Carsen vs. Purdue’s 86 Top Guns

[Born Boiler]

Carsen Edwards was named Purdue’s 30th All-American player in 2018 after his 18.5 scoring on .458 shooting as a sophomore.

For 2019, he’s scoring more, but he’s made barely a third of his shots in Big Ten games.

He hit 50 percent just four times in the first 16 league games [only once going better], while his 7-for-40 road trip to iu and Nebraska sank his shooting to .339 in conference play and .391 overall. His junior season scoring average slipped to 23.4 after showing 26.0 at Christmas time.

Edwards’ career numbers stood at 17.0 scoring and .414 shooting entering the final two weeks of the 2019 schedule. He’d shot only .382 as a freshman [10.3 ppg].

By comparison, Rick Mount’s worst shooting year was .437 as a sophomore [28.5 ppg]. Mount shot .515 as a junior [33.3 ppg], .490 as a senior [35.4 ppg] and finished at .483 for his career, averaging 32.3 points per game.

Most of Purdue’s other All-Americans and/or NBA players shot at high clips for their careers --
Rick Mount [32.3 ppg] shot .483 in three years;
Dave Schellhase [28.8 ppg] shot .463 in three;
Terry Dischinger [28.3 ppg] shot .553 in three;
Glenn Robinson [27.5 ppg] shot .479 in two;
John Garrett [19.8 ppg] shot .530 in three;
Carl Landry [18.4 ppg] shot .602 in three;
Joe Barry Carroll [17.7 ppg] shot .546 in four;
Bob Ford [17.0 ppg] shot .503 in three;
Walter Jordan [16.6 ppg] shot .479 in four;
Russell Cross [16.4 ppg] shot .578 in three;
Frank Kendrick [16.3 ppg] shot .443 in three;
Herm Gilliam [16.0 ppg] shot .464 in three;
E’Twaun Moore [15.3 ppg] shot .440 in four;
Larry Weatherford [14.5] shot .405 in three;
Caleb Swanigan [14.4 ppg] shot .501 in two;
Willie Merriweather [14.4 ppg] shot .437 in three;
Billy Keller [14.1 ppg] shot .475 in three;
Robbie Hummel [14.0 ppg] shot .443 in four;
Todd Mitchell [13.7 ppg] shot .541 in four;
JaJuan Johnson [13.7 ppg] shot .501 in four;
William Franklin [13.3 ppg] shot .447 in three;
Keith Edmunson [13.1 ppg] shot .529 in four;
Cuonzo Martin [13.1 ppg] shot .472 in four;
Eugene Parker [13.0 ppg] shot .488 in four;
Melvin McCants [12.4 ppg] shot .562 in four;
A.J. Hammoms [12.1 ppg] shot .539 in four;
Brian Cardinal [12.0 ppg] shot .461 in four;
Brad Miller [12.0 ppg] shot .572 in four;
Vince Edwards [11.9 ppg] shot .473 in four;
Paul Hoffman [11-plus ppg] in four;
Isaac Haas [11.2 ppg] shot .589 in four;
Bruce Parkinson [10.9 ppg] shot .423 in five;
Jimmy Oliver [10.7 ppg] shot .465 in three;
Steve Scheffler [10.5 ppg] shot .685 in four;
Jerry Sichting [9.9 ppg] shot .520 in four;
Doug Lee [9.9 ppg] shot .492 in two;
Everette Stephens [8.8 ppg] shot .499 in four;
Arnette Hallman [8.4 ppg] shot .464 in two;
Jim Rowinski [8.3 ppg] shot .514 in four;
Tom Scheffler [6.7 ppg] shot .519 in four.

And that doesn’t include All-Americans Carl McNulty, Fred Beretta, Jewell Young, Bob Kessler, Emmett Lowery, Norm Cottom, John Wooden, Charles Murphy, George Spradling, Ray Miller, Don White, Elmer Oliphant, Larry Teeple and Dave Charters or pros Ed Ehlers and Forest Weber. Purdue’s record book doesn’t list their career numbers.

