A few final musings from Purdue's 76-65 win over Michigan State, because I know how you like musings.
• Not sure what more to say about Trevion Williams at this point. He's having a great season and has been everything Purdue's needed him to be. He's cracked that top five of Purdue's best big men under Matt Painter IMO. I have him just passing up Carl Landry and creeping up on Isaac Haas.
Anyway, he's been consistent and he's been clutch, and he's turning these physics-defying ballerina shots into an art form.
• I can't for the life of me understand why people don't double the post vs. Purdue. Michigan State mostly didn't tonight. Marcus Bingham can't guard Trevion Williams, never has been able to, never will be able to. They handed Purdue a 4-0 lead putting him out there by himself.
In the past, Michigan State's gone one-on-one with Isaac Haas and A.J. Hammons specifically to try to take away Purdue's shooters instead and hope the bigs can't quite score enough to beat. Thing is, those were borderline elite shooting teams. This group is shooting 30 percent from three this Big Ten season, shoots too much and is still smarting from its best shooter's COVID.
I don't get it. People treat Purdue defensively like they're shooting 40 percent instead of 30. Then again, maybe that's part of the reason Purdue's shooting 30 percent and not 40.
Anyway, Michigan State should have doubled the post.
• Brandon Newman struggled offensively again and I thought he really forced some things offensively in the first half, but kudos to him for making plays on defense. The pick-six on Foster Loyer, the steal at the very end and another block.
Matt Painter's Teddy Ruxpin message to those guys is to find other ways to be productive when you're not shooting well or scoring.
Message received, seems like.
Also, notice Matt Painter's savvy in offense-defense subbing Sasha Stefanovic and Newman pretty early on.
• Quick reminder that Jaden Ivey was tremendous as a passer tonight and did a good job on defense, too.
• Mason Gillis did not make a field goal, but was instrumental to this win. Eight points at the foul line, two defensive rebounds and a steal in the final 2:43. Drew six fouls for the game. An offensive rebound that led to points, if I recall correctly.
Gamer.
• Purdue's got to be better than it was during that stretch playing with the comfy lead late. The attempted lob by Eric Hunter to Jaden Ivey wasn't a veteran-type play during an otherwise fine game for Hunter. And the fouls would have had Mackey Arena groaning had there been anyone there. To Purdue's credit, it put a decisive stop to the tomfoolery by clamping down on defense at the very end and making all their free throws. Mason Gillis did, I mean.
• Michigan State's offensive rebounding I think was more of a credit to Michigan State than an indictment of Purdue. Purdue did get a good effort from the Spartans. And at least one of those offensive rebounds came when Purdue didn't have a 5 on the floor.
But Purdue could have done better there, and if you'd told me before the game that Julius Marble and Mady Sissoko would combine for 15 points, I'd have thought maybe this was the Spartans' night.
• Purdue has better players than Michigan State does and should be on an even playing field, at least, for the foreseeable future, Emoni Bates (if he ever plays a college game) notwithstanding.
Quite a flipped script there.
That Michigan State had four different guys get preseason All-Big Ten votes, which was ridiculous at the time and is ultra-ridiculous now.
• Cool for Fletcher Loyer than he got to see Purdue this season after all.
Thanks for reading, everybody, and have a good night.
• Not sure what more to say about Trevion Williams at this point. He's having a great season and has been everything Purdue's needed him to be. He's cracked that top five of Purdue's best big men under Matt Painter IMO. I have him just passing up Carl Landry and creeping up on Isaac Haas.
Anyway, he's been consistent and he's been clutch, and he's turning these physics-defying ballerina shots into an art form.
• I can't for the life of me understand why people don't double the post vs. Purdue. Michigan State mostly didn't tonight. Marcus Bingham can't guard Trevion Williams, never has been able to, never will be able to. They handed Purdue a 4-0 lead putting him out there by himself.
In the past, Michigan State's gone one-on-one with Isaac Haas and A.J. Hammons specifically to try to take away Purdue's shooters instead and hope the bigs can't quite score enough to beat. Thing is, those were borderline elite shooting teams. This group is shooting 30 percent from three this Big Ten season, shoots too much and is still smarting from its best shooter's COVID.
I don't get it. People treat Purdue defensively like they're shooting 40 percent instead of 30. Then again, maybe that's part of the reason Purdue's shooting 30 percent and not 40.
Anyway, Michigan State should have doubled the post.
• Brandon Newman struggled offensively again and I thought he really forced some things offensively in the first half, but kudos to him for making plays on defense. The pick-six on Foster Loyer, the steal at the very end and another block.
Matt Painter's Teddy Ruxpin message to those guys is to find other ways to be productive when you're not shooting well or scoring.
Message received, seems like.
Also, notice Matt Painter's savvy in offense-defense subbing Sasha Stefanovic and Newman pretty early on.
• Quick reminder that Jaden Ivey was tremendous as a passer tonight and did a good job on defense, too.
• Mason Gillis did not make a field goal, but was instrumental to this win. Eight points at the foul line, two defensive rebounds and a steal in the final 2:43. Drew six fouls for the game. An offensive rebound that led to points, if I recall correctly.
Gamer.
• Purdue's got to be better than it was during that stretch playing with the comfy lead late. The attempted lob by Eric Hunter to Jaden Ivey wasn't a veteran-type play during an otherwise fine game for Hunter. And the fouls would have had Mackey Arena groaning had there been anyone there. To Purdue's credit, it put a decisive stop to the tomfoolery by clamping down on defense at the very end and making all their free throws. Mason Gillis did, I mean.
• Michigan State's offensive rebounding I think was more of a credit to Michigan State than an indictment of Purdue. Purdue did get a good effort from the Spartans. And at least one of those offensive rebounds came when Purdue didn't have a 5 on the floor.
But Purdue could have done better there, and if you'd told me before the game that Julius Marble and Mady Sissoko would combine for 15 points, I'd have thought maybe this was the Spartans' night.
• Purdue has better players than Michigan State does and should be on an even playing field, at least, for the foreseeable future, Emoni Bates (if he ever plays a college game) notwithstanding.
Quite a flipped script there.
That Michigan State had four different guys get preseason All-Big Ten votes, which was ridiculous at the time and is ultra-ridiculous now.
• Cool for Fletcher Loyer than he got to see Purdue this season after all.
Thanks for reading, everybody, and have a good night.
Last edited:
