BLOOMINGTON — A few final musings from Purdue's 81-69 win at IU, because I know how you like musings.
• Not to make this political, but someone should point out that Indiana just went a whole presidency without beating Purdue in basketball, when for much of this eight-game winning streak, the Boilermakers weren't head-and-shoulders better, as they have been at times over the years.
There are just big differences between these two programs in terms of not only offensive skill, but toughness and whatnot. I didn't think Purdue had a tough team last season and it still swept the Hoosiers. Really an impressive run Purdue's on, and I say that as someone who always expects Purdue to lose in Assembly Hall, because that seems like the way it should be for IU, but it's just not.
• I think Indiana is a pretty solid defensive team. Not like elite or anything, but not bad. Nevertheless, Purdue executed offensively like IU was Notre Dame, save for the required turnover-spree in the first half and the short-lived foul line meltdown at the end.
The Boilermakers show flashes of being really good on offense at times, but just can't be consistent. Maybe this was a step in the right direction.
• Trevion Williams has always been a good, at times really good, player, but he's now very much one thing he hasn't always been: Reliable. He's Purdue's rock right now.
• Jaden Ivey's going to be a star. Same as I've said since the spring he committed.
• Brandon Newman might be, too.
• Huge for Purdue that Eric Hunter had some success tonight. He was good at both ends of the floor. Purdue was going to be hard-pressed to win big games like these with him struggling.
• Purdue's got a chance to be a really good team by the end of the season, IMO.
And as is, I think they're sitting pretty for an NCAA berth.
Think of it this way: You're 4-3 now with most of your worst road games behind you, a home game against Nebraska still to be rescheduled (5-3 most likely) and a bunch of home games during the second half of the season. A .500 record in the Big Ten gets you in easy this year, and Purdue may be able to do even better than that.
• I still can't for the life of me understand how Indiana doesn't have anyone who can shoot. Give Armaan Franklin credit. He's made himself into a hell of a player, but they should have more than one guard who defenses have to worry about.
• Mason Gillis and Brandon Newman are going to be Purdue's competitive center for years to come, IMO. Both of those guys really play hard and really want to win. They represent so much of the difference between last year's team and this year's. All due respect to those who left after last season, competitively, Purdue wins the trade between who left and who came out of redshirt.
Gillis is going to be an elite role guy at Purdue his whole career, if not more, and maybe an all-time Painter Era Mackey Arena favorite. Absolute warrior.
Good, um, morning everyone and thanks for reading.
• Not to make this political, but someone should point out that Indiana just went a whole presidency without beating Purdue in basketball, when for much of this eight-game winning streak, the Boilermakers weren't head-and-shoulders better, as they have been at times over the years.
There are just big differences between these two programs in terms of not only offensive skill, but toughness and whatnot. I didn't think Purdue had a tough team last season and it still swept the Hoosiers. Really an impressive run Purdue's on, and I say that as someone who always expects Purdue to lose in Assembly Hall, because that seems like the way it should be for IU, but it's just not.
• I think Indiana is a pretty solid defensive team. Not like elite or anything, but not bad. Nevertheless, Purdue executed offensively like IU was Notre Dame, save for the required turnover-spree in the first half and the short-lived foul line meltdown at the end.
The Boilermakers show flashes of being really good on offense at times, but just can't be consistent. Maybe this was a step in the right direction.
• Trevion Williams has always been a good, at times really good, player, but he's now very much one thing he hasn't always been: Reliable. He's Purdue's rock right now.
• Jaden Ivey's going to be a star. Same as I've said since the spring he committed.
• Brandon Newman might be, too.
• Huge for Purdue that Eric Hunter had some success tonight. He was good at both ends of the floor. Purdue was going to be hard-pressed to win big games like these with him struggling.
• Purdue's got a chance to be a really good team by the end of the season, IMO.
And as is, I think they're sitting pretty for an NCAA berth.
Think of it this way: You're 4-3 now with most of your worst road games behind you, a home game against Nebraska still to be rescheduled (5-3 most likely) and a bunch of home games during the second half of the season. A .500 record in the Big Ten gets you in easy this year, and Purdue may be able to do even better than that.
• I still can't for the life of me understand how Indiana doesn't have anyone who can shoot. Give Armaan Franklin credit. He's made himself into a hell of a player, but they should have more than one guard who defenses have to worry about.
• Mason Gillis and Brandon Newman are going to be Purdue's competitive center for years to come, IMO. Both of those guys really play hard and really want to win. They represent so much of the difference between last year's team and this year's. All due respect to those who left after last season, competitively, Purdue wins the trade between who left and who came out of redshirt.
Gillis is going to be an elite role guy at Purdue his whole career, if not more, and maybe an all-time Painter Era Mackey Arena favorite. Absolute warrior.
Good, um, morning everyone and thanks for reading.