Among Purdue’s other leading scorers --
Mel Garland [17.5 ppg] shot .458 in three years;
Joe Sexson [16.6 ppg] shot .354 in three;
Troy Lewis [16.4 ppg] shot .499 in four;
Bob Purkhiser [15.1 ppg] shot .442 in three;
William Elson [14.7 ppg] shot .461 in three;
Willie Deane [14.4 ppg] shot .425 in three;
Harry Ebershoff [14.2 ppg] shot .406 in three;
Chad Austin [13.1 ppg] shot .421 in four;
Jaraan Cornell [12.8 ppg] shot .428 in four;
Dennis Blind [12.6 ppg] shot .341 in four;
Steve Reid [12.2 ppg] shot .461 in three;
George Faerber [11.6 ppg] shot .584 in three;
Woody Austin [11.6 ppg] shot .460 in four;
David Teague [11.4 ppg] shot .401 in four;
Bill Greve [11.1 ppg] shot .369 in three;
Ronnie Johnson [10.6 ppg] shot .400 in two;
Mike Robinson [10.0 ppg] shot .467 in four;
Kenneth Lowe [10.0 ppg] shot .443 in four;
Chuckie White [10.0 ppg] shot .568 in three;
Drake Morris [9.9 ppg] shot .492 in four;
Terone Johnson [9.8 ppg] shot .411 in four;
Wayne Walls [9.4 pgg] shot .437 in four;
Tim McGinley [9.3 ppg] shot .398 in three;
Matt Waddell [9.2 ppg] shot .454 in four;
Carson Cunningham [9.2 ppg] shot .401 in three;
Tony Jones [8.4 ppg] shot .472 in four;
Dakota Mathias [8.1 ppg] shot .434 in four;
Raphael Davis [7.7 ppg] shot .435 in four;
Keaton Grant [7.5 ppg] shot .386 in four;
Lewis Jackson [7.3 ppg] shot .469 in four.

So, how does Carsen compare, with a minimum of six games left in his third year … and possibly his career?

 

[FirstDownB]

Would it be fair to consider which players on that list received the amount of attention in the opposing team’s game plan as Carsen does? Definitely Mount and Big Dog. None of the players since I’ve been following (circa 1997). Maybe 3 or 4 others??

 

[guppy likes purdue]

Carsen Edwards was named Purdue’s 30th All-American player in 2018 after his 18.5 scoring on .458 shooting as a sophomore.

For 2019, he’s scoring more, but he’s made barely a third of his shots in Big Ten games.

He hit 50 percent just four times in the first 16 league games [only once going better], while his 7-for-40 road trip to iu and Nebraska sank his shooting to .339 in conference play and .391 overall. His junior season scoring average slipped to 23.4 after showing 26.0 at Christmas time.

Edwards’ career numbers stood at 17.0 scoring and .414 shooting entering the final two weeks of the 2019 schedule. He’d shot only .382 as a freshman [10.3 ppg].

By comparison, Rick Mount’s worst shooting year was .437 as a sophomore [28.5 ppg]. Mount shot .515 as a junior [33.3 ppg], .490 as a senior [35.4 ppg] and finished at .483 for his career, averaging 32.3 points per game.

