2016-17 Predictions/Expectations

[BoilerBiker]

now that we are seeing more preseason rankings, what are your predictions and expectations for next year?
(barring injuries, suspensions, etc)

ranking - top 10 most of the year (min top 20)
big ten - win big ten reg season (min compete for title, finish top 2-3)
ncaa tourney - elite 8 (min sweet 16)

 

[punaj]

If Carsen plays like we hope he will, we finally have that dynamic guard we've been missing. Dakota and Cline look to be shooting better and are a year more mature. And lastly we have one of the best front courts in the land.

I think top 10 all season is doable and winning the big ten is also doable, yet a bit tougher. Wisc and MSU will be good too.

The NCAA is a crapshoot but given this team, and a high seed, I think we have a legit chance at a final four. I was a senior when Cardinal's team lost in the elite 8 to Wisc (for a third time that year I think). I'd love to see us break through that hurdle this year.

 

[cprh9u]

Top 10 early, 20-25 once we get into B1G season. Make NCAA as a 6-7 seed, win 1 game and lose in round of 32.

 

[asby]

I think it comes down to Hass and how many minutes he is able to play. He is a big guy that could dominate the paint...But if he gets those stupid fouls called on him . I am not really sold on Taylor being able to stay healthy... But if we can get 25-30 out of Hass this team could be good

 

[New Pal Boiler]

I think it comes down to Hass and how many minutes he is able to play. He is a big guy that could dominate the paint...But if he gets those stupid fouls called on him . I am not really sold on Taylor being able to stay healthy... But if we can get 25-30 out of Hass this team could be good

I think we go small when Haas is out. Move biggie to the 5, Vince or BS to the 4, cline or Dakota to the 3, etc.

 

[StickPurdue]

I think it comes down to Hass and how many minutes he is able to play. He is a big guy that could dominate the paint...But if he gets those stupid fouls called on him . I am not really sold on Taylor being able to stay healthy... But if we can get 25-30 out of Hass this team could be good

I think Purdue would be better served with Biggie at the 5, Edwards at the 4, Mathias or Smotherman at the 3, c Edwards or Cline at the 2, and PJ or spike at the 1. They would be smaller and faster and able to score in droves. It would be a lineup that would be able to deal with faster teams that press. Haas is a great player, but Painter has to be able to adapt to what the other team is doing. Painter didn't seem willing to pull out his 7 footers when he should have. Now that he only has one, maybe being forced to pull his 7 footer at times will be a good thing. Only time will tell, but I am really excited for this years team. We will have more offensive fire power for sure, which should help come tournament time. If Purdue gets into conference play with only 1-2 losses, they will be set up to do something really special.

 

[MJ-79Boiler]

VERY hard to predict, since it's predicated on man-to-man defense. If we can keep people out of the paint, I'd say sweet 16 . . .with a chance for more.

If we can't, . . I think we finally get past 1st round of NCAAs, but . . that's it.

 

[PU52Chevy]

Hmm not sure yet since I haven't seen all the pieces together yet.

I will go out on a limp and say we stay in the Top 25 all year even though we play a tough pre-conference schedule and then tough Big Ten Schedule.

I think we finish top 3 in Big Ten for sure (And win it possibly) and we go to Sweet 16 for sure (but I see final 8 and Final 4 as possibilities).

Once I get to see them play a little I can be more precise...but will be a great team to watch for sure and Boiler Up!

 

[tjreese]

I think Purdue would be better served with Biggie at the 5, Edwards at the 4, Mathias or Smotherman at the 3, c Edwards or Cline at the 2, and PJ or spike at the 1. They would be smaller and faster and able to score in droves. It would be a lineup that would be able to deal with faster teams that press. Haas is a great player, but Painter has to be able to adapt to what the other team is doing. Painter didn't seem willing to pull out his 7 footers when he should have. Now that he only has one, maybe being forced to pull his 7 footer at times will be a good thing. Only time will tell, but I am really excited for this years team. We will have more offensive fire power for sure, which should help come tournament time. If Purdue gets into conference play with only 1-2 losses, they will be set up to do something really special.

I think what Matt wants to do is "have other teams adapt" to his play rather than his team adapting to others. That comes down to many things, but offensive effectiveness is huge.

 

[Boilers222]

If Carsen plays like we hope he will, we finally have that dynamic guard we've been missing. Dakota and Cline look to be shooting better and are a year more mature. And lastly we have one of the best front courts in the land.

I think top 10 all season is doable and winning the big ten is also doable, yet a bit tougher. Wisc and MSU will be good too.

The NCAA is a crapshoot but given this team, and a high seed, I think we have a legit chance at a final four. I was a senior when Cardinal's team lost in the elite 8 to Wisc (for a third time that year I think). I'd love to see us break through that hurdle this year.

I actually think Purdue had beaten Wisconsin 2 or 3 times before losing in the elite 8... I know it was the first time they beat us all season. Still irks me!!

 

[nagemj02]

I believe at their best, they can be in the B1G title race, win the B1G Tourney, and win enough NCAA Tournament games to reach a regional semi-final or final. Barring anything bad happening, Carsen Edwards is definitely going to help this team.

