BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - I understand that for you, figuring you're a Purdue fan, losing to Indiana the way Purdue's twice lost to Indiana this season feels something like a tire iron to the temple.
But take a deep breath for a moment and consider the origins of this IU team that very much looks the part of a title contender right now.
Why? Out of hope that this Purdue team that's getting its doors blown off now can maybe - maybe - follow a similar path.
Look, just a couple seasons ago these roles were reversed.
It was Purdue that had the Final Four-caliber team and Indiana that came into these games with almost no chance to win.
How did the script get flipped? Well, obviously Purdue lost great players and has endured a painful transition this season after losing a senior class from last season that's now looking pretty damn good, isn't it?
But this is more about IU, which has grown into an elite team. Indiana has had to lose a hell of a lot of games to get to where they are right now and I believe it was the wisdom of Aerosmith that once said, "You've got to lose to know how to win."
IU benefited in the long run from constantly getting kicked to the curb years ago. Purdue must hope - hope - its youngster follow the same path.
Purdue's been immature as it's struggled.
So was IU then.
Christian Watford is the perfect example. From afar - and locals have corroborated this - he was the consummate get-his player, a 6-foot-9 39-percent shooter who had to come a long way between the ears.
If swirling rumors were any indication, he almost transferred.
Look at him now: He's a pro-in-the-making and selfless piece of a great team.
Point being, players mature and bad teams become good over time.
The differences between Purdue and Indiana right now and countless. Yes, Indiana has better players, but it also has more experience, more shooters (which is to say, shooters) and more length across the board.
But for all the talk about Cody Zeller and the "Movement," the difference in that team is its juniors, Victor Oladipo and Will Sheehey, high-motor guys who were diving into Purdue's bench Saturday chasing loose balls they had to know wouldn't matter all that much in the long run. Who on Purdue would have done that?
Is that an easy fix? You wouldn't think so, unless a coach can go out and find those types of self-motivated kids in recruiting. That's why Purdue offered Cornelius Elder.
Or players can grow into those sorts of players, I suppose, and this team needs all the growth in that department as it can get.
The enigmatic portion of A.J. Hammons is starting to reveal itself, which I've been warning you about for literally years.
His face may as well have been on the back of a milk carton Saturday - wait, do they really still do that? - and Purdue was actually better with Sandi Marcius on the floor.
Not good when your best player takes a back seat to a guy who's been playing minimal minutes most of the season.
But I'll say this about Hammons: He is a freshman. He will get better and had JaJuan Johnson been counted on by the '07 team the way this team is counting on Hammons, you'd have seen plenty of 3-of-10, six-point stink bombs from him, too.
But as Matt Painter says, you expect more from talent, and Hammons is a wonderful talent.
But he has to grow up.
When he grows up, he can be great.
That's what Indiana did.
And that's what Purdue hopes - hopes - it can do as well.
Copyright, Boilers, Inc. 2013. 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.
But take a deep breath for a moment and consider the origins of this IU team that very much looks the part of a title contender right now.
Why? Out of hope that this Purdue team that's getting its doors blown off now can maybe - maybe - follow a similar path.
Look, just a couple seasons ago these roles were reversed.
It was Purdue that had the Final Four-caliber team and Indiana that came into these games with almost no chance to win.
How did the script get flipped? Well, obviously Purdue lost great players and has endured a painful transition this season after losing a senior class from last season that's now looking pretty damn good, isn't it?
But this is more about IU, which has grown into an elite team. Indiana has had to lose a hell of a lot of games to get to where they are right now and I believe it was the wisdom of Aerosmith that once said, "You've got to lose to know how to win."
IU benefited in the long run from constantly getting kicked to the curb years ago. Purdue must hope - hope - its youngster follow the same path.
Purdue's been immature as it's struggled.
So was IU then.
Christian Watford is the perfect example. From afar - and locals have corroborated this - he was the consummate get-his player, a 6-foot-9 39-percent shooter who had to come a long way between the ears.
If swirling rumors were any indication, he almost transferred.
Look at him now: He's a pro-in-the-making and selfless piece of a great team.
Point being, players mature and bad teams become good over time.
The differences between Purdue and Indiana right now and countless. Yes, Indiana has better players, but it also has more experience, more shooters (which is to say, shooters) and more length across the board.
But for all the talk about Cody Zeller and the "Movement," the difference in that team is its juniors, Victor Oladipo and Will Sheehey, high-motor guys who were diving into Purdue's bench Saturday chasing loose balls they had to know wouldn't matter all that much in the long run. Who on Purdue would have done that?
Is that an easy fix? You wouldn't think so, unless a coach can go out and find those types of self-motivated kids in recruiting. That's why Purdue offered Cornelius Elder.
Or players can grow into those sorts of players, I suppose, and this team needs all the growth in that department as it can get.
The enigmatic portion of A.J. Hammons is starting to reveal itself, which I've been warning you about for literally years.
His face may as well have been on the back of a milk carton Saturday - wait, do they really still do that? - and Purdue was actually better with Sandi Marcius on the floor.
Not good when your best player takes a back seat to a guy who's been playing minimal minutes most of the season.
But I'll say this about Hammons: He is a freshman. He will get better and had JaJuan Johnson been counted on by the '07 team the way this team is counting on Hammons, you'd have seen plenty of 3-of-10, six-point stink bombs from him, too.
But as Matt Painter says, you expect more from talent, and Hammons is a wonderful talent.
But he has to grow up.
When he grows up, he can be great.
That's what Indiana did.
And that's what Purdue hopes - hopes - it can do as well.
Copyright, Boilers, Inc. 2013. 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.
