Welcome to this week's “BOILING OVER,” GoldandBlack.com’s weekly Ultimate Ticket information-clearinghouse and analysis column meant for our subscribers and our subscribers only.
We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in helping us keep what is sometimes delicate information confined to this message board.
We certainly don’t want it to come to this, but if there are problems, subscriptions have and will be canceled over this.
We know there are a lot of blogs out there and a lot of you are on Twitter and other message boards, and we don’t want to come off like Darth Vader here, but we would be doing all our subscribers a disservice if weren’t proactive about protecting the value of their subscription. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.
Additionally, we address recruiting in-depth and often without filter in this feature and we do it behind a subscription-protected barrier for a reason, in hopes of avoiding situations where our reporting can impact the recruiting process, which can happen occasionally. So again, we appreciate everyone's cooperation very much.
Anthrop is nine months out from surgery that repaired significant damage in his right knee - keep in mind this wasn't just a standard ACL tear - and it's clear he's not in a position now to play to the level he's capable. Purdue shouldn't need him to win this week, so it makes sense to sit him, allow him to have nearly two weeks of rest by the time Virginia Tech comes to Ross-Ade Stadium and evaluate from there.
The odd thing about this recovery, it seems, is that Anthrop looked great only weeks ago during training camp, running fast, crisp routes and showing an ability to cut quickly. He talked Tuesday about needing to better manage the soreness, so perhaps he did too much then, though he often took portions if not entire practices off.
It's too soon to really consider shutting him down for the season and applying for a medical hardship waiver - how he looks and feels against Va. Tech likely will be the main factor in that decision. But there's no doubting this: Anthrop is genuinely loved by his teammates, respected in the locker room and desperately wants to play with this team. It would not be an easy decision for him to sit or return for a potential fifth year. As a captain, he wants to win with this specific group of players, and if being at, say, 75 percent can allow him to play 40 snaps per game and help, maybe that desire will win out and he'll do it.
But up first is how Purdue will adjust without Anthrop on Saturday.
The answer could be a twist.
On Wednesday, sophomore Gregory Phillips was working in the slot, not on the outside. Though he's young, he's proven in fall practices to be a sure-handed receiver who can make plays against tight coverage. He doesn't have great speed, but there's athleticism there to do enough inside. Preference here would be Phillips over classmate Trae Hart, but it seems like Hart likely still will be the No. 2 slot option behind Cameron Posey.
Could see fewer four-receiver sets without Anthrop and more three-receiver, one-tight end groupings, especially considering Indiana State's blitzing tendencies. (SC)
Unless he books Cal for sometime after his Oct. 9 Kansas date, Herard's Purdue visit will be his second-to-last such trip. Should the Jayhawks drop out - they're in on a lot of other big men - it would then be his last.
We'd think Mississippi State, where Herard visits this weekend, will also be a player here.
Herard has an official visit to Texas Tech Sept. 25. Cal also made his top five. Not aware of him having a visit scheduled there yet, but Sept. 18 is open, looks like.
Of those center prospects Purdue is recruiting, Herard seems most equipped to step right into the minutes A.J. Hammons will vacate after this season. For that reason, he is probably the best-case target for Purdue.
Matt Painter and Jack Owens were in Herard's school this afternoon and will make a home visit with him tonight.
We do think as of now that Purdue will get an official visit from Georgia's James Banks, but he has a long list to sort through.
More visit news: Purdue will have Pittsburgh big man target Sagaba Konate on campus next weekend for an official visit, which Matt Painter will follow up with a visit immediately afterward.
The 6-foot-8 Konate has a Boilermaker offer and told us last week he'll visit Purdue, along with Minnesota, Wichita State and West Virginia.
WVU and Minnesota have strong connections to the big man and will be factors in his recruitment, one would think. But as with all these big men, Purdue has a compelling case to make.
Purdue is also very involved with Texas power forward Clevon Brown. Painter and Owens visited with him Thursday morning. Everything we've heard about Brown says he's going to be difficult to pull away from the Longhorns, but Purdue's among those trying. (BN)
To this point, Ottey has offers from only New Mexico State and American, but interest from Massachusetts, UNLV, Virginia Tech, Wichita and others.
Yesterday, Ottey said, was the first sign of interest Purdue has shown. Understand that interest and curiosity are two different things.
Purdue has a point guard committed and would like a big man. It would take a 2 if it can get a good one, but like we've said 4,875 times, it is not an urgent, desperate need.
Scholarships can be held for the spring and/or 2017 class. (BN)
Sound familiar?
He's former Purdue and Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Craig Terrill's nephew, a 6-foot-5, 290-pounder who, a well-placed source says, stacks up favorably against where his uncle was as a player at that age.
Obviously it's very early for that class, but the younger Terrill would seem to be very much on Purdue's radar and one would think family allegiances could matter for him should he be a player Purdue really targets in that class.
We'll see. (BN)
Lenzy's father, Melvin, is a Purdue alumnus and a higher-up with Nike basketball. An offer from the Boilermaker staff would be warmly received, shall we say, but it should also be noted that this player looks the part of a guy who will have Pac-12 options, based on what we saw of him at Purdue's camp.
Melvin Lenzy is speaking at Krannert at the end of October and if Braden Lenzy's high school schedule allows, he'll be in town for the Nebraska game. That's the hope, but it may not work. (BN)
Context: Last time he ran, Swanigan ran north of six minutes.
A goal of around 5.45 was then set for him. Keep in mind that it's not always such a bad thing for young players to experience failure. It's part of the process. So sometimes these goals being set are, shall we say, ambitious.
Point is, it was a goal coaches or whoever else knew it would be very difficult for Swanigan to reach.
And he smashed it. (BN)
Here's info, translated and everything: Link
UPDATE: Use the promo code 'Italia' for $50 lower-bowl tickets.
Our guests will be Boilermaker legend Leroy Keyes and cancer survivor and women’s basketball director of operations Terry Kix to talk about Community Cancer Events.
We will also discuss Purdue-Indiana State, take your questions and much more.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright, Boilers, Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved. Reproducing or using editorial or graphical content, in whole or in part, without permission, is strictly prohibited.
Last edited:
