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Any idea who Coach Painter is talking about?

I’m pretty sure Painter has used the word loyalty when talking about the portal and player retention. Perhaps he considers development in the loyalty equation, I don’t know.

I think a good example is Jacobsen. I don’t see Painter recruiting over DJ but I could see him adding a backup for that position. I suppose that would be more of a replacement for Furst but I’m pretty sure DJ is considered the starting five going into next season. But Painter has been pretty clear about retention along with development as being most important to him when discussing the subject.
I mean he absolutely would recruit a better player over DJ. He seems like a nice kid but he's played one game for us. There's no evidence this far that no better player can be found in the next four years and if Painter finds one that fits I'd expect that he'd recruit him
 
1. Smith
2. Cox
3. Loyer
4. TKR
5. DJ

Harris
Colvin
Heide
Burgess

I really don’t see any holes in that returning roster. Room for improvement and development? Absolutely! Holes? Not seeing them.
I see three bigs and I don't think that's enough. So that's a hole.

Injuries and foul trouble happens. I also wouldn't turn down another wing for depth or sixth man material if good enough.
 
There's no evidence this far that no better player can be found
There is no evidence that there is one. Plus with the ability to develop a player and the skills DJ has already shown, it'd be silly to recruit over him and we know it isn't happening unless something dramatic happens with DJ which so far seems doubtful.

Painter knows the team and what he is doing far more than anyone on here can even come close to. He proved that last season when he quite literally played for a National Title.
 
So they had 2 transfers and we had 1. All 3 started and were huge contributors to championship game teams. Ok thanks.
UConn was coming off a NC and probably had a loaded roster coming into last season. But, Hurley still went to the portal and found 2 starters that both came in and produced, leading them to another NC. I'm sure the culture, chemistry, blah, blah, blah is as important to Hurley and UConn as it is to Painter and Purdue (Purdue isn't special in that respect). But, Hurley saw holes in his roster or opportunities to improve/upgrade talent on the team and went out and did it.
 
You said similar things before Painter went to a FF.... so lenny your track record being "right" on things like this is near zero.

We may not make a FF next year, but the roster being built has a glimmer of long term success.
So, are you saying that he should or shouldn't go to the portal this off season? If he does, what do you think the team needs?
 
1. Smith
2. Cox
3. Loyer
4. TKR
5. DJ

Harris
Colvin
Heide
Burgess

I really don’t see any holes in that returning roster. Room for improvement and development? Absolutely! Holes? Not seeing them.
Relying on a 7'4 light weight freshman coming off a major leg injury to immediately enter the starting line up? If the injury lingers, is Burgess now a starter? Who do you put with TKR? Berg?
Cox is solid, but he's upgradable.
 
First - I didn't say all of them. Second, Gillis was a GRAD student transfer much like Jones. WAAAY different that those kids now that can use the portal to become free agents and jump ship at any moment. Those are the guys I am referencing more than typical grad transfers. Third, Culture multure, or chemistry is overrated? Really then why did UK win more championships with Cal there? They had all the talent in the world! They should have been a dynasty like UCLA back in the day no? Hell look at Rutgers this year. Two top 5 projected lottery picks and they are going to be lucky to sniff the tournament.....
Is UConn winning because of culture or talent? It's a combination of both.
Every single coach in the country is going to talk about 'culture' of their program and why it makes them special or unique. Purdue isn't special there.
I'm not saying Painter needs to blow up the roster, but he should definitely be looking at the opportunity to upgrade. And again, he may need to do so because we have some turnover anyway.
 
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My bet is on DJ from the brief time that I saw him play before the injury. I could be wrong, but I don’t think I am. My biggest concern is his lack of bulk, but he appeared capable of making up for it with his length.

I really like the way that Burgess is playing as well. TKR also has the ability to play the 5 when Purdue goes small. Furst will be missed, but I think Purdue should be solid at the 5.
The bigger concern is a 7'4 guy coming off a major leg injury. Leg injury on bigs are always a concern and sometimes never seem to go away. He's probably going to gain 25+ pounds just from the training table and now being able to work out hard.
 
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Relying on a 7'4 light weight freshman coming off a major leg injury to immediately enter the starting line up? If the injury lingers, is Burgess now a starter? Who do you put with TKR? Berg?

Yes. 100% Although DJ has tons of potential, he has only logged 26 minutes as a Boiler. Many here are overly optimistic. While sure, we hope he is next year's all Big Ten frosh of the year. My real hope is he just makes it through a year.

Cox is solid, but he's upgradable.

Wow??

I imagine poachers will come after him. 5 double figure games in last 9. Great defender. Good handles. Trending WAY UP. If we talk about core retention, I can't imagine how Cox isn't part of that?? Got to keep your starters. We now have a big 4, Cox is part of that.

