this is one of the best college basketball games between the 2 best teams in the B1G…” I think we at least take a lead in the 2nd half. TBD if we can win…

What’s black and white with red all over?......Underwood dealing with the Zebra’s. Gotta play though it, and trust the System.

Plummer seems to be hot or cold - never any in-between.

This goes for our team. And it is exactly why we miss Ayo so much. He was incredible at settling us down, and getting right to the rim when we needed a big bucket or needed to extinguish a run. We have a habit of getting flustered this year and when that happens we often settle for mid range jump shots or contested 3's.

I did underestimate Edey significantly. He's the best player on the floor and it's not close. This difference between when he's in the game vs out of the game is startling.

Well, Kofi got his 4th!

2 fouls in a minute on Kofi. Thanks, B1G officiating cabal.

If you had Kofi with 4 fouls with 17 minutes left in the second half...please come forward and collect your prize.

Dumb play by Kofi, to be honest. When you have 3 this early, you can't be that aggressive.

Well, he probably thought he only had three seeing as he was called for a ridiculous third foul.

Throw them (el)bows, BBV. Topple the tree!

Let’s look at the bright side. Now we get to see how we’ll do against a top 10 team with Kofi on the bench.

The eternal optimist in me says maybe without Kofi on the floor, a smaller, quicker more athletic lineup can cause some havoc.

The refs put sand in the Vaseline as they’re putting it to us like I’ve never seen. We have 11 PF to their 6, and a couple have been beyond atrocious.

Stefanovic is garbage!

Cut it from 11 to 6 in 5 minutes. Even with the Kofi 2 fouls call on him.....just sayin.

We will lose this game because they are blatantly calling the game tighter for Kofi than Edey and Williams. If you don't think that is so...I don't know what to tell you. At one point in the first half it was 10-2 FT's and 8-3 fouls against. It's blatantly obvious with these two refs. Period.

Honestly, with all due respect to Kofi, if the smaller, more agile unit can get this close....Kofi needs to sit. The game turns into a half court slugfest when he's in and that's clearly advantage Purdue.

Purdue has 6 fouls for the entire game so far.

F*** this 5 on 8 garbage. So infuriating!

“First foul of the half on Purdue” took 6.5 minutes this half and 8.5 the first half. Dan, you sure we can’t use expletives?

Man up, guys. We are getting pushed around here. I don't care what the refs are or are not calling.

They're calling every "iffy" foul against Illinois and letting them go against the Boilers.

Purdue is in the bonus with 12 minutes left...

2 pt game. Exceptional response coming out of the half from this team. This is the Curbelo of last year.

Edey stuffs BBV. Refs call the 5th foul on Kofi.

Bardo is a Purdue homer... Edey foul, cmon...

Longtime Bardo fan but he’s full of it if he thinks that was a legit block. Got him with body and hacked him. Total BS!

When did they do away with the 3 second violation? Edey camping out in the lane for days. Wtf?

Purdue is good. They’re taking a ton of punches and keep playing. I had no idea Edey was this good.

Purdue loves to fold down the stretch. Keep fighting boys!!

#4 in country..... They are playing for their B1G conf champ lives. Tough to match their fire.

Kofi just looks overly frenetic. I feel like he's rushing because he feels he's got something to prove to scouts or something. The situation is getting the better of him as much or more so than Purdue is.

Wish Stefanovic was on our team.

When did Bardo become a Purdue shilll????

We are fighting like hell. You love to see it.

Verdonk playing like a animal!

BBV is earning himself some future playing time with his effort today.

Regardless of the outcome, I couldn't be prouder of this teams effort today. On a day when shots haven't really fallen, man have we battled!

Down 4 at the under 4.

Williams carries that ball with each dribble when backing down BBV.

BBV schooling them on D. And zero whatsoever help from the stripes. This is an asterisk game for certain if we come up short.