Most of Purdue’s other All-Americans and/or NBA players shot at high clips for their careers --
Rick Mount [32.3 ppg] shot .483 in three years;
Dave Schellhase [28.8 ppg] shot .463 in three;
Terry Dischinger [28.3 ppg] shot .553 in three;
Glenn Robinson [27.5 ppg] shot .479 in two;
John Garrett [19.8 ppg] shot .530 in three;
Carl Landry [18.4 ppg] shot .602 in three;
Joe Barry Carroll [17.7 ppg] shot .546 in four;
Bob Ford [17.0 ppg] shot .503 in three;
Walter Jordan [16.6 ppg] shot .479 in four;
Russell Cross [16.4 ppg] shot .578 in three;
Frank Kendrick [16.3 ppg] shot .443 in three;
Herm Gilliam [16.0 ppg] shot .464 in three;
E’Twaun Moore [15.3 ppg] shot .440 in four;
Larry Weatherford [14.5] shot .405 in three;
Caleb Swanigan [14.4 ppg] shot .501 in two;
Willie Merriweather [14.4 ppg] shot .437 in three;
Billy Keller [14.1 ppg] shot .475 in three;
Robbie Hummel [14.0 ppg] shot .443 in four;
Todd Mitchell [13.7 ppg] shot .541 in four;
JaJuan Johnson [13.7 ppg] shot .501 in four;
William Franklin [13.3 ppg] shot .447 in three;
Keith Edmunson [13.1 ppg] shot .529 in four;
Cuonzo Martin [13.1 ppg] shot .472 in four;
Eugene Parker [13.0 ppg] shot .488 in four;
Melvin McCants [12.4 ppg] shot .562 in four;
A.J. Hammoms [12.1 ppg] shot .539 in four;
Brian Cardinal [12.0 ppg] shot .461 in four;
Brad Miller [12.0 ppg] shot .572 in four;
Vince Edwards [11.9 ppg] shot .473 in four;
Paul Hoffman [11-plus ppg] in four;
Isaac Haas [11.2 ppg] shot .589 in four;
Bruce Parkinson [10.9 ppg] shot .423 in five;
Jimmy Oliver [10.7 ppg] shot .465 in three;
Steve Scheffler [10.5 ppg] shot .685 in four;
Jerry Sichting [9.9 ppg] shot .520 in four;
Doug Lee [9.9 ppg] shot .492 in two;
Everette Stephens [8.8 ppg] shot .499 in four;
Arnette Hallman [8.4 ppg] shot .464 in two;
Jim Rowinski [8.3 ppg] shot .514 in four;
Tom Scheffler [6.7 ppg] shot .519 in four.

And that doesn’t include All-Americans Carl McNulty, Fred Beretta, Jewell Young, Bob Kessler, Emmett Lowery, Norm Cottom, John Wooden, Charles Murphy, George Spradling, Ray Miller, Don White, Elmer Oliphant, Larry Teeple and Dave Charters or pros Ed Ehlers and Forest Weber. Purdue’s record book doesn’t list their career numbers.

Among Purdue’s other leading scorers --
Mel Garland [17.5 ppg] shot .458 in three years;
Joe Sexson [16.6 ppg] shot .354 in three;
Troy Lewis [16.4 ppg] shot .499 in four;
Bob Purkhiser [15.1 ppg] shot .442 in three;
William Elson [14.7 ppg] shot .461 in three;
Willie Deane [14.4 ppg] shot .425 in three;
Harry Ebershoff [14.2 ppg] shot .406 in three;
Chad Austin [13.1 ppg] shot .421 in four;
Jaraan Cornell [12.8 ppg] shot .428 in four;
Dennis Blind [12.6 ppg] shot .341 in four;
Steve Reid [12.2 ppg] shot .461 in three;
George Faerber [11.6 ppg] shot .584 in three;
Woody Austin [11.6 ppg] shot .460 in four;
David Teague [11.4 ppg] shot .401 in four;
Bill Greve [11.1 ppg] shot .369 in three;
Ronnie Johnson [10.6 ppg] shot .400 in two;
Mike Robinson [10.0 ppg] shot .467 in four;
Kenneth Lowe [10.0 ppg] shot .443 in four;
Chuckie White [10.0 ppg] shot .568 in three;
Drake Morris [9.9 ppg] shot .492 in four;
Terone Johnson [9.8 ppg] shot .411 in four;
Wayne Walls [9.4 pgg] shot .437 in four;
Tim McGinley [9.3 ppg] shot .398 in three;
Matt Waddell [9.2 ppg] shot .454 in four;
Carson Cunningham [9.2 ppg] shot .401 in three;
Tony Jones [8.4 ppg] shot .472 in four;
Dakota Mathias [8.1 ppg] shot .434 in four;
Raphael Davis [7.7 ppg] shot .435 in four;
Keaton Grant [7.5 ppg] shot .386 in four;
Lewis Jackson [7.3 ppg] shot .469 in four.

So, how does Carsen compare, with a minimum of six games left in his third year … and possibly his career?

