Obligatory reminder here that exhibition games are made to be messy.
So if you saw Purdue's tonight against Southern Indiana and thought to yourself, 'Man, there is no way in hell that is the No. 15 team in the country,' you're not alone. But there's important perspective, obviously.
Purdue is going to be more a work in progress than I think people realize. It has to figure out something defensively - anything, really. It has to retool somewhat offensively with more of a balance between frontcourt and backcourt, which will include a dynamic and eager newcomer. Purdue wanted to match its rebounding prowess from a year ago without its most explosive rebounder, A.J. Hammons.
This isn't going to happen overnight, never was going to. Couple that with a big-boy non-conference schedule and Purdue's probably going to take some hits in November and December, hoping they're paid forward in February and March.
This is not a finished product by any means, even with three pros in the frontcourt and a wealth of experience orbiting them in the backcourt and on the wing.
And when you dock any team three scholarship guys, you're going to get a substandard portrayal of reality.
Ryan Cline's and Basil Smotherman's suspensions - and to a lesser extent Jacquil Taylor's injury - denied us a credible look at what Purdue has this season. Depth should matter for the Boilermakers and there was no depth tonight.
But that was part of the issue for Purdue tonight; not the sole issue.
Purdue has to redefine itself defensively. It's not there yet, nor should it have been expected to be. Purdue has to re-assert itself on the boards; Game 1 was a humbling one, and it didn't even count.
There was lots of good stuff for Purdue.
Isaac Haas, free throws aside, was dominant on offense, matching his 40-minute-average from a year ago in just 20. Caleb Swanigan was really good. Vincent Edwards was good. As expected, on all fronts.
Carsen Edwards looked calm and, as the kids would say, chill in his game-day Purdue debut. For such an eager young man, he never really lost his mind with the lights on. In fact, he made a handful of sharp decisions. That was good.
But Spike Albrecht was great, and that's great news, because when we've considered Purdue's depth these past few months, Albrecht's been a key part of it, but a significant question, too. He's had to be healthy.
Tuesday night, he looked as he has throughout the preseason: Healthy.
And good.
I'm fairly certain Matt Painter can find use for a crafty, reliable, smart and savvy veteran who tries hard and knows how to win, don't you? Knowing how to win is said to be an acquired skill, and Purdue didn't always look that part last season, counterintuitive as it might sound for a team that won 26 times. Albrecht might have it, and that he looks poised to be the player hoped for when it targeted him, that's a gift that could keep on giving the whole year.
A healthy Albrecht would give Purdue another key piece toward being really good this season. Purdue can be really good this season.
But as Tuesday night showed in a warped-reality sort of way, it has a long way to go.
So if you saw Purdue's tonight against Southern Indiana and thought to yourself, 'Man, there is no way in hell that is the No. 15 team in the country,' you're not alone. But there's important perspective, obviously.
Purdue is going to be more a work in progress than I think people realize. It has to figure out something defensively - anything, really. It has to retool somewhat offensively with more of a balance between frontcourt and backcourt, which will include a dynamic and eager newcomer. Purdue wanted to match its rebounding prowess from a year ago without its most explosive rebounder, A.J. Hammons.
This isn't going to happen overnight, never was going to. Couple that with a big-boy non-conference schedule and Purdue's probably going to take some hits in November and December, hoping they're paid forward in February and March.
This is not a finished product by any means, even with three pros in the frontcourt and a wealth of experience orbiting them in the backcourt and on the wing.
And when you dock any team three scholarship guys, you're going to get a substandard portrayal of reality.
Ryan Cline's and Basil Smotherman's suspensions - and to a lesser extent Jacquil Taylor's injury - denied us a credible look at what Purdue has this season. Depth should matter for the Boilermakers and there was no depth tonight.
But that was part of the issue for Purdue tonight; not the sole issue.
Purdue has to redefine itself defensively. It's not there yet, nor should it have been expected to be. Purdue has to re-assert itself on the boards; Game 1 was a humbling one, and it didn't even count.
There was lots of good stuff for Purdue.
Isaac Haas, free throws aside, was dominant on offense, matching his 40-minute-average from a year ago in just 20. Caleb Swanigan was really good. Vincent Edwards was good. As expected, on all fronts.
Carsen Edwards looked calm and, as the kids would say, chill in his game-day Purdue debut. For such an eager young man, he never really lost his mind with the lights on. In fact, he made a handful of sharp decisions. That was good.
But Spike Albrecht was great, and that's great news, because when we've considered Purdue's depth these past few months, Albrecht's been a key part of it, but a significant question, too. He's had to be healthy.
Tuesday night, he looked as he has throughout the preseason: Healthy.
And good.
I'm fairly certain Matt Painter can find use for a crafty, reliable, smart and savvy veteran who tries hard and knows how to win, don't you? Knowing how to win is said to be an acquired skill, and Purdue didn't always look that part last season, counterintuitive as it might sound for a team that won 26 times. Albrecht might have it, and that he looks poised to be the player hoped for when it targeted him, that's a gift that could keep on giving the whole year.
A healthy Albrecht would give Purdue another key piece toward being really good this season. Purdue can be really good this season.
But as Tuesday night showed in a warped-reality sort of way, it has a long way to go.
