Asked Matt Painter whether he thought his team could have this type of season without Kendall Stephens taking a 'significant' jump forward and he said, no, he didn't, but credited his team for overcoming it.
'I really thought he was aligned to be an all-conference type of player,' Painter said, 'and if not now, then close to it.'
Painter said he thinks finger and ankle injuries have really impacted the sophomore this season and said that maybe he should have addressed it better publicly than his usual 'Everyone's fine/no excuses' sort of message. Not sure why he'd say that now, other than to protect the player.
Something, IMO, is clearly wrong with Stephens, whether it's physical or mental because of the physical.
• Asked by trolling Michigan State media about Branden Dawson killing Purdue over the years, Painter said that in past games, Purdue has always been concerned with the high-end offensive players the Spartans have had and that's left Dawson on a less-than-ideal matchup. Painter's point was that Purdue has never schemed to stop Dawson and he's killed them because of it.
Interesting comment. I would expect him to get Purdue's full attention Wednesday night.
• Painter said two of Jon Octeus' fouls at Ohio State 'weren't even close to being fouls.' The Purdue coach has been very outspoken about officiating this season, largely because the Isaac Haas infusion has brought the issue to the forefront for the Boilermakers so often.
• Painter was clearly complimentary of Haas' play lately and said he'll get better when he can A) play more minutes, B) play through mistakes and C) the officials adjust more to him and understand 'he gets fouled on every play.'
'I really thought he was aligned to be an all-conference type of player,' Painter said, 'and if not now, then close to it.'
Painter said he thinks finger and ankle injuries have really impacted the sophomore this season and said that maybe he should have addressed it better publicly than his usual 'Everyone's fine/no excuses' sort of message. Not sure why he'd say that now, other than to protect the player.
Something, IMO, is clearly wrong with Stephens, whether it's physical or mental because of the physical.
• Asked by trolling Michigan State media about Branden Dawson killing Purdue over the years, Painter said that in past games, Purdue has always been concerned with the high-end offensive players the Spartans have had and that's left Dawson on a less-than-ideal matchup. Painter's point was that Purdue has never schemed to stop Dawson and he's killed them because of it.
Interesting comment. I would expect him to get Purdue's full attention Wednesday night.
• Painter said two of Jon Octeus' fouls at Ohio State 'weren't even close to being fouls.' The Purdue coach has been very outspoken about officiating this season, largely because the Isaac Haas infusion has brought the issue to the forefront for the Boilermakers so often.
• Painter was clearly complimentary of Haas' play lately and said he'll get better when he can A) play more minutes, B) play through mistakes and C) the officials adjust more to him and understand 'he gets fouled on every play.'