FG% IMO is kind of useless True Shooting is way more accurate but even that would have to be adjusted for era

 

[lbodel]

Would it be fair to consider which players on that list received the amount of attention in the opposing team’s game plan as Carsen does? Definitely Mount and Big Dog. None of the players since I’ve been following (circa 1997). Maybe 3 or 4 others??

I do think there's a factor in this, but is it enough to be dropping shooting percentages by 10%+? I don't know about that.

Look at E'twaun's senior year - there was no Hummel. There were only 2 players that scored in double digits per game - E'twaun and JJ. E'twaun was the only perimeter consistent offensive threat and he shot 15 times a game.

Do you think E'twaun didn't receive defensive pressure/attention? He shot 45% for the season, 40% from 3. Pretty solid.

The attention they received from defenses isn't that dramatically different.

Yes, he's receiving defensive pressure, but the biggest culprit in his shooting percentage is the shot selection. It simply has not been good.

 

[FirstDownB]

I do think there's a factor in this, but is it enough to be dropping shooting percentages by 10%+? I don't know about that.

Look at E'twaun's senior year - there was no Hummel. There were only 2 players that scored in double digits per game - E'twaun and JJ. E'twaun was the only perimeter consistent offensive threat and he shot 15 times a game.

Do you think E'twaun didn't receive defensive pressure/attention? He shot 45% for the season, 40% from 3. Pretty solid.

The attention they received from defenses isn't that dramatically different.

Yes, he's receiving defensive pressure, but the biggest culprit in his shooting percentage is the shot selection. It simply has not been good.

It’s just hard to compare Carsen with Moore. JJ was an All American. There is no one remotely close to JJ on this team. Smith was somewhat similar to Cline, much closer in ability than Cline is to JJ. LJ was a good ball handler. And Kramer did a little of everything.

The makeup of this team dictates that Carsen be a volume shooter. When the offense has a stagnant possession, it is almost always up to him to create something at the end of the shot clock. E’Twaun simply never had that amount of burden on his shoulders. Does Carsen occasionally take a bad shot, sure, but how many games have we seen a lot of those shots go down? And how much attention does he draw that opens up others for open shots and offensive rebounds? Overall through 3 years between the two I’d give Smooge the nod due to his consistency, but overall impact is much closer than shooting percentage alone indicates.

 

[pboiler18]

It’s just hard to compare Carsen with Moore. JJ was an All American. There is no one remotely close to JJ on this team. Smith was somewhat similar to Cline, much closer in ability than Cline is to JJ. LJ was a good ball handler. And Kramer did a little of everything.

The makeup of this team dictates that Carsen be a volume shooter. When the offense has a stagnant possession, it is almost always up to him to create something at the end of the shot clock. E’Twaun simply never had that amount of burden on his shoulders. Does Carsen occasionally take a bad shot, sure, but how many games have we seen a lot of those shots go down? And how much attention does he draw that opens up others for open shots and offensive rebounds? Overall through 3 years between the two I’d give Smooge the nod due to his consistency, but overall impact is much closer than shooting percentage alone indicates.

I’ve never seen a player in my life hounded like Edwards has been hounded in the past 3 weeks. He’s being grabbed, held, pushed...whatever teams can get away with...and are getting away with to try and stop him.

He’s never been a high level efficiency player. That’s not his game. Yes, if he hit more of the shots he took we’d be better. You can say that for any player on any team.

This team will live and die by him because honestly, they have to. We’ve had good results thus far because He’s been a successful scorer. We’ve had success in the short term because other members of the team have picked up some scoring slack.

I don’t really get what the end game is here. You want Edwards benched? For who? A team full of Grady? Part of the reason others have been successful on the team is because Edwards gets so much attention. Bench him and it’s 5 guys who can’t create their own shot. Yes, if Carsen was more efficient we easily win the conference and look destined for a final 4.

You’re asking a Zebra to change his stripes in the last games of his career. Give me a break please. This team could make a run with good play. This team IS good. The repeated insinuations that if our best player would stop being himself and just be better and we would be better...it’s silly and childish.

