Defense

[proudopete]

Although the competition hasn’t been the best, the team has quietly improved seemingly a good amount on defense.

Furst has been the catalyst for the most part but the entire team seems to be playing with much more energy and locked in on the defensive end. Can this be a lesson learned during games like Auburn and Alabama? I believe both games have had an effect.

The question is can the team continue playing this way when the competition ramps up?

 

[boilerzz]

Furst is the biggest difference defensively. He's much more versatile than I gave him credit for. He checked future top 5 pick Ace Bailey for much of the night last night and did a great job. And when TKR was out, he was bodying up to a couple of big dudes and had similar success.

Love what Heide brings but he doesn't have that ability yet.

 

[boilerzz]

The other massive difference that is affecting the defensive numbers are the lack of live ball turnovers the last few games. Purdue has been decent defensively this year when they get set up in the halfcourt. It's the transition defense that has been a big issue and that has largely absent during this run.

Total turnovers in the 4 game winning streak is 30. 7.5 per game is elite. And the last two games, it was done against a couple of the more physical teams in the B1G.

 

[Boiler Buck]

Although the competition hasn’t been the best, the team has quietly improved seemingly a good amount on defense.

Furst has been the catalyst for the most part but the entire team seems to be playing with much more energy and locked in on the defensive end. Can this be a lesson learned during games like Auburn and Alabama? I believe both games have had an effect.

The question is can the team continue playing this way when the competition ramps up?

Rutgers was sad low energy team when we caught them. So bad. But yes the D is improving remarkably.

Furst might of had his best game as a Boiler doing the little things. The hustle around the 11 minute mark? causing the Bailey stepping over half court turnover was awesome. But just as valuable are the pics he is setting without fouling and the rebounding. Jumping out to stop players on a switch like he did a few times, one on Harper early in the game was new. Just so many little things.

 

[seminolesboilers]

This is the Furst I had expected after his freshman season...welcome back to the show!

 

[DrEss]

This is the Furst I had expected after his freshman season...welcome back to the show!

It seems Caleb is playing with more confidence, since returning to the starting lineup and getting increased and important minutes. We can only hope this continues through the remaining schedule and tournaments.

 

[Thordog]

I really like these kinds of Purdue teams. They lose a lottery pick, too tall player in Zach Edey, and struggle in early games to find the mix of rotation that works. Painter and his staff have routinely found what works best and lately, this lineup is working great. Gotta love the energy this team plays with. This should have been a 25 point victory, but that's just nit picking.

 

[DwaynePurvis00]

I really like these kinds of Purdue teams. They lose a lottery pick, too tall player in Zach Edey, and struggle in early games to find the mix of rotation that works. Painter and his staff have routinely found what works best and lately, this lineup is working great. Gotta love the energy this team plays with. This should have been a 25 point victory, but that's just nit picking.

I would say even 30+. We hit our avg of 3s, which had been 4 more and hit 4 more FTs it woulda been a huge blowout.

But also, Rutgers played reaaaalllllyyy baaaaad

 

[Boiler Buck]

I really like these kinds of Purdue teams. They lose a lottery pick, too tall player in Zach Edey, and struggle in early games to find the mix of rotation that works. Painter and his staff have routinely found what works best and lately, this lineup is working great. Gotta love the energy this team plays with. This should have been a 25 point victory, but that's just nit picking.

Be interesting to see how the great improvement we see on the court looks against quality competition. No doubt the D passes the eye test. But the last couple of teams were questionable, at least when we caught them. Part was the D, sure, but let's face it, it's not like these opponents played well either.

 

[Thordog]

I would say even 30+. We hit our avg of 3s, which had been 4 more and hit 4 more FTs it woulda been a huge blowout.

But also, Rutgers played reaaaalllllyyy baaaaad

True on the 3 point shooting, but the 2 point FG percentage was great. Missed too many free throws which always pisses me off. Probably another 4 points there.

As @Boiler Buck pointed out, Rutgers just gave up in the 2nd half - pretty immature (and I mean age / experience wise) team, but man they have talent.