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Illinois and UCLA look to be the early favorites for BT

Illinois has the easiest road schedule, they play the 4 lowest ranked teams on the road (Washington, Minnesota, Rutgers and Nebraska).
UCLA plays 3 (Washington, Rutgers and Nebraska), has already won at Oregon! Has the best defense in the BT.
My top 5:
1. UCLA
2. Oregon
3. Maryland
4. Illinois
5. Purdue (Can they win on the road?) (Washington, Minnesota and Rutgers are must wins)

Doing the impossible

How does this team beat Auburn?

1. Turnovers- They have got to cut these down to 10 or less. When the big 3 turn the ball over we lose. It’s that simple. Take care of the ball and play off of two feet.

2. Get to the line- This was the key for Duke in their win over Auburn. To do this we have to be more aggressive and attack the rim.

3. Three pointers- This was a strength of the team early on. They absolutely need to shoot a good percentage and probably take more than 25 attempts.

4. Embrace the physicality- I don’t think this team is soft but they have to handle the physicality of the game better to hang with a physical team like Auburn. This is where the tough games earlier in the season needs to pay off. Do they adjust?

5. Painter- Coach has to bring his A game Saturday. Auburn is the best team in the country and Paint needs to get this team ready to take on this challenge.

Anybody else or are we just accepting the fact that this game is a loss?

Would love to hear how we ended up at Odom

I'm OK with the hire. I like that he has HC experience in the SEC, so the lights won't be too bright.
Would love to know who Bobo's first call was to? What call was Odom? Did we reach out to Campbell, Mullen, Kelly?

I believe Odom was in the $2M range at UNLV, I suspect we got him for....$5M? Hopefully he brings his staff and any players who can play in the B10.

Purdue Roster Analysis

This will be a work in progress and updated as people provide corrections, transfer situations change, etc. This is where I see our roster for 2025:

Quarterback
Hudson Card
Bennett Meredith
Garyt Odom (F)

This is the current roster. Hudson Card is NOT expected back. Both Browne and Davila seemed interested in coming back and have not been actively traveling to visit other teams. I suspect they want to see who the new OC is. We may be interested in another transfer QB, could it be backup UNLV QB Cameron Friel who could provide some senior leadership? Some amusement of Rickie Collins from LSU after he decommitted from Purdue. Matthew Sluka was mentioned but I expect that bridge burned. How about darkhorse Kaidon Salter who Purdue offered in 2020 and then went to TN, then Liberty. WKU Caden Veltcamp just seems like he could be a possibility too.

Running Back
Devin Mockobee
Jaheim Merriweather
Jaron Thomas (F)
Ziaire Stevens (F)

Most of us have fingers crossed fist team all-conference Jaiden Thomas will come here after the bowl game from UNLV. Devin Green is another player that was part of UNLV's 2024 class that would be welcome here. Strangely there are currently not a lot of RB's in the transfer portal and non seem to jump out at me. Maybe Terion Stewart from Bowling Green, but USC just offered.

Wide Receiver
Ahrmad Branch
Ryne Shackelford
Jesse Watson
Tra'Mar Harris
Shamar Rigby
Donovan Hamilton
Jayden Dixon-Veal
De'Nylon Morrissette
CJ Smith

I do think this will change a bit. No clue if Dixon-Veal wants to try one more time, but he could. We'd all be happy to see Casey Cain come. There are no 2025 players in this class, could we grab 1 or 2 to try to have a balanced group? UNLV had a couple talented WR in their class last year - Damien McDaniel and Kayden McGee. Justin Bowick from Ball State looks great, but hes visiting PSU. Although I have a feeling we will see at least 1 WR come from UNLV and with 8-9 experienced WR this may not be a huge investment

Tight End
George Burhenn
Joe Grimmett (F)

We are really thin here with only George returning. Maybe we see Christian Moore from UNLV but I do think we will have to search high and low for another TE. How about Tyrus Washington from Arkansas? Although Odom and staff likely didnt rub elbows with him at Arkansas, several of his teammates did leave to join Odom at UNLV, maybe they can put in a good word for him.

OLine
Jimmy Liston
Jordan King
Max Parrott
Jaden Bell
John Randle
Rod Green
Jaekwon Bouldin
Baykyne Coly
Joshua Sales
Joey Tanona
Cameron Gorin (F)

Gorin did not sign as our only commit, but seems probable he does. We need some help here. After all-conference LT Jalen St. John recruits Tyrus Washington, he can follow Odom and staff again here and anchor our LT spot, he was first team all-conference. Jack Hasz from UNLV also had some post-season hardware and after another year of eligibility and fill in at Center. Both would likely start day 1 unless Tanona makes the jump we hope him to, but if we have that problem we will move guys around! Other UNLV potentials are backups RG Mason Vicari, OC Graham Keating, LG Austin Boyd, and LT Ed Haynes. There are 5-6 other MAC-caliber non-signed Indiana OLine from 2025, does Vance Vice and Odom make the circuit to Westfield, Carmel, Zionsville, Cathedral to pick up scraps but start that pipeline? How about Bowling Green OT Alex Wolschlagger or WKU Evan Webberley.

Defensive Line
Mo Omonode
Joe Strickland
Jamarion Harkless
Drake Carlson
Demeco Kennedy
Caleb Irving
Jamarius Dinkins
Trey Smith
CJ Madden
Landon Brooks (F)
Rashad Jones (F)

Sherer and Odom run a 4-2-5 defense mostly with 2 MLBs, similar I suppose to what we had except we have 2 safeties over the top and not 1 super deep. I am assuming edge rushers like Sillah, Madden, and Smith will play more traditional ends. Maybe Jamari Payne will decide to stick around. Antonio Doyle Jr. would be a good addition at DE and really want to see Fisher Camac and his porn-stache here from UNLV at end. Odom had a good 2024 recruit in DE Toby Moore. Seems like there are a lot of good options in the portal out there.

Linebackers
Winston Berglund
Owen Davis
Hudson Miller
Parker Meese (F)
Sam Steward (F)

Wow we are so thin here. Odom/Sherer plays mostly 2 MLB, maybe Yanni will come back. Miller is up there as a walk-on... The LB from UNLV are a bit underwhelming but we will be ever grateful if Marsel McDuffie, Charles Correa, and/or Mani Powell come. Also had 2 really talented freshmen from 2024 class in Melvin Laster and Koi Pa'ao'ao (sp). Would be funny if we can get Dasan McCollough from OK to come play closer to daddy and rub it in Indiana but that is a pipe dream. How about Alex Mitchell from Chattenooga? Hes getting offers from the likes of OK State and Wisconsin.

Secondary
Markevious Brown
Antonio Stevens
Luke Williams
Smiley Bradford
Hudauri Hines
DMon Marable
Ty Hudkins
Earl Kulp
Anthony Brown
Nyland Green
Sterling Smith
ViNazz Cobb (F)
Antonio Parker (F)
Zyntreacs Otey (F)

This seems like the position least of need honestly, lots of talent here and good experience. Sherer is expected to play a 3rd CB. Green, Bradford, and M Brown could all be capable starters. It is strange listing Brown but it seemed intentional he protected another year of eligibility and has not entered the transfer portal. Anthony Brown and Antonio Stevens could complete the secondary (I expect some pushback on this!) and Hudkins will have a lot to say about that. Luke WIlliams is talented. Looking at UNLV Tony Grimes entered the portal kinda early, seems questionable. UNLV had a safety in last years class that was athletic and had a good offer list, Tre Fulton. Maybe some of the guys in the portal decide to stick around after all as we may grow this organically since it was not called out as a priority area by Odom, we are talented here, and I don't see any obvious transfers.

Special Teams
LS Nick Levy
PK Spencer Porath

I was impressed how much Odom mentioned kicking in his presser and now I know why. He had a heck of a PK and punter on his team and some expect his Special Teams coach to follow Odom. This could be an area of strength if first team all-conference Caden Chittenden follows him to handle kicking and his punter Marshall Nichols comes too.

Why I don’t think Walters 100% gets fired and why that’s a good thing

He deserves to be fired. There is no excuse for his performance

However Purdue is not an attractive job. It’s a bottom feeder for NIL. That’s just a fact. That doesn’t make Walters good for anyone who has a reading disorder.

Revenue sharing is not finalized. But it will be. Once that happens Purdues TV deal becomes highly relevant from a roster perspective. Right now it’s only relevant for funding the AD. That immediately makes Purdue more attractive than most jobs outside of the big ten and SEC. Is it more attractive than SMU? probably still a no. But they have big time oil money.

So, would you rather make the hire from a very so so group of coaches? Or would you rather wait a year and make the hire when really good coaches want to be your coach?

All that said, again, in case you have a mental disorder, if they fire him at 11:30 I’ll be fine.

My Weekly CBB Top 25

Going into week 3.. and yes, I post before the AP weekly and never cheat off them.

The Bank Shot Podcast College Basketball Top 25: Week 3

1. Kansas Jayhawks(1) 4-0
2. Gonzaga Bulldogs(2) 3-0
3. Auburn Tigers(3) 3-0
4. Connecticut Huskies(7) 3-0
5. Kentucky Wildcats(9) 3-0
6. Purdue Boilermakers(11) 3-0
7. Creighton Bluejays(8) 4-0
8. Duke Blue Devils(3) 3-1
9. North Carolina Tar Heels(10) 2-1
10. Alabama Crimson Tide(4) 3-1
11. Iowa State Cyclones(12) 2-0
12. Tennessee Volunteers(13) 4-0
13. Houston Cougars(14) 2-1
14. Rutgers Scarlet Knights(15) 4-0
15. Indiana Hoosiers(18) 3-0
16. Illinois Fighting Illini(16) 2-0
17. Wisconsin Badgers(NR) 4-0
18. Arizona Wildcats(6) 2-1
19. Marquette Golden Eagles(20) 3-0
20. Florida Gators(22) 4-0
21. UCF Knights(21) 3-0
22. Cincinnati Bearcats(23) 3-0
23. St. Johns Red Storm(NR) 4-0
24. Texas A&M Aggies(NR) 3-1
25. Baylor Bears(24) 3-1

On The Edge: Arkansas, Ole Miss, Texas Tech, Iowa, Xavier, Oregon, Miami(FL), Maryland, Memphis, Dayton, Ohio State, Michigan State

Out: (17)Ohio State, (19)Michigan State, (25)Arkansas
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