There are a few things that can be pointed to for the loss to FDU. They played VERY well and Purdue was limited in either behind the arc or to Zach on the blocks. They sold out on Zach and Purdue missed wide open looks that a few made would have won the game. Their guards quickness and their run and jump caused issues because Braden had no help and why I immediately stated after the game that Purdue has to get better at the 3 and 4 when many were pointing at portal guards.
This is a different team and not limited to only scoring two ways and hopeful that when one was shut down the other would be off like last year. This team can score a lot of different ways. Had Braden had a good 3 man with the ball, that loss wouldn't have happened...even with the poor shooting. No doubt all freshman get tired in a tough conference that is long...and no doubt Braden had to do too much, but even with that...one more ball handler and FDU is never discussed...or just a couple of wide open looks drop. The loss was not due to fatigue even if Braden may have tired the latter part of the season. It was a good, but incomplete team in which too much was required by Braden...and others older and not fatigued missed a lot of shots...
