EVANSTON, Ill. — A few final musings from Purdue's 70-57 win at Northwestern, sealing a share of the Big Ten title.
• A remarkable season for Purdue, to win the Big Ten in a transition year, rebuilding year, bridge year, call it what you want. This was a brand-new team, woefully under-experienced and one with distinct flaws, most of which were covered up or simply overcome all season. This team has overachieved for that reason, getting this Big Ten title when it was within reach was huge.
None of it's possible, though, if this team didn't play as hard as it has all season. Its effort has been very good, and that makes this a very Purdue-ish Big Ten title.
• Matt Painter should have locked up Big Ten Coach-of-the-Year today. It's a no-brainer now. You know by now I'm not one to equate a won-loss record to the caliber of the coaching job done, but with what Painter had to work with this season, to the way this team was crafted to where the sum of the parts are better than the actual parts, that speaks to leadership at all levels, and I know midseason some hard conversations were had and the results sort of speak for themselves. This team didn't come without challenges, and a lot of those challenges remain.
But players have seemed to respond to Painter all season, and effort is often a reflection of the coach, and Purdue crafted great offense and some strong defense this season despite some limitations, and an utter dearth of experience, really.
• Maybe people need to stop looking at Purdue as the Little Engine That Could, a team that wins with bad players. That seems to be a consistent line of questioning, about Purdue winning with under-recruited guys or whatever.
Yes, they start a walk-on, but maybe give Grady Eifert credit for being a good player instead of Purdue for winning with a walk-on.
Or acknowledge the fact there are good recruits out there, too. Nojel Eastern and Carsen Edwards were touted recruits, Eastern earlier than Edwards, but not much difference when all was said and done. Matt Haarms and Aaron Wheeler had high-major offers from a pretty wide variety, and Trevion Williams did too.
Or, look at players for what they are now instead of what they looked like then.
Anyway, moving on.
• Give Carsen Edwards a lot of credit for today, again. He played the way Purdue needed him to play, and I think his five assists were just as significant as his 21 points, and his best plays of the day were passes. And the big three.
• That was some effort by Trevion Williams and Aaron Wheeler and it can never be a bad thing, again, when your young players play their best with the most on the line. Speaks to their competitiveness and it mattering to them, as Painter would say.
• Purdue may have a dearth of seniors next season, but it has great leadership coming up in Nojel Eastern and Matt Haarms and I think that success begets success and culture begets culture. They should be in a great spot moving forward.
• A remarkable season for Purdue, to win the Big Ten in a transition year, rebuilding year, bridge year, call it what you want. This was a brand-new team, woefully under-experienced and one with distinct flaws, most of which were covered up or simply overcome all season. This team has overachieved for that reason, getting this Big Ten title when it was within reach was huge.
None of it's possible, though, if this team didn't play as hard as it has all season. Its effort has been very good, and that makes this a very Purdue-ish Big Ten title.
• Matt Painter should have locked up Big Ten Coach-of-the-Year today. It's a no-brainer now. You know by now I'm not one to equate a won-loss record to the caliber of the coaching job done, but with what Painter had to work with this season, to the way this team was crafted to where the sum of the parts are better than the actual parts, that speaks to leadership at all levels, and I know midseason some hard conversations were had and the results sort of speak for themselves. This team didn't come without challenges, and a lot of those challenges remain.
But players have seemed to respond to Painter all season, and effort is often a reflection of the coach, and Purdue crafted great offense and some strong defense this season despite some limitations, and an utter dearth of experience, really.
• Maybe people need to stop looking at Purdue as the Little Engine That Could, a team that wins with bad players. That seems to be a consistent line of questioning, about Purdue winning with under-recruited guys or whatever.
Yes, they start a walk-on, but maybe give Grady Eifert credit for being a good player instead of Purdue for winning with a walk-on.
Or acknowledge the fact there are good recruits out there, too. Nojel Eastern and Carsen Edwards were touted recruits, Eastern earlier than Edwards, but not much difference when all was said and done. Matt Haarms and Aaron Wheeler had high-major offers from a pretty wide variety, and Trevion Williams did too.
Or, look at players for what they are now instead of what they looked like then.
Anyway, moving on.
• Give Carsen Edwards a lot of credit for today, again. He played the way Purdue needed him to play, and I think his five assists were just as significant as his 21 points, and his best plays of the day were passes. And the big three.
• That was some effort by Trevion Williams and Aaron Wheeler and it can never be a bad thing, again, when your young players play their best with the most on the line. Speaks to their competitiveness and it mattering to them, as Painter would say.
• Purdue may have a dearth of seniors next season, but it has great leadership coming up in Nojel Eastern and Matt Haarms and I think that success begets success and culture begets culture. They should be in a great spot moving forward.