***** Sorry First down I thought I copied Lbodels post

 

[purduepat1969]

I do think there's a factor in this, but is it enough to be dropping shooting percentages by 10%+? I don't know about that.

Look at E'twaun's senior year - there was no Hummel. There were only 2 players that scored in double digits per game - E'twaun and JJ. E'twaun was the only perimeter consistent offensive threat and he shot 15 times a game.

Do you think E'twaun didn't receive defensive pressure/attention? He shot 45% for the season, 40% from 3. Pretty solid.

The attention they received from defenses isn't that dramatically different.

Yes, he's receiving defensive pressure, but the biggest culprit in his shooting percentage is the shot selection. It simply has not been good.

Agreed. If Carsen cleaned up his shot selection, his % would dramatically improve.

 

[70boiler]

Agreed. If Carsen cleaned up his shot selection, his % would dramatically improve.

Yes, and if pigs could fly I wouldn't have to go to the market for bacon.
As long as Carsen and CMP, rightfully or wrogfully, perceive him as "a shooter" he will continue to do what shooters do and that's fire away.
Admittedly, I don't fully agree with it, but the Boilers are at 20 wins and ranked in the top 15, so I am actually content to let Painter be Painter and hope for a 30+ win season.

 

[Treed1967]

I’ve never seen a player in my life hounded like Edwards has been hounded in the past 3 weeks. He’s being grabbed, held, pushed...whatever teams can get away with...and are getting away with to try and stop him.

He’s never been a high level efficiency player. That’s not his game. Yes, if he hit more of the shots he took we’d be better. You can say that for any player on any team.

This team will live and die by him because honestly, they have to. We’ve had good results thus far because He’s been a successful scorer. We’ve had success in the short term because other members of the team have picked up some scoring slack.

I don’t really get what the end game is here. You want Edwards benched? For who? A team full of Grady? Part of the reason others have been successful on the team is because Edwards gets so much attention. Bench him and it’s 5 guys who can’t create their own shot. Yes, if Carsen was more efficient we easily win the conference and look destined for a final 4.

You’re asking a Zebra to change his stripes in the last games of his career. Give me a break please. This team could make a run with good play. This team IS good. The repeated insinuations that if our best player would stop being himself and just be better and we would be better...it’s silly and childish.

***** Sorry First down I thought I copied Lbodels post

5 guys that cannot create there own shot completely false bcuz most of them can but how this offense is designed for more guys on the perimeter to shoot the ball than it is for others attack the basket. This is a team game and when one of there teammates is struggling others take up the slack and I see many stepping up taking on the scoring load that is helping this team win in a variety of ways. Carsen will get back to being carsen we all know that bcuz he’s built that way he won’t let nothing hold him down but I’m giving credit to were credit is due to the others who have stepped up in a big way to help put this team in position it’s in. Each of these players can do more than u see but each player roles are what makes this team really good.

 

[purduepat1969]

Yes, and if pigs could fly I wouldn't have to go to the market for bacon.
As long as Carsen and CMP, rightfully or wrogfully, perceive him as "a shooter" he will continue to do what shooters do and that's fire away.
Admittedly, I don't fully agree with it, but the Boilers are at 20 wins and ranked in the top 15, so I am actually content to let Painter be Painter and hope for a 30+ win season.

Goodness sakes. "Firing away" with good shot selection is much different than jacking up impossible shots. Not sure what's so difficult to understand about that?

 

[70boiler]

Goodness sakes. "Firing away" with good shot selection is much different than jacking up impossible shots. Not sure what's so difficult to understand about that?

I understand the difference, but I don't understand your reply.
What I suggested is that I am not a personally a supporter of CE shot selection, but I am not going to complain incessantly since CMP has not acted to significantly limit him and this team has achieved 20 wins at this point.
I recognize that I am a passenger on the bus and not the driver or the tour director. So back at you with "Not sure what's so difficult to understand about that?"

 

[lbodel]

Yes, and if pigs could fly I wouldn't have to go to the market for bacon.
As long as Carsen and CMP, rightfully or wrogfully, perceive him as "a shooter" he will continue to do what shooters do and that's fire away.
Admittedly, I don't fully agree with it, but the Boilers are at 20 wins and ranked in the top 15, so I am actually content to let Painter be Painter and hope for a 30+ win season.

