INDIANAPOLIS — Greetings from Gainbridge Fieldhouse, or whatever it's called these days, where the Crossroads Classic takes its final breaths, with No. 3 Purdue tipping things off against Butler.
A sneaky big game for Purdue in its final non-conference game of any relevance, because it's an opportunity for the Boilermakers to get some of their mojo back after a rough trip out east. Might be a reflection of Purdue's ability to refocus, recalibrate, reflect, reset and all sorts of other words that start with R.
Butler is solid, probably nothing more, nothing less, but this game may not be about the opponent as much as it is Purdue. N.C. State sure was.
Anyway, I'm running behind here, so three things ...
• I anticipate Trevion Williams moving back into the starting five. Does that impact Zach Edey in a positive manner? Edey is so good that he can go get 12 and seven in a 50/50 minutes split and you think he didn't play well. I think Purdue would like to see a little more authoritativeness from him and perhaps sitting and watching for four minutes and easing into the game maybe helps him do that.
• Turnover margin. Purdue's got to take better care of the basketball. That stretch of five turnovers in seven trips against N.C. State probably should have spelled defeat. Butler turns the ball over too much, but will a couple days lead-in here, and some personnel continuity from one game to the next, maybe they clean that up some. Purdue doesn't need to be taking risks fishing for steals, even though it's paid off for them at times.
• Brandon Newman. He's standing on the brink right now and could really use positive things to happen. He could play today and not score and that wouldn't mean he didn't do positive things. He's trying too hard right now, and it could be a positive thing for Purdue for him to play well today, because anything that happens in the next few buy games won't matter, because that's warped reality.
Thanks, all.
Follow along here or on Twitter at @brianneubert
I will have full coverage afterward. I am going to try to see Myles Colvin at Scecina tonight, so a corner or two might be cut, but we'll see how much time we have.
A sneaky big game for Purdue in its final non-conference game of any relevance, because it's an opportunity for the Boilermakers to get some of their mojo back after a rough trip out east. Might be a reflection of Purdue's ability to refocus, recalibrate, reflect, reset and all sorts of other words that start with R.
Butler is solid, probably nothing more, nothing less, but this game may not be about the opponent as much as it is Purdue. N.C. State sure was.
Anyway, I'm running behind here, so three things ...
• I anticipate Trevion Williams moving back into the starting five. Does that impact Zach Edey in a positive manner? Edey is so good that he can go get 12 and seven in a 50/50 minutes split and you think he didn't play well. I think Purdue would like to see a little more authoritativeness from him and perhaps sitting and watching for four minutes and easing into the game maybe helps him do that.
• Turnover margin. Purdue's got to take better care of the basketball. That stretch of five turnovers in seven trips against N.C. State probably should have spelled defeat. Butler turns the ball over too much, but will a couple days lead-in here, and some personnel continuity from one game to the next, maybe they clean that up some. Purdue doesn't need to be taking risks fishing for steals, even though it's paid off for them at times.
• Brandon Newman. He's standing on the brink right now and could really use positive things to happen. He could play today and not score and that wouldn't mean he didn't do positive things. He's trying too hard right now, and it could be a positive thing for Purdue for him to play well today, because anything that happens in the next few buy games won't matter, because that's warped reality.
Thanks, all.
Follow along here or on Twitter at @brianneubert
I will have full coverage afterward. I am going to try to see Myles Colvin at Scecina tonight, so a corner or two might be cut, but we'll see how much time we have.
