A few final musings from Purdue's 73-52 win at Penn State, because I know how you like musings.
• Again, if Aaron Wheeler doesn't make threes, it doesn't matter when he's affecting games other ways. When he gets in trouble, he's doing neither. The last two games he's done it all. Once again, if he can finally find consistency in this regard, Purdue will be much better off for it.
• Jaden Ivey might average 20 a game next season.
• Its first-half foul trouble didn't affect Purdue one bit tonight, speaking to the Boilermakers' depth right now, among other things. The bench was really and Isaiah Thompson did a good job offsetting the fact Eric Hunter's minutes were held down by fouls.
• Never in a million years would I have imagined prior to the season that there would be a Big Ten game that Purdue won by 21 on the road in which Jaden Ivey's steal total and blocked shot total added up to seven. He's come a long way defensively, but he's also just become a playmaker at that end of the floor.
• Good for Micah Shrewsberry, who I believe met with Penn State while on campus, then passed the most important portion of the interview by performing offensive surgery on the team Sandy Barbour might want him to be coaching next season. That game played out perfectly for him in that regard, I'd have to think.
• Might be important for Brandon Newman to not view this as a demotion or anything like that. If anyone needed a reminder why Sasha Stefanovic deserves to start, that game gave you all you need.
• This might be much ado about nothing, but Purdue looked like a good shooting team tonight. The shots were pure, in rhythm and went through clean. If the Boilermakers can find a rhythm in that regard now ...
• Quick reminder that Purdue always needs overtime to win at Penn State. Always. This team full of freshmen had this game over at halftime.
Quick reminder, too, that Michigan State hasn't lost since losing at Purdue.
• Still have to like the fact that Purdue is winning — and winning big — without Trevion Williams needing to get 20 every game. Purdue has really established some depth, but also balance. Jaden Ivey's become a fine wing man for Williams, Eric Hunter is sneaky-aggressive and it's paying off, and Stefanovic is back.
Thanks for reading, everybody, and have a good night.
• Again, if Aaron Wheeler doesn't make threes, it doesn't matter when he's affecting games other ways. When he gets in trouble, he's doing neither. The last two games he's done it all. Once again, if he can finally find consistency in this regard, Purdue will be much better off for it.
• Jaden Ivey might average 20 a game next season.
• Its first-half foul trouble didn't affect Purdue one bit tonight, speaking to the Boilermakers' depth right now, among other things. The bench was really and Isaiah Thompson did a good job offsetting the fact Eric Hunter's minutes were held down by fouls.
• Never in a million years would I have imagined prior to the season that there would be a Big Ten game that Purdue won by 21 on the road in which Jaden Ivey's steal total and blocked shot total added up to seven. He's come a long way defensively, but he's also just become a playmaker at that end of the floor.
• Good for Micah Shrewsberry, who I believe met with Penn State while on campus, then passed the most important portion of the interview by performing offensive surgery on the team Sandy Barbour might want him to be coaching next season. That game played out perfectly for him in that regard, I'd have to think.
• Might be important for Brandon Newman to not view this as a demotion or anything like that. If anyone needed a reminder why Sasha Stefanovic deserves to start, that game gave you all you need.
• This might be much ado about nothing, but Purdue looked like a good shooting team tonight. The shots were pure, in rhythm and went through clean. If the Boilermakers can find a rhythm in that regard now ...
• Quick reminder that Purdue always needs overtime to win at Penn State. Always. This team full of freshmen had this game over at halftime.
Quick reminder, too, that Michigan State hasn't lost since losing at Purdue.
• Still have to like the fact that Purdue is winning — and winning big — without Trevion Williams needing to get 20 every game. Purdue has really established some depth, but also balance. Jaden Ivey's become a fine wing man for Williams, Eric Hunter is sneaky-aggressive and it's paying off, and Stefanovic is back.
Thanks for reading, everybody, and have a good night.