I think what you're mistaking is that nobody is saying otherwise. I trust Painter to handle the situation - he himself has said that you can't shoot yourself out of a slump.

You seem to infer that Painter is perfectly happy with Carsen's play. We don't know - and it should be something that if addressed, shouldn't be done in the public arena.

 

[lbodel]

It’s just hard to compare Carsen with Moore. JJ was an All American. There is no one remotely close to JJ on this team. Smith was somewhat similar to Cline, much closer in ability than Cline is to JJ. LJ was a good ball handler. And Kramer did a little of everything.

The makeup of this team dictates that Carsen be a volume shooter. When the offense has a stagnant possession, it is almost always up to him to create something at the end of the shot clock. E’Twaun simply never had that amount of burden on his shoulders. Does Carsen occasionally take a bad shot, sure, but how many games have we seen a lot of those shots go down? And how much attention does he draw that opens up others for open shots and offensive rebounds? Overall through 3 years between the two I’d give Smooge the nod due to his consistency, but overall impact is much closer than shooting percentage alone indicates.

There's never an exact comparison. Yes, JJ was a good player. But Moore was our only consistent perimeter threat on that team - Smith is not comparable to Cline. It's not like we have centers coming out to double team Carsen because we don't have a great center.

Cline is this team's 2nd leading scorer - also a perimeter threat. This is why Carsen being a bit more patient is important - there's OTHER perimeter threats on this team. But if teams know he's going to control the basketball and likely take a difficult shot, they won't leave him. The oxymoron in this all is that the more involved other players become, the less focus teams will afford to put on him. If a team knows he'll take 30-40% of our shots every single game, they'll double him the whole damn time.

For as high volume as he's been, Carsen's done a decent job of getting his teammates involved - but there's been some pretty blatant times when it's been a very bad decision (either rushing a very early bad shot, or simply ignoring an open teammate - Cline was one in a pretty obvious play vs. Nebraska). That's the thing - if he doesn't make those extra passes, teams won't bother focusing on anyone else but Carsen.

 

[70boiler]

I think what you're mistaking is that nobody is saying otherwise. I trust Painter to handle the situation - he himself has said that you can't shoot yourself out of a slump.

You seem to infer that Painter is perfectly happy with Carsen's play. We don't know - and it should be something that if addressed, shouldn't be done in the public arena.

I agree with your assessment (other than perhaps that nobody is saying otherwise). I certainly wasn't trying to imply what Painter is thinking, only what he has publicly done or refrained from.

 

[lbodel]

I agree with your assessment (other than perhaps that nobody is saying otherwise). I certainly wasn't trying to imply what Painter is thinking, only what he has publicly done or refrained from.

I think it's a matter of definition of green light. I think Carsen last year had a green light to shoot whenever. But the shots he took last year were of much higher quality. He can still have a green light and take better shots - I think that's the gist of what people are trying to say.

His shot selection will likely be what boils down to a good rest of the year and a great rest of the year for this team. He can have a crappy game against a Nebraska and our team as a whole is good enough to overcome it. But when you start playing tournament basketball - there's not a lot of room for error.

 

[hamcoboiler]

fg% in the past is hard one to debate. you go back and watch the old videos of mount and he is never even touched. the defenders couldn't put their hands on them. Carsen gets mugged just trying to get open. the game has got much more physical.

 

[tenwest]

I just hope we can see one of their best games of the year before the BTT starts so I wouldn’t have to sit here and think they’ve hit that February wall.........again.

 

[lbodel]

I just hope we can see one of their best games of the year before the BTT starts so I wouldn’t have to sit here and think they’ve hit that February wall.........again.

I mean, it's all relative. If you look at the Michigan State win - we didn't shoot 50% or something. We shot 37% for the game.

At Wisconsin, we shot 42%.

So it's not like we've been rolling through the season shooting lights out and suddenly can't make shots. Most of the low shooting percentage is Carsen weighing it down. The rest of the team shot 45% vs. Nebraska (w/Carsen 37%) and 42% vs. IU (w/Carsen 32%). The only game the rest of the team was as bad was Maryland.