Not only is he essential to our core, he is likely our leading scorer for two years post Braden.
 
Yes. 100% Although DJ has tons of potential, he has only logged 26 minutes as a Boiler. Many here are overly optimistic. While sure, we hope he is next year's all Big Ten frosh of the year. My real hope is he just makes it through a year.



Wow??

I imagine poachers will come after him. 5 double figure games in last 9. Great defender. Good handles. Trending WAY UP. If we talk about core retention, I can't imagine how Cox isn't part of that?? Got to keep your starters. We now have a big 4, Cox is part of that.

Not only is he essential to our core, he is likely our leading scorer for two years post Braden.
I agree on Cox, he's playing well but it's not like he's irreplaceable. He could get NIL, he might want to play closer to home, he might get offered a program where he's the #1 scoring option. We just don't know.
 
Pretty big miss. Sort of like the Decca Records executive who passed on the Beatles. Whoopsies !
Ha ha. Are we talking John Wooden or Matt Painter? Keep in mind, Painter and Shaka have the same number of Final Four appearances. I believe their about even in head to head?
 
Good thing my opinions are free and there's no penalty for being wrong.


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Ha ha. Are we talking John Wooden or Matt Painter? Keep in mind, Painter and Shaka have the same number of Final Four appearances. I believe their about even in head to head?
I like Shaka. But he wouldn’t be a better fit than Painter AT PURDUE.

And if Bobinski was a hotheaded moron and fired Matt Painter in 2023, and then turned around and called Shaka to ask him if he wanted to replace him… you’d be able to hear the laughing all the way from Milwaukee…
 
Keep in mind, Painter and Shaka have the same number of Final Four appearances. I believe their about even in head to head?
Yep. And in the 13 seasons since that Final Four, Shaka has made one Sweet Sixteen (Painter has 6) and has the same number of NCAA tournaments wins as Matt Painter had in 2024. And most of those seasons were at Texas and Marquette.

Imagine what you'd have said about him if he spent that time at Purdue.
 
UConn was coming off a NC and probably had a loaded roster coming into last season. But, Hurley still went to the portal and found 2 starters that both came in and produced, leading them to another NC. I'm sure the culture, chemistry, blah, blah, blah is as important to Hurley and UConn as it is to Painter and Purdue (Purdue isn't special in that respect). But, Hurley saw holes in his roster or opportunities to improve/upgrade talent on the team and went out and did it.
How is UConn with all their transfers (as many or more than last year) doing this year?

It's just not cut-and-dry. If the situation is right, Painter has, and will, go into the portal for a piece. But it's not his general strategy. And I don't see that changing.
 
How is UConn with all their transfers (as many or more than last year) doing this year?

After losing at least 4 of their top players from last year, they still are......
Second in their conference. 13-4 overall.
So yes they are doing extremely well.......
Thus, not making the.point you are trying to.

I hope Purdue can continue as well as UConn has post Braden's class.....
 
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After losing at least 4 of their top players from last year, they still are......
Second in their conference. 13-4 overall.
So yes they are doing extremely well.......
Thus, not making the.point you are trying to.

I hope Purdue can continue as well as UConn has post Braden's class.....
The point is that it's not just a magical "get transfers and we're more likely to win more games thing," which is being proposed. There are times and places and the right fits.
 
There is no evidence that there is one. Plus with the ability to develop a player and the skills DJ has already shown, it'd be silly to recruit over him and we know it isn't happening unless something dramatic happens with DJ which so far seems doubtful.

Painter knows the team and what he is doing far more than anyone on here can even come close to. He proved that last season when he quite literally played for a National Title.
Painter has never said he's not recruiting over anyone, that's a manifestation of this board not him. So citing him as the expert to bootstrap personal board theories isn't compelling.

He goes after talented players every year. Including ones that, wait for it, play at positions currently held. He's proven time and again he will start freshman over other players including talented ones. DJ is no more an exception to that than anyone else.
 
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Painter has never said he's not recruiting over anyone, that's a manifestation of this board not him. So citing him as the expert to bootstrap personal board theories isn't compelling.

He goes after talented players every year. Including ones that, wait for it, play at positions currently held. He's proven time and again he will start freshman over other players including talented ones. DJ is no more an exception to that than anyone else.
Again since you missed where I said unless something dramatic happens, there is zero indication DJ is going to get recruited/played over .. he's got way too much talent.

As far as citing Painter, it isn't a bootstrap when it's a fact. When you, me or anyone else on here gets to a FF.. then we have a foundation to stand on.. until then.. it's just hyperbole.
 
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The point is that it's not just a magical "get transfers and we're more likely to win more games thing," which is being proposed. There are times and places and the right fits.