I think they're lacking another athletic playmaking guard that they probably need (one in the mold of a Bruce Brown or Jarron Cumberland or one of the transfers that were available last year or this, such as a JC guy like Jaylen Barford or a grad transfer like "Pancake" Thomas) to go further in the NCAA Tournament (all in-game coaching issues aside). P.J. Thompson, Dakota Mathias, and Ryan Cline are or can be good players, but I think it sort of hurts Purdue a little bit in the backcourt in that they probably have one-too-many scholarship guards that are relatively limited athletically (by high DI standards).

The frontcourt (V. Edwards, Swanigan, Haas) should be very good, as anyone that follows college hoops closely is expecting but I would have liked to have seen one more addition there as well this offseason. I'm not sold yet on Jacquil Taylor being a high-quality reserve (he just hasn't proven it yet), so I would have liked to have seen a JC or grad transfer with proven defensive ability (preferably one that is a legit shot-blocker) added to the frontcourt. I believe that would have helped their reserve depth. However, I will say that I do believe that Basil Smotherman will have his best season yet at Purdue. I think he's ready and will be noticeably improved this season.

Boiler Up

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

I actually think Purdue had beaten Wisconsin 2 or 3 times before losing in the elite 8... I know it was the first time they beat us all season. Still irks me!!

Actually, 2000 was a rare occurrence for two conference opponents like Purdue and Wisconsin, meeting FOUR times in a single season......twice in conference regular season play, once in the BTT, and in the NCAA tournament.

They split in the regular season, each winning at home. Wisconsin won the BTT game as well.

Despite that, the West Regional Final game was definitely there for the taking for the team that executed better.....unfortunately, Wisconsin was that team, despite a 8-8 regular season conference record. Not GK's best team (though a good one), but it was his closest miss in getting the Boilers to a Final Four.

Purdue ended up 24-10 with three of those losses to the Badgers.....a warm-up to 2004 in Ross-Ade.......curse you Bucky!

 

[TwinDegrees2]

now that we are seeing more preseason rankings, what are your predictions and expectations for next year?
(barring injuries, suspensions, etc)

ranking - top 10 most of the year (min top 20)
big ten - win big ten reg season (min compete for title, finish top 2-3)
ncaa tourney - elite 8 (min sweet 16)

Tough call on winning the league. MSU, Wisky, Michigan, and my sleeper Northwestern (top five in league) could all contend as could IU. My best guess is Boilers finish fourth in league, ranked in top 25 most of year, fifth seed in tourney, two wins and coming home.

 

[paintball1979]

I predict Sodom, Manley and Battey will be Boilermakers.

 

[Boiler Wolf]

Really worried about our defense this year without AJ as a rim protector. Hopefully Haas has more lateral quickness and Biggie's defense is better too. If Carson is half as good as he played in Spain, and those other things happen, I could see a top 2 or 3 conference finish and a sweet 16 or elite 8. Otherwise, I don't see much different from last year, even a slight regression due to the loss of AJ. 4 to 6 in conference and 1 or 2 tourney wins.

Scoring about the same with improvements from others and addition of Carson offsetting loss of AJ. Defense gives up more points though. If ever there was a year Purdue could figure out how to play a decent zone, this is it.

The team has the kind of players that with Keady, could jell and play better than expected. We haven't seen one of those surprise teams from Painter yet. I hope this is the year.

 

[boilersallthewaynow]

Top 10 early, 20-25 once we get into B1G season. Make NCAA as a 6-7 seed, win 1 game and lose in round of 32.

Yep !

 

[TC4THREE]

I expect us to play hard, have fun, and do our best.

 

[paintball1979]

I expect us to play hard, have fun, and do our best.

Is your favorite flavor vanilla? Now don't get mad, just messin with ya I'm sure they will.

 

[IamBob]

Why expect anything different...

20+ wins
3rd-5th in big 10
1st or 2nd round exit in tourney and probably a picture like this...

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

Is you favorite flavor vanilla? Now don't get mad, just messin with ya I'm sure they will.

With TC, doesn't it have to be "Rocky Road?"

Cookies/Cream on odd days, Choc. Chip Cookie Dough on even days.

 

[TC4THREE]

With TC, doesn't it have to be "Rocky Road?"

Cookies/Cream on odd days, Choc. Chip Cookie Dough on even days.

Butter Pecan please.

 

[nagemj02]

Tough call on winning the league. MSU, Wisky, Michigan, and my sleeper Northwestern (top five in league) could all contend as could IU. My best guess is Boilers finish fourth in league, ranked in top 25 most of year, fifth seed in tourney, two wins and coming home.

I don't know that Northwestern has EVER finished in the top 5 in conference play. I would be shocked but happy for them (unless it came at Purdue's expense) if they finished that high.

 

[nagemj02]

Really worried about our defense this year without AJ as a rim protector. Hopefully Haas has more lateral quickness and Biggie's defense is better too. If Carson is half as good as he played in Spain, and those other things happen, I could see a top 2 or 3 conference finish and a sweet 16 or elite 8. Otherwise, I don't see much different from last year, even a slight regression due to the loss of AJ. 4 to 6 in conference and 1 or 2 tourney wins.

Scoring about the same with improvements from others and addition of Carson offsetting loss of AJ. Defense gives up more points though. If ever there was a year Purdue could figure out how to play a decent zone, this is it.

The team has the kind of players that with Keady, could jell and play better than expected. We haven't seen one of those surprise teams from Painter yet. I hope this is the year.

One would think that Taylor could be a rim protector but he does not seem to have a natural feel for the game (at least at this level), which is probably why he has redshirted and played sparingly in two years' time.