 

[purduepat1969]

I understand the difference, but I don't understand your reply.
What I suggested is that I am not a personally a supporter of CE shot selection, but I am not going to complain incessantly since CMP has not acted to significantly limit him and this team has achieved 20 wins at this point.
I recognize that I am a passenger on the bus and not the driver or the tour director. So back at you with "Not sure what's so difficult to understand about that?"

No argument. My response should have been relegated to others who have not admitted that Carsen's shot selection is horrific at times.

 

[MTobin]

Would it be fair to consider which players on that list received the amount of attention in the opposing team’s game plan as Carsen does? Definitely Mount and Big Dog. None of the players since I’ve been following (circa 1997). Maybe 3 or 4 others??

Glenn, yes, but if you watch old YouTube videos of games with Mount, you'll see no one was playing a whole lot of defense in that era.

 

[Born Boiler]

I went through the tedious process of assembling this list to take older fans down memory lane and to show younger fans the quality of Purdue’s history. Instead some just can’t grasp the past. Life actually existed before your birth.

It’s laughable to denigrate a three-time All-American’s numbers based on video clips, particularly in favor of someone whose career shooting [now .415] barely beats Terone Johnson’s [.411] let alone Rick Mount’s [.483].

The reality is, anyone who can rank among the leading players in Purdue’s long basketball history -- and particularly all the All-Americans and NBA players and proven stars listed above -- drew a helluva lot more than passing notice from their opponents.

Career numbers aren’t speculations -- you make or you miss; you score or you don’t -- and the fact is Carsen ranks among top 10 scorers in school history and among the list’s 12 worst shooters. Thankfully, his teammates have learned to adapt; now they even can score on airballs.

I enjoy Carsen and keep hoping for makes, but I’m not just being selfish when I think he needs another year here with more discretion and fewer turnovers to maximize himself, his career and his pro chances, and it’d be a shame if Ohio State on Saturday is his final home game.

 

[Chauncey1986]

Carsen Edwards was named Purdue’s 30th All-American player in 2018 after his 18.5 scoring on .458 shooting as a sophomore.

For 2019, he’s scoring more, but he’s made barely a third of his shots in Big Ten games.

He hit 50 percent just four times in the first 16 league games [only once going better], while his 7-for-40 road trip to iu and Nebraska sank his shooting to .339 in conference play and .391 overall. His junior season scoring average slipped to 23.4 after showing 26.0 at Christmas time.

Edwards’ career numbers stood at 17.0 scoring and .414 shooting entering the final two weeks of the 2019 schedule. He’d shot only .382 as a freshman [10.3 ppg].

By comparison, Rick Mount’s worst shooting year was .437 as a sophomore [28.5 ppg]. Mount shot .515 as a junior [33.3 ppg], .490 as a senior [35.4 ppg] and finished at .483 for his career, averaging 32.3 points per game.

