Note: To look back on summer workouts and ahead to fall practice, GoldandBlack.com is taking a player-by-play look at the Purdue basketball team's 10 initial-scholarship players. We were going in alphabetical order, but just screwed things up and now we're out of alphabetical order. Now, it's pure chaos. Up last: P.J. Thompson
Look, in terms of any sort of substantive analysis from the summer on freshman P.J. Thompson, I've got nothing for you. I attended three workouts and was 0-for-3 on him participating fully, if I recall.
The first two times it was to rest the foot he injured at the end of his senior season; the last time it was a different foot issue after got stomped by Chris Kramer is a pickup game, accidentally of course.
Prior to that, we saw him play only mere minutes in the Indiana All-Star series.
But knowing his game fairly well and knowing Purdue's situation, we can tell you Thompson is going to have a chance to compete to be a starter this season, by sheer virtue of the wide-open fray at point guard.
Understand this: The point guard's role this season might not be what you're used to seeing traditionally. Purdue may not have that alpha at the position. Instead, it might use a few different guys to bring the ball and guard the position.
Offensively, distribution and decision-making responsibilities will fall on the shoulders of the whole group, no one person. Not that that's anything new this season, but it might ring especially true now.
Where will Purdue feel Ronnie Johnson's loss? Well, it doesn't have that pinball-quick end-changer it had before in terms of speed in the open floor, for one thing. Johnson was always a threat off the dribble, too. He's a very talented player, one whose physical ability can't be replaced with this existing roster.
Bryson Scott might give Purdue some of that dimension as a penetrator and in transition, but his success will be determined by how under control he is, largely.
Back to Thompson: He's only a freshman, but knowing him, he'll be more reliable than most players his age because he's a pretty sharp blade when it comes to basketball and he'll listen and take what he's told to heart.
There are things he'll have to overcome physically. First of all, he has to stay healthy. Second, he won't be quicker than everyone he plays anymore and most of his matchups he'll be looking up at. His toughness will be tested, for one thing.
But Purdue didn't recruit Thompson to overwhelm anyone with physical gifts. It recruited him for his basketball IQ, leadership and personality.
That's not changed.
It really might be as simple this season as this: Do what you are told and make good decisions and you will play. Might be especially true at point guard and might be especially true for Thompson.
Copyright, Boilers, Inc. 2014. All Rights Reserved. Reproducing or using editorial or graphical content, in whole or in part, without permission, is strictly prohibited. E-mail GoldandBlack.com/Boilers, Inc.
Look, in terms of any sort of substantive analysis from the summer on freshman P.J. Thompson, I've got nothing for you. I attended three workouts and was 0-for-3 on him participating fully, if I recall.
The first two times it was to rest the foot he injured at the end of his senior season; the last time it was a different foot issue after got stomped by Chris Kramer is a pickup game, accidentally of course.
Prior to that, we saw him play only mere minutes in the Indiana All-Star series.
But knowing his game fairly well and knowing Purdue's situation, we can tell you Thompson is going to have a chance to compete to be a starter this season, by sheer virtue of the wide-open fray at point guard.
Understand this: The point guard's role this season might not be what you're used to seeing traditionally. Purdue may not have that alpha at the position. Instead, it might use a few different guys to bring the ball and guard the position.
Offensively, distribution and decision-making responsibilities will fall on the shoulders of the whole group, no one person. Not that that's anything new this season, but it might ring especially true now.
Where will Purdue feel Ronnie Johnson's loss? Well, it doesn't have that pinball-quick end-changer it had before in terms of speed in the open floor, for one thing. Johnson was always a threat off the dribble, too. He's a very talented player, one whose physical ability can't be replaced with this existing roster.
Bryson Scott might give Purdue some of that dimension as a penetrator and in transition, but his success will be determined by how under control he is, largely.
Back to Thompson: He's only a freshman, but knowing him, he'll be more reliable than most players his age because he's a pretty sharp blade when it comes to basketball and he'll listen and take what he's told to heart.
There are things he'll have to overcome physically. First of all, he has to stay healthy. Second, he won't be quicker than everyone he plays anymore and most of his matchups he'll be looking up at. His toughness will be tested, for one thing.
But Purdue didn't recruit Thompson to overwhelm anyone with physical gifts. It recruited him for his basketball IQ, leadership and personality.
That's not changed.
It really might be as simple this season as this: Do what you are told and make good decisions and you will play. Might be especially true at point guard and might be especially true for Thompson.
Copyright, Boilers, Inc. 2014. All Rights Reserved. Reproducing or using editorial or graphical content, in whole or in part, without permission, is strictly prohibited. E-mail GoldandBlack.com/Boilers, Inc.
