Fourth-quarter rally falls short (link)

[KODK]

Offensive rebounding ...

Link: Loss

More to come

 

[illiniboiler]

Right back to the NIT line unless we can beat MD or OSU. You can never say never, but not very likely. I have no idea how Minnesota lost as many as they have. They just fire salvos and hit a lot and they are super aggressive on the boards, which, in the end, won the game more than the hot shooting. The Boilers could not have started hotter, but the Golphers matched them and then just blew past them.
But this game was about rosters and the absence of Cooper again was a killer. Somehow Gray did play better than she ever has but only after a while because when she first came in the offense stagnated and Minnesota got the big lead they did not relinquish. But, again, a lack of depth killed Purdue. Cooper provides more offense and defense and speed and we badly needed that tonight. Until Versyp can get some depth, these kinds of games will bite us. We had to win this game I think to go to the NCAA or, we will have to win the rest of our home games and go deep in the BTT. Maybe a healthy Cooper, if that happens, will make the difference. A road win vs MD or OSU would make all the difference but surely can't be counted on. My guess now is the NIT and hopefully a deeper roster next year. This was really disappointing, Now a great week for Boiler fans.

 

[DocRon]

Right back to the NIT line unless we can beat MD or OSU. You can never say never, but not very likely. I have no idea how Minnesota lost as many as they have. They just fire salvos and hit a lot and they are super aggressive on the boards, which, in the end, won the game more than the hot shooting. The Boilers could not have started hotter, but the Golphers matched them and then just blew past them.
But this game was about rosters and the absence of Cooper again was a killer. Somehow Gray did play better than she ever has but only after a while because when she first came in the offense stagnated and Minnesota got the big lead they did not relinquish. But, again, a lack of depth killed Purdue. Cooper provides more offense and defense and speed and we badly needed that tonight. Until Versyp can get some depth, these kinds of games will bite us. We had to win this game I think to go to the NCAA or, we will have to win the rest of our home games and go deep in the BTT. Maybe a healthy Cooper, if that happens, will make the difference. A road win vs MD or OSU would make all the difference but surely can't be counted on. My guess now is the NIT and hopefully a deeper roster next year. This was really disappointing, Now a great week for Boiler fans.

Good post and I agree, illiniboiler. I am concerned about Cooper as it is never a good sign to be ill (missing 3 games), then better playing well in 1 game, then ill again to the point she could not dress. Prayers for Lamina.
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[illiniboiler]

Agree and disturbing that it is unspecific. Gray did play far better than she ever has and that is encouraging for the future, but we are so thin that the loss of Cooper (that Minny guard who tortured us in the 3rd Q and built up their big lead by just driving in and getting layups could have been a player Cooper could have guarded much more effectively and made a key difference) is just too much for this team to overcome and will affect them I am sure against better teams and the rigors of the tournaments. Clearly another key injury and this team could plummet. The AD will not fire Coach V this year no matter what the sentiment from some is for that. But she has to figure a way to have some depth next year because playing that much will affect performance in the long run. I am amazed that these girls can play at the level they are with so little help.