Most of Purdue’s other All-Americans and/or NBA players shot at high clips for their careers --
Rick Mount [32.3 ppg] shot .483 in three years;
Dave Schellhase [28.8 ppg] shot .463 in three;
Terry Dischinger [28.3 ppg] shot .553 in three;
Glenn Robinson [27.5 ppg] shot .479 in two;
John Garrett [19.8 ppg] shot .530 in three;
Carl Landry [18.4 ppg] shot .602 in three;
Joe Barry Carroll [17.7 ppg] shot .546 in four;
Bob Ford [17.0 ppg] shot .503 in three;
Walter Jordan [16.6 ppg] shot .479 in four;
Russell Cross [16.4 ppg] shot .578 in three;
Frank Kendrick [16.3 ppg] shot .443 in three;
Herm Gilliam [16.0 ppg] shot .464 in three;
E’Twaun Moore [15.3 ppg] shot .440 in four;
Larry Weatherford [14.5] shot .405 in three;
Caleb Swanigan [14.4 ppg] shot .501 in two;
Willie Merriweather [14.4 ppg] shot .437 in three;
Billy Keller [14.1 ppg] shot .475 in three;
Robbie Hummel [14.0 ppg] shot .443 in four;
Todd Mitchell [13.7 ppg] shot .541 in four;
JaJuan Johnson [13.7 ppg] shot .501 in four;
William Franklin [13.3 ppg] shot .447 in three;
Keith Edmunson [13.1 ppg] shot .529 in four;
Cuonzo Martin [13.1 ppg] shot .472 in four;
Eugene Parker [13.0 ppg] shot .488 in four;
Melvin McCants [12.4 ppg] shot .562 in four;
A.J. Hammoms [12.1 ppg] shot .539 in four;
Brian Cardinal [12.0 ppg] shot .461 in four;
Brad Miller [12.0 ppg] shot .572 in four;
Vince Edwards [11.9 ppg] shot .473 in four;
Paul Hoffman [11-plus ppg] in four;
Isaac Haas [11.2 ppg] shot .589 in four;
Bruce Parkinson [10.9 ppg] shot .423 in five;
Jimmy Oliver [10.7 ppg] shot .465 in three;
Steve Scheffler [10.5 ppg] shot .685 in four;
Jerry Sichting [9.9 ppg] shot .520 in four;
Doug Lee [9.9 ppg] shot .492 in two;
Everette Stephens [8.8 ppg] shot .499 in four;
Arnette Hallman [8.4 ppg] shot .464 in two;
Jim Rowinski [8.3 ppg] shot .514 in four;
Tom Scheffler [6.7 ppg] shot .519 in four.

And that doesn’t include All-Americans Carl McNulty, Fred Beretta, Jewell Young, Bob Kessler, Emmett Lowery, Norm Cottom, John Wooden, Charles Murphy, George Spradling, Ray Miller, Don White, Elmer Oliphant, Larry Teeple and Dave Charters or pros Ed Ehlers and Forest Weber. Purdue’s record book doesn’t list their career numbers.

Among Purdue’s other leading scorers --
Mel Garland [17.5 ppg] shot .458 in three years;
Joe Sexson [16.6 ppg] shot .354 in three;
Troy Lewis [16.4 ppg] shot .499 in four;
Bob Purkhiser [15.1 ppg] shot .442 in three;
William Elson [14.7 ppg] shot .461 in three;
Willie Deane [14.4 ppg] shot .425 in three;
Harry Ebershoff [14.2 ppg] shot .406 in three;
Chad Austin [13.1 ppg] shot .421 in four;
Jaraan Cornell [12.8 ppg] shot .428 in four;
Dennis Blind [12.6 ppg] shot .341 in four;
Steve Reid [12.2 ppg] shot .461 in three;
George Faerber [11.6 ppg] shot .584 in three;
Woody Austin [11.6 ppg] shot .460 in four;
David Teague [11.4 ppg] shot .401 in four;
Bill Greve [11.1 ppg] shot .369 in three;
Ronnie Johnson [10.6 ppg] shot .400 in two;
Mike Robinson [10.0 ppg] shot .467 in four;
Kenneth Lowe [10.0 ppg] shot .443 in four;
Chuckie White [10.0 ppg] shot .568 in three;
Drake Morris [9.9 ppg] shot .492 in four;
Terone Johnson [9.8 ppg] shot .411 in four;
Wayne Walls [9.4 pgg] shot .437 in four;
Tim McGinley [9.3 ppg] shot .398 in three;
Matt Waddell [9.2 ppg] shot .454 in four;
Carson Cunningham [9.2 ppg] shot .401 in three;
Tony Jones [8.4 ppg] shot .472 in four;
Dakota Mathias [8.1 ppg] shot .434 in four;
Raphael Davis [7.7 ppg] shot .435 in four;
Keaton Grant [7.5 ppg] shot .386 in four;
Lewis Jackson [7.3 ppg] shot .469 in four.

So, how does Carsen compare, with a minimum of six games left in his third year … and possibly his career?

I don't know, but Scheffler was a beast.

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

I don't know, but Scheffler was a beast.

another great Boilermaker.....

and courtesy of TJ....