It's easy for me to say, but Kendall Stephens ought to take it as a compliment.
A.J. Hammons, too.
Their benchings, that is, if that's even the right word for it.
Purdue's two most important players coming into the season, Stephens and Hammons weren't even starters eight games into it.
No one could have seen that coming, except for maybe in a nightmare if you get particularly wrapped up in this stuff.
But the way I'm looking at this from the outside and the two returnees should from the inside is that in a roundabout way, this is a positive thing.
Pushing buttons, Matt Painter - who's been as positive about anything, everything and everyone so far this season as we've ever seen him - is sending a message to those guys that they have to be better, because they can be.
This isn't about benching a senior or seniors to make the statement that a team is their responsibility and to tell them, in essence, to get their damn team straight.
This a reflection of potential, especially in Stephens' case. Hammons would be starting no matter what had a nice 7-foot-2 1B not walked in as an option to 1A. Hammons' day will come again, probably very soon.
In Stephens' case, Painter described in detail after the game how close Stephens is to being really good, doing so to explain why he's not starting. That's a first.
Anyway, if you watched our Wrap Video, we talked about how those guys have responded to a perceived demotion not every player in their position would accept particularly well.
Maybe they're not behind closed doors, but out in the open, they seem like they're being more than men about it.
Hammons has played well off the bench the past two games, after the first one almost seeming happier for Haas than dejected himself. That's a fascinating relationship, man.
Stephens often tells those around him of his respect for Painter.
After blowing away Arkansas State with a flamethrower Wednesday night, he seemed to understand the deal, showing some self-awareness and understanding that his coach is trying to bring the best out of him, knowing that that "best" could be better than most peoples'.
This is an interesting time, even though it's not even the holidays.
Two of Purdue's alphas have been put in situations where a player can go one of two ways.
Younger players are watching, though I'm not sure Purdue's freshmen even need to be led anymore. That's internal for them.
But Purdue needs Stephens and Hammons to respond.
Sure looks like they are.
And in part because of it, Purdue may have weathered its little North Florida nor'easter.
IPFW and Arkansas State are what they are, so no broad-stroke declarations are going to be made based off those game, but the Boilermakers seem to be back in a good place.
They can be in a better place.
The first half Wednesday night was a clinic, Purdue being so dominant offensively that it shot 65 percent even with its two 7-footers going 2-of-7 between them. It dominated on defense, too.
The second half was a mess, a sloppy, unfocused chuck fest riddled bad threes, lacking defense and foul-line masonry.
Didn't matter: Purdue was up a hundred. But you'd have liked to have seen a little bit more seriousness there, even though the home team did actually extend its lead despite its indiscretions after halftime.
After the game, Painter's monologue about Stephens' potential was an infomercial for the "good shot."
The message should apply to the whole team.
Four guys should be shooting threes for Purdue, aside from dire shot-clock situations: Stephens, Dakota Mathias, P.J. Thompson and Vince Edwards.
Everyone else, defer.
Purdue will be a better team for it.
Real games start up here again pretty soon and here's hoping for Purdue's sake the green light everyone seemed to think they had in the second half of a blowout tonight isn't a lasting
Shooting is going to be a critical portion of Purdue's mix this season. They have the shooters for it to be.
Those shooters need to do the shooting.
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.
A.J. Hammons, too.
Their benchings, that is, if that's even the right word for it.
Purdue's two most important players coming into the season, Stephens and Hammons weren't even starters eight games into it.
No one could have seen that coming, except for maybe in a nightmare if you get particularly wrapped up in this stuff.
But the way I'm looking at this from the outside and the two returnees should from the inside is that in a roundabout way, this is a positive thing.
Pushing buttons, Matt Painter - who's been as positive about anything, everything and everyone so far this season as we've ever seen him - is sending a message to those guys that they have to be better, because they can be.
This isn't about benching a senior or seniors to make the statement that a team is their responsibility and to tell them, in essence, to get their damn team straight.
This a reflection of potential, especially in Stephens' case. Hammons would be starting no matter what had a nice 7-foot-2 1B not walked in as an option to 1A. Hammons' day will come again, probably very soon.
In Stephens' case, Painter described in detail after the game how close Stephens is to being really good, doing so to explain why he's not starting. That's a first.
Anyway, if you watched our Wrap Video, we talked about how those guys have responded to a perceived demotion not every player in their position would accept particularly well.
Maybe they're not behind closed doors, but out in the open, they seem like they're being more than men about it.
Hammons has played well off the bench the past two games, after the first one almost seeming happier for Haas than dejected himself. That's a fascinating relationship, man.
Stephens often tells those around him of his respect for Painter.
After blowing away Arkansas State with a flamethrower Wednesday night, he seemed to understand the deal, showing some self-awareness and understanding that his coach is trying to bring the best out of him, knowing that that "best" could be better than most peoples'.
This is an interesting time, even though it's not even the holidays.
Two of Purdue's alphas have been put in situations where a player can go one of two ways.
Younger players are watching, though I'm not sure Purdue's freshmen even need to be led anymore. That's internal for them.
But Purdue needs Stephens and Hammons to respond.
Sure looks like they are.
And in part because of it, Purdue may have weathered its little North Florida nor'easter.
IPFW and Arkansas State are what they are, so no broad-stroke declarations are going to be made based off those game, but the Boilermakers seem to be back in a good place.
They can be in a better place.
The first half Wednesday night was a clinic, Purdue being so dominant offensively that it shot 65 percent even with its two 7-footers going 2-of-7 between them. It dominated on defense, too.
The second half was a mess, a sloppy, unfocused chuck fest riddled bad threes, lacking defense and foul-line masonry.
Didn't matter: Purdue was up a hundred. But you'd have liked to have seen a little bit more seriousness there, even though the home team did actually extend its lead despite its indiscretions after halftime.
After the game, Painter's monologue about Stephens' potential was an infomercial for the "good shot."
The message should apply to the whole team.
Four guys should be shooting threes for Purdue, aside from dire shot-clock situations: Stephens, Dakota Mathias, P.J. Thompson and Vince Edwards.
Everyone else, defer.
Purdue will be a better team for it.
Real games start up here again pretty soon and here's hoping for Purdue's sake the green light everyone seemed to think they had in the second half of a blowout tonight isn't a lasting
Shooting is going to be a critical portion of Purdue's mix this season. They have the shooters for it to be.
Those shooters need to do the shooting.
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.
