There's not a whole lot to say about Purdue's 70-64 win over Nebraska beside something along the lines of bleh or meh or however exactly it is that you spell a vocalized shoulder shrug.
Fans who waded through the slushy, puddly streets and sidewalks for this Sunday brunchtime contest between two Big Ten-winless teams weren't exactly treated to great basketball.
Purdue got a win it had to have, yes, but in so doing didn't exactly come off like a team that made a bold leap forward during its full week of practice.
It was poor on defense again, allowing too many easy baskets after their own scores. It went turnover-crazy in the second half. It missed too many free throws.
The scoreboard when all was said and done said 'Purdue 70, Nebraska 64.' It easily could have said, 'Purdue 77, Nebraska 55,' if you ask me.
Luckily for the Boilermakers, their inconsistencies could be overcome against this particular opponents. Others, they won't be. This one, they were.
Nebraska's a tough out, no matter what their record or numbers say. Sunday, it should have been an easier out than it turned out to be, thanks to the aforementioned defensive lapses, the turnovers and the free throws.
(Just want to say something here real quick: Yes, Ronnie Johnson missed free throws at the end of the game, same way he did against West Virginia. Want him replaced in those situations? Be careful what you wish for. You still have to handle the ball and make decisions in those situations too. Awaiting brushback on this one.)
Purdue played its best six minutes of the game during the most important six minutes of the game, though, and won, thanks to the efforts of several players.
Terone Johnson scored just four points on six shots. Doesn't necessarily mean he played bad. He didn't force anything, and that's a good thing, especially after he missed some good looks from three early.
A.J. Hammons had a big game on offense and as a shot-blocker, and Jay Simpson impacted a game for the first time in I can't remember how long. Ronnie Johnson was productive and efficient, though I know the foul-shooting is leaving a sour taste in folks' mouths.
But today's MVP, to me, was Sterling Carter, who played the last 12 minutes of the game. How often this season has any reserve played that much consecutively?
He was critical, with eight points, a team-high seven boards and zero turnovers in 18 minutes. He hit a huge three and is providing some grit on defense for a team that lacks it.
Not sure Purdue would have won without him. Maybe it would have, I don't know.
You know, that in mind, this is the second game now you can say Purdue may not have won without Carter, Rider being the other.
Throw in the enormous three Errick Peck made against Northern Kentucky and it's entirely reasonable to suggest Purdue may have two or even three fewer wins without the two fifth-year additions, a real credit to those guys.
Back to Sunday, when the box score looked good but also didn't tell the whole story in some cases.
It says Purdue shot 61.1 percent in the second half, but that's a number that doesn't reflect turnovers or missed free throws.
It says Purdue won the boards 38-34 and gave up only seven offensive rebounds, but not that 11 of Nebraska's points came off second chances.
It says Purdue had what you might consider an acceptable 12 turnovers, but doesn't show that all but three of them came in the decisive second half, five of them one on top of the next, like some sort turnover grenade exploded in Mackey and sent the Boilermakers throwing the ball all over the place, a couple times producing simple baskets for a Cornhusker team that struggles to score otherwise.
For as productive as Hammons was, there were some dreadful turnovers on post entries, as much on Hammons as the passers, it seemed like real time.
Again, Nebraska isn't an easy team to beat. Purdue's own flaws made it even harder, and that's daunting considering that there are much, much, much harder-to-beat teams remaining on the schedule.
Purdue won. But Purdue has to be better.
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.
Fans who waded through the slushy, puddly streets and sidewalks for this Sunday brunchtime contest between two Big Ten-winless teams weren't exactly treated to great basketball.
Purdue got a win it had to have, yes, but in so doing didn't exactly come off like a team that made a bold leap forward during its full week of practice.
It was poor on defense again, allowing too many easy baskets after their own scores. It went turnover-crazy in the second half. It missed too many free throws.
The scoreboard when all was said and done said 'Purdue 70, Nebraska 64.' It easily could have said, 'Purdue 77, Nebraska 55,' if you ask me.
Luckily for the Boilermakers, their inconsistencies could be overcome against this particular opponents. Others, they won't be. This one, they were.
Nebraska's a tough out, no matter what their record or numbers say. Sunday, it should have been an easier out than it turned out to be, thanks to the aforementioned defensive lapses, the turnovers and the free throws.
(Just want to say something here real quick: Yes, Ronnie Johnson missed free throws at the end of the game, same way he did against West Virginia. Want him replaced in those situations? Be careful what you wish for. You still have to handle the ball and make decisions in those situations too. Awaiting brushback on this one.)
Purdue played its best six minutes of the game during the most important six minutes of the game, though, and won, thanks to the efforts of several players.
Terone Johnson scored just four points on six shots. Doesn't necessarily mean he played bad. He didn't force anything, and that's a good thing, especially after he missed some good looks from three early.
A.J. Hammons had a big game on offense and as a shot-blocker, and Jay Simpson impacted a game for the first time in I can't remember how long. Ronnie Johnson was productive and efficient, though I know the foul-shooting is leaving a sour taste in folks' mouths.
But today's MVP, to me, was Sterling Carter, who played the last 12 minutes of the game. How often this season has any reserve played that much consecutively?
He was critical, with eight points, a team-high seven boards and zero turnovers in 18 minutes. He hit a huge three and is providing some grit on defense for a team that lacks it.
Not sure Purdue would have won without him. Maybe it would have, I don't know.
You know, that in mind, this is the second game now you can say Purdue may not have won without Carter, Rider being the other.
Throw in the enormous three Errick Peck made against Northern Kentucky and it's entirely reasonable to suggest Purdue may have two or even three fewer wins without the two fifth-year additions, a real credit to those guys.
Back to Sunday, when the box score looked good but also didn't tell the whole story in some cases.
It says Purdue shot 61.1 percent in the second half, but that's a number that doesn't reflect turnovers or missed free throws.
It says Purdue won the boards 38-34 and gave up only seven offensive rebounds, but not that 11 of Nebraska's points came off second chances.
It says Purdue had what you might consider an acceptable 12 turnovers, but doesn't show that all but three of them came in the decisive second half, five of them one on top of the next, like some sort turnover grenade exploded in Mackey and sent the Boilermakers throwing the ball all over the place, a couple times producing simple baskets for a Cornhusker team that struggles to score otherwise.
For as productive as Hammons was, there were some dreadful turnovers on post entries, as much on Hammons as the passers, it seemed like real time.
Again, Nebraska isn't an easy team to beat. Purdue's own flaws made it even harder, and that's daunting considering that there are much, much, much harder-to-beat teams remaining on the schedule.
Purdue won. But Purdue has to be better.
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.
