The difference between Purdue and the No. 3 team in college basketball Tuesday afternoon wasn't all that significant.
The Boilermakers stacked up, no matter the final score.
The differences between Purdue and Ohio State in the Buckeyes' 78-69 New Year's Eve win in Mackey were minute, but impactful.
For the first time in years, Purdue took the floor against Ohio State with the game's most dominant physical matchup, that being A.J. Hammons.
It did not take the floor, however, with the best player. That guy was Aaron Craft, the much-hated Buckeye point guard who proves once again that such ire is a compliment. To be hated, you have to be good. Chris Kramer earned his hate as did Brian Cardinal as has Craft.
He spent all 40 minutes on the floor with his hands firmly around the neck of this game, providing Ohio State the steadiness that kept it unbeaten.
Meanwhile, Hammons went off for one of the biggest games of his career, yet one in which he and his team alike could have done so much more.
He was 6-of-16, most of those 10 misses coming from in close. Three more roll in and who knows what this game looks like.
He did his damage without Purdue's much-improved shooting helping out. The Boilermakers made three threes on 14 tries, only two of which mattered.
That was a difference between Purdue and Ohio State. The Buckeyes made shots when they mattered, LaQuinton Ross going absolutely bananas in the game's final 11 minutes and Shannon Scott and Lenzelle Smith making important threes while Purdue's were off target.
That was a sign of a battle-tested Buckeye team that's used to big moments vs. a Purdue team that hopes it's growing into such.
Kendall Stephens goes 0-for-4 on shots that if you gave him the same looks in the same situations tomorrow, he might go 3-for-4 or better.
It was moments that made the difference between these two teams Tuesday.
When Ohio State had a chance to make big shots, it did. When Purdue had chances to nail a three at an emotionally charged juncture, it missed.. When it had opportunities to really twist the knife with Hammons around the iron, the ball bounced off.
Purdue made mistakes, but not a ton of them. It just made mistakes against a team that doesn't, and tends to prey on those that do.
Under most circumstances, 12 turnovers wouldn't be cause for panic, but the Buckeyes took those dozen gifts and turned them into 15 points.
Craft is really good, by the way.
He was a huge difference between these two teams on Tuesday even more than Hammons was in Purdue's favor. Rebounds and blocked shots and post-up scores - all that the Boilermaker big man provided - weren't going to win this game. Experience, toughness and savvy were and that's Craft.
I know this rings hollow, but Purdue is legitimately a play here, a play there, a call here, a call there, from not just competing with the third-ranked team, but beating it.
There is some encouragement in that, as there is in Hammons coming alive lately.
I've been saying for weeks that Purdue's up-side lies in the 7-footer becoming more involved and you saw that against the highest-ranked team - I didn't say "best" - Purdue has played this season.
He keeps it up and Purdue gets more from Jay Simpson and makes threes the way it had been, and the Boilermakers might be on to something.
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.
The Boilermakers stacked up, no matter the final score.
The differences between Purdue and Ohio State in the Buckeyes' 78-69 New Year's Eve win in Mackey were minute, but impactful.
For the first time in years, Purdue took the floor against Ohio State with the game's most dominant physical matchup, that being A.J. Hammons.
It did not take the floor, however, with the best player. That guy was Aaron Craft, the much-hated Buckeye point guard who proves once again that such ire is a compliment. To be hated, you have to be good. Chris Kramer earned his hate as did Brian Cardinal as has Craft.
He spent all 40 minutes on the floor with his hands firmly around the neck of this game, providing Ohio State the steadiness that kept it unbeaten.
Meanwhile, Hammons went off for one of the biggest games of his career, yet one in which he and his team alike could have done so much more.
He was 6-of-16, most of those 10 misses coming from in close. Three more roll in and who knows what this game looks like.
He did his damage without Purdue's much-improved shooting helping out. The Boilermakers made three threes on 14 tries, only two of which mattered.
That was a difference between Purdue and Ohio State. The Buckeyes made shots when they mattered, LaQuinton Ross going absolutely bananas in the game's final 11 minutes and Shannon Scott and Lenzelle Smith making important threes while Purdue's were off target.
That was a sign of a battle-tested Buckeye team that's used to big moments vs. a Purdue team that hopes it's growing into such.
Kendall Stephens goes 0-for-4 on shots that if you gave him the same looks in the same situations tomorrow, he might go 3-for-4 or better.
It was moments that made the difference between these two teams Tuesday.
When Ohio State had a chance to make big shots, it did. When Purdue had chances to nail a three at an emotionally charged juncture, it missed.. When it had opportunities to really twist the knife with Hammons around the iron, the ball bounced off.
Purdue made mistakes, but not a ton of them. It just made mistakes against a team that doesn't, and tends to prey on those that do.
Under most circumstances, 12 turnovers wouldn't be cause for panic, but the Buckeyes took those dozen gifts and turned them into 15 points.
Craft is really good, by the way.
He was a huge difference between these two teams on Tuesday even more than Hammons was in Purdue's favor. Rebounds and blocked shots and post-up scores - all that the Boilermaker big man provided - weren't going to win this game. Experience, toughness and savvy were and that's Craft.
I know this rings hollow, but Purdue is legitimately a play here, a play there, a call here, a call there, from not just competing with the third-ranked team, but beating it.
There is some encouragement in that, as there is in Hammons coming alive lately.
I've been saying for weeks that Purdue's up-side lies in the 7-footer becoming more involved and you saw that against the highest-ranked team - I didn't say "best" - Purdue has played this season.
He keeps it up and Purdue gets more from Jay Simpson and makes threes the way it had been, and the Boilermakers might be on to something.
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.
