Hi there.
As you know by now, Purdue just played its best start-to-finish game of the season against an at-least-respectable opponent, a very positive sign for a team that looked all kinds of screwed-up at times in Florida.
I know you were like me at halftime tonight, when Purdue was up 49-34, in thinking, 'This game is only just beginning.'
How could you not have after what happened at the Disney stronghold in Orlando over Thanksgiving?
But Purdue responded ideally. Or at least almost ideally. All the offensive rebounds Boston College got early were an annoyance, but a temporary one.
Here's an interesting dynamic with this team: Its freshmen can be its catalysts.
All in their own way, Bryson Scott, Kendall Stephens and Basil Smotherman can be sparks, whether it's Scott with his competitiveness and intensity, Smotherman with his sky-walking acrobatics around the rim and penchant for sticking dunks in people's eye or Stephens to warm up and drop triples in succession.
We talked a lot this week about teammates can feed off Smotherman's energy and enthusiasm and blow up when he does something all SportsCenter-ish, but it's actually the same with Stephens.
It was after Stephens made back-to-back threes, followed by a long deuce, that Purdue really took off and shook Boston College. That wasn't a coincidence, I don't think, especially not with the great crowd and environment Purdue played host to for its fifth ACC/Big Ten win in as many years.
Purdue's freshman aren't its best players, but they can be some of its most impactful like that, because of their potential to make that play, that play that might be Scott just taking the ball from somebody just because he really wants to; Smotherman dunking the ball like it's a grapefruit and the rim's lowered a foot; or Stephens' marksmanship.
E'Twaun Moore was honored at halftime. He's Purdue's all-time leader in three-point field goals.
For now.
Whatever the case may be, Purdue's freshmen can all make that play.
Good for a team whose should-be stars are trending upward.
I know Ronnie Johnson gave the ball away four times tonight and I know he was 1-of-6 vs. Siena (The Sequel), but I don't care: I thought he was good for the second game in a row and that he's starting to get it, understanding that fine line between attacking and enabling. Purdue's passing and ball movement have been much improved since the chemical spill of a second half against Washington State.
And A.J. Hammons has been really good the past two games, remedying his six turnovers against Siena with none vs. Boston College, to go along with some brilliant passing by the 7-footer. Must be so nice for Purdue too to have a legitimate 1B to Hammons' 1A. Simpson's been rock solid this season, at least to the untrained eye, and seems to be giving good effort.
Hammons has to do a better job screening and playing defense in a team capacity, but all the more readily apparent stuff, he's doing. He's being efficient with his touches, drawing fouls, really rebounding - he was a real presence on the defensive glass tonight when Purdue needed to clean up the boards - and serving as games' most dominant defensive presence.
Wednesday's game was everything you wanted to see from Purdue. It was the best-case scenario.
Now, the Boilermakers have to keep it up.
Purdue owes Eastern Michigan a beating.
It won't be easy - the Eagles aren't bad and will be problematic with their defense - but Purdue has to get that one and feel good about things going into the Butler game.
I know this was only one game, but Wednesday night , the Boilermakers looked like a team that's on track after looking in Florida like a team that had flown off the tracks.
That team you saw tonight, that was the team I expected this team to look more like this season. Maybe the work in progress is moving forward and it took some embarrassment to jostle it forward.
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.
As you know by now, Purdue just played its best start-to-finish game of the season against an at-least-respectable opponent, a very positive sign for a team that looked all kinds of screwed-up at times in Florida.
I know you were like me at halftime tonight, when Purdue was up 49-34, in thinking, 'This game is only just beginning.'
How could you not have after what happened at the Disney stronghold in Orlando over Thanksgiving?
But Purdue responded ideally. Or at least almost ideally. All the offensive rebounds Boston College got early were an annoyance, but a temporary one.
Here's an interesting dynamic with this team: Its freshmen can be its catalysts.
All in their own way, Bryson Scott, Kendall Stephens and Basil Smotherman can be sparks, whether it's Scott with his competitiveness and intensity, Smotherman with his sky-walking acrobatics around the rim and penchant for sticking dunks in people's eye or Stephens to warm up and drop triples in succession.
We talked a lot this week about teammates can feed off Smotherman's energy and enthusiasm and blow up when he does something all SportsCenter-ish, but it's actually the same with Stephens.
It was after Stephens made back-to-back threes, followed by a long deuce, that Purdue really took off and shook Boston College. That wasn't a coincidence, I don't think, especially not with the great crowd and environment Purdue played host to for its fifth ACC/Big Ten win in as many years.
Purdue's freshman aren't its best players, but they can be some of its most impactful like that, because of their potential to make that play, that play that might be Scott just taking the ball from somebody just because he really wants to; Smotherman dunking the ball like it's a grapefruit and the rim's lowered a foot; or Stephens' marksmanship.
E'Twaun Moore was honored at halftime. He's Purdue's all-time leader in three-point field goals.
For now.
Whatever the case may be, Purdue's freshmen can all make that play.
Good for a team whose should-be stars are trending upward.
I know Ronnie Johnson gave the ball away four times tonight and I know he was 1-of-6 vs. Siena (The Sequel), but I don't care: I thought he was good for the second game in a row and that he's starting to get it, understanding that fine line between attacking and enabling. Purdue's passing and ball movement have been much improved since the chemical spill of a second half against Washington State.
And A.J. Hammons has been really good the past two games, remedying his six turnovers against Siena with none vs. Boston College, to go along with some brilliant passing by the 7-footer. Must be so nice for Purdue too to have a legitimate 1B to Hammons' 1A. Simpson's been rock solid this season, at least to the untrained eye, and seems to be giving good effort.
Hammons has to do a better job screening and playing defense in a team capacity, but all the more readily apparent stuff, he's doing. He's being efficient with his touches, drawing fouls, really rebounding - he was a real presence on the defensive glass tonight when Purdue needed to clean up the boards - and serving as games' most dominant defensive presence.
Wednesday's game was everything you wanted to see from Purdue. It was the best-case scenario.
Now, the Boilermakers have to keep it up.
Purdue owes Eastern Michigan a beating.
It won't be easy - the Eagles aren't bad and will be problematic with their defense - but Purdue has to get that one and feel good about things going into the Butler game.
I know this was only one game, but Wednesday night , the Boilermakers looked like a team that's on track after looking in Florida like a team that had flown off the tracks.
That team you saw tonight, that was the team I expected this team to look more like this season. Maybe the work in progress is moving forward and it took some embarrassment to jostle it forward.
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.