While that may be true for average coaches, that is not our situation.

Thus, I trust our coach to bring in the right guy(s), just as UConn's coach did this year. I will be surprised if CMP doesn't take advantage of open spots to upgrade his team. In Hurley and Painter you have two of the best in the nation. They always try to improve and are usually successful at doing so because of their experience and ability.
 
How is UConn with all their transfers (as many or more than last year) doing this year?

It's just not cut-and-dry. If the situation is right, Painter has, and will, go into the portal for a piece. But it's not his general strategy. And I don't see that changing.
I'm pretty confident UConn will be ready come tourney time.
But to your other point, I agree: Painter has gone to the portal minimally. The disagreement here is whether he needs to go get a couple of pieces from the portal this off season. I believe he does, at least 2. Others here believe our current roster is as good as we can get and we wouldn't be able to upgrade using the portal. I disagree.
 
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I'm pretty confident UConn will be ready come tourney time.
But to your other point, I agree: Painter has gone to the portal minimally. The disagreement here is whether he needs to go get a couple of pieces from the portal this off season. I believe he does, at least 2. Others here believe our current roster is as good as we can get and we wouldn't be able to upgrade using the portal. I disagree.
UConn needs McNeely back at full strength to be really dangerous.
 
Again since you missed where I said unless something dramatic happens, there is zero indication DJ is going to get recruited/played over .. he's got way too much talent.

As far as citing Painter, it isn't a bootstrap when it's a fact. When you, me or anyone else on here gets to a FF.. then we have a foundation to stand on.. until then.. it's just hyperbole.
What fact? Lol Painter hasn't once stated he isn't recruiting over anyone and there are myriad examples of him recruiting players at starting positions and then playing those recruits or transfers over players the following season if they better helped the team to win.

So no it's not a "fact" at all. It's your personal opinion that you are trying to bolster by some imaginary conversation you think Painter has where DJ is so talented he's guaranteed to start all four seasons.
 
What fact? Lol Painter hasn't once stated he isn't recruiting over anyone and there are myriad examples of him recruiting players at starting positions and then playing those recruits or transfers over players the following season if they better helped the team to win.

So no it's not a "fact" at all. It's your personal opinion that you are trying to bolster by some imaginary conversation you think Painter has where DJ is so talented he's guaranteed to start all four seasons.
Again you missed the point.. the "fact" I have been referring to is Painter knows more than us on here (there I simplified it for you). So try pulling the sequoia sized stick out of your ass and stay up with the conversation. You're seeing a context that hasn't been there since this conversation started.

And you have no clue whether any sort of conversation between DJ and Painter has gone on because like the rest of us, you're just a poster on a forum and have ZERO insight as to what is going on between Painter and the players.
 
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Again you missed the point.. the "fact" I have been referring to is Painter knows more than us on here (there I simplified it for you). So try pulling the sequoia sized stick out of your ass and stay up with the conversation. You're seeing a context that hasn't been there since this conversation started.

And you have no clue whether any sort of conversation between DJ and Painter has gone on because like the rest of us, you're just a poster on a forum and have ZERO insight as to what is going on between Painter and the players.
Lol no one is disputing that fact bud but it's good to see you admit that all the rest of your nonsense comes from your head and not Painter's.
 
So, he will take portal players. He took two in two years. He also talks about 13 scholarship players which isn't the case anymore. He is going to have two more slots to fill.

But that article clearly establishes:

1. He doesn't view the portal as off limits. He just doesn't want to make it his prime source which no one here is suggesting he do.
2. He'll take portal players if they will help the team. Whether or not that's true will depend on the team and the portal players available, which no one here is disputing.
3. Nothing about "I won't recruit over anyone."
4. He doesn't say, my team is so good I won't possibly take one in the near future.

Bunch of strawmen being created by folks on here because THEY don't like the portal. So they ascribe stuff to Painter like he will never get someone out of the portal to play over a loyal player when he literally did it the last two seasons. Or that he thinks the team is so stacked that no portal player could possibly help. Which he also hasn't said.

Nothing in there says he won't use the portal next season. Nothing in there says he thinks he has a team that can't possibly be improved. Nothing in there says what happens if one or two players leave for next season.

No one here has advocated for him to make the portal his primary method. Or even a big method. Everyone has said one MAYBE two additions would be helpful and everyone has caveated that on fit and culture.


The folks left arguing, and some being aholes about it, are the ones most opposed to the Idea of a portal to begin with.
 
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Which shows successful coaches always look to upgrade their teams. Portal just another method, and great coaches will take advantage of it.
I think Painter is going to find out that NIL is going to change things even for him. It's going to be awfully hard for some players to turn down offers and the our guys never leave thing isn't always going to be true.
 
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