Man, Kofi is just off in all areas of the game right now. Flustered, it seems.

Stefanovich killing us!

Sasha and his newborn hair drive me nuts!

Stefanodic has moved up to #2 most punchable face in the B1G, behind only Mulcahey!

We're going to need to watch Stefana-whoever from 3 here.

Imagine saying this team wouldn't be better with Belo. COME ON NOW!

All things considered with foul trouble and everything else, being down 2 w/ 0:26.7 to go is remarkable.

WHAT A PLAY!

Entitlement's a hell of a drug!

OVERTIME!!! LET'S !!!!ING GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This game is ours. I couldn't feel better about it.

5th foul on Kofi!

I'm not sure I want my 4 foul best player even attempting to draw a charge whether that's a good call or not.

Listen. If it's gonna be a foul no matter what, at least make it a hard one. A basketball play, but still a hard foul

Ivey stole Kofi’s halo

Ivey's going all Ayo on us.

I'm glad Plummer made that, but F&CKING DUNK THE BALL!

Lol. BBV shrinking violet under our rim.

Ivey being treated like he's James Harden.

Ivey stole Kofi’s halo.

For having high level balance, Ivey falls down a lot. He's a walking flop warning.

Verdonk player of the game.

The last two games are concrete evidence that Kofi can transfer his powers as he walks to the bench.

All Curbelo here. Live by the sword, die by the sword.

DOUBLE OT!!!

I swear to god Curbelo, you are going to make my heart stop!

Where's my heart pills?

I think we're moving up in the polls next week, no matter how this ends.

Instant classic. The BELO and big Belgian show.

No wonder we had to start at 11:00 a.m.!!!! Double OT!

This balding dude has absolutely killed us today.

Sasha was the one guy that worried me the most...he can score 20 in about 5 min. and has no conscience.

Heavyweight bout exchanging sledge hammer blows. No one going down but a lot of blood.

This Purdue team just has so many weapons. And that makes them very hard to defend.

I agree. I don’t get how we can be in double overtime and have a team with only 7 fouls (Purdue)…

Purdue runs offensive plays. We dribble and chuck it.

We played a good game whichever way it ends. Proud fan.

Bad time to miss the FTs. Great team fight. On to the next one.

Illinois > Purdue. Purdue+Bo+DJ Bald refs = Illinois. Our bigs got absolutely jobbed. At home. We already won an evenly called game. I'll die on this hill.

Ivey has as many FT attempts as our whole team!

Purdue is a good team and made some clutch shots. That Stefanovic was irritatingly terrific.

Can't recall a home game so poorly officiated. Edey got All-American treatment.

I hate when a classic game ends in this fashion.

All things considered, I'm happy with where this team is. I'd like to catch Purdue in an evenly called game.

Well lets beat them at their place. We just need to bring this fire every game from this point out.

Best game of big ten and college hoops by far. So proud of the boys for fighting and never laying their head. This loss will go a long ways...

That was an incredible showing. I've said enough about the officiating in my text messages today, so I'll spare you all, but we're the best team in the league and proved it today.

What a fantastic game to watch. Verdonk was terrific and for those who said we don’t need Curbelo? He was fantastic.

This game is legendary....so much that so many will never understand...but an all time epic never seen before and maybe never again.

In light of the discussion about Shep leaving, thought this was funny. It’s all a game to justify paying more for coaches you want.

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I just watched the replay and Payne's elbow had the potential to really mess up Sasha. I don't think it was full force but that kinda stuff can't be tolerated.

I'm not a hoops guru but today confirmed for me so goes Edey, so goes this team. He's the straw that stirs this drink. Tip my cap to Sasha, too. TW had a strong stat line and Hunter too. Huge huge huge W. Take that Kofi.

Played IMG yesterday on espn. I recorded it, but have yet to watch. I know DGL did not start as he is just a junior, and their team is crazy loaded. Anyone have any insight into how he played or how much?