Matt Painter had just said that the Michigan State win 'raised the bar' for the sort of effort Purdue needs to give from here on out.
Did it resonate with the players themselves?
Because today's effort cost Purdue a win in a game it had no business losing. No business at all losing.
Michigan, one of the smallest teams in the Big Ten and arguably its softest, had no business getting 11 offensive rebounds and outworking one of the best rebounding teams in the country on the glass all told. Michigan became the first time to outrebound Purdue this season and that's nothing short of embarrassing.
It's the sole reason this was even much of a game, aside from free throws. But teams are going to miss free throws. Players and coaches say all the time that rebounding is something that can be controlled.
Purdue is now out of the Big Ten race. Three games back and having gift-wrapped a game to an opponent it was tied with, that's it.
Purdue had this game, but it gave up too many offensive rebounds, missed too many free throws and frittered away too many key possessions in the second half when it had to get its lead to seven, it felt like.
This game came down to one thing and one thing alone, however: Rebounding.
And rebounding, everyone will tell you, is effort.
Purdue's was not even close to good enough.
Every secondary-level rebound that trickled free, it seemed like Michigan got it. How many putbacks at the rim for a team with no presence around the rim whatsoever?
This game was lost when Michigan took advantage a final-minutes Purdue meltdown every bit on par with the first Iowa game, only a narrower scope. Michigan scored the last 11 points of the game.
But, really, it was lost on the backboard, or more specifically, with both teams' effort to the ball when it came off said backboard.
Purdue could easily have led by 15 at halftime, but missed too many free throws, gave up too many offensive rebounds and didn't take advantage of the favor Michigan did it by playing lame-duck Caris LeVert, who proved yet again that it's sort of important to practice meaningfully before you play.
The one-and-one has to be kind to Purdue. It just has to. Purdue was 0-for-2 on one-and-one free throws in the first half and very shaky at the line in general. Foul shooting has been one of the quiet strengths for the Boilermakers this season and it failed them early on in Ann Arbor.
But Purdue's, um, loudest strength failed it … miserably.
Purdue didn't rebound the way it has to rebound, which is simply effort.
Did it resonate with the players themselves?
Because today's effort cost Purdue a win in a game it had no business losing. No business at all losing.
Michigan, one of the smallest teams in the Big Ten and arguably its softest, had no business getting 11 offensive rebounds and outworking one of the best rebounding teams in the country on the glass all told. Michigan became the first time to outrebound Purdue this season and that's nothing short of embarrassing.
It's the sole reason this was even much of a game, aside from free throws. But teams are going to miss free throws. Players and coaches say all the time that rebounding is something that can be controlled.
Purdue is now out of the Big Ten race. Three games back and having gift-wrapped a game to an opponent it was tied with, that's it.
Purdue had this game, but it gave up too many offensive rebounds, missed too many free throws and frittered away too many key possessions in the second half when it had to get its lead to seven, it felt like.
This game came down to one thing and one thing alone, however: Rebounding.
And rebounding, everyone will tell you, is effort.
Purdue's was not even close to good enough.
Every secondary-level rebound that trickled free, it seemed like Michigan got it. How many putbacks at the rim for a team with no presence around the rim whatsoever?
This game was lost when Michigan took advantage a final-minutes Purdue meltdown every bit on par with the first Iowa game, only a narrower scope. Michigan scored the last 11 points of the game.
But, really, it was lost on the backboard, or more specifically, with both teams' effort to the ball when it came off said backboard.
Purdue could easily have led by 15 at halftime, but missed too many free throws, gave up too many offensive rebounds and didn't take advantage of the favor Michigan did it by playing lame-duck Caris LeVert, who proved yet again that it's sort of important to practice meaningfully before you play.
The one-and-one has to be kind to Purdue. It just has to. Purdue was 0-for-2 on one-and-one free throws in the first half and very shaky at the line in general. Foul shooting has been one of the quiet strengths for the Boilermakers this season and it failed them early on in Ann Arbor.
But Purdue's, um, loudest strength failed it … miserably.
Purdue didn't rebound the way it has to rebound, which is simply effort.
