Great Prep Game for the NCAA

[mathboy]

We have not seen that kind of defensive pressure and athleticism before. L'vill about blew us out of the arena in the first half. Our team will learn from this. Exhibit a: the second half. This is the kind of game that prepares your team for a run in the NCAAT.

Closed within 4 in the last 2 minutes. I would not bet against Purdue if there was a rematch on a neutral floor. Nice game!

 

[Boiler8285]

I hope we learned that wrong Edwards is starting and Basil needs more minutes.

 

[IndySouthsider]

I hope we learned that wrong Edwards is starting and Basil needs more minutes.

Who does he start over?

 

[mathboy]

I hope we learned that wrong Edwards is starting and Basil needs more minutes.

...and this odd conclusion has what to do with the subject of my post?????

 

[DG10]

We have not seen that kind of defensive pressure and athleticism before. L'vill about blew us out of the arena in the first half. Our team will learn from this. Exhibit a: the second half. This is the kind of game that prepares your team for a run in the NCAAT.

Closed within 4 in the last 2 minutes. I would not bet against Purdue if there was a rematch on a neutral floor. Nice game!

The problem is, that is the same thing that is said every time Purdue plays any game of this magnitude...that they will learn from it...that they will benefit from it...that it will make them better, etc. Unfortunately, that does not happen though.

That is an athletic Louisville team, but not a really good (never mind great) Louisville team...and, despite that, as you said, they were on the verge of blowing Purdue out in the first half because of Purdue's ineptitude with respect to the basics of the game of basketball.

Purdue had multiple games last year to prepare them for a run in the NCAAT, only to lay an egg in the first round against a clearly inferior UALR team...and I am hard pressed to deem this team better than that team.

 

[Boiler8285]

Who does he start over?

PJ

 

[Summy1]

You want to beat Purdue make them shot outside shots. They don't make them consistently.

 

[boilerpt]

Who does he start over?

The other Edwards.

 

[themonarc]

Nice game!

Whoa whoa whoa not so fast

 

[JohnnyDoeBoiler]

PJ

Absolutely not. Basil needs to start for VE at this point and bring VE and Carsen in at the same time when Haas/Basil come off the floor.

 

[BoilerGrad02]

The problem is, that is the same thing that is said every time Purdue plays any game of this magnitude...that they will learn from it...that they will benefit from it...that it will make them better, etc. Unfortunately, that does not happen though.

That is an athletic Louisville team, but not a really good (never mind great) Louisville team...and, despite that, as you said, they were on the verge of blowing Purdue out in the first half because of Purdue's ineptitude with respect to the basics of the game of basketball.

Purdue had multiple games last year to prepare them for a run in the NCAAT, only to lay an egg in the first round against a clearly inferior UALR team...and I am hard pressed to deem this team better than that team.

^This

It's the same thing over and over with Purdue. Hype for a big game and $#*& the bed. The "this loss will make the team better" posts occur after every big game and then Purdue goes out and loses the next big game.

 

[mathboy]

The problem is, that is the same thing that is said every time Purdue plays any game of this magnitude...that they will learn from it...that they will benefit from it...that it will make them better, etc. Unfortunately, that does not happen though.

That is an athletic Louisville team, but not a really good (never mind great) Louisville team...and, despite that, as you said, they were on the verge of blowing Purdue out in the first half because of Purdue's ineptitude with respect to the basics of the game of basketball.

Purdue had multiple games last year to prepare them for a run in the NCAAT, only to lay an egg in the first round against a clearly inferior UALR team...and I am hard pressed to deem this team better than that team.

You make an interesting argument. I think every year, the team is different. This year no RayDay, and no AJ. This team needs to learn who to go to and how to deal with challenges. This game will help more than it will hurt, especially the way we came back in the second half.

 

[Kesselschmiede]

The problem is, that is the same thing that is said every time Purdue plays any game of this magnitude...that they will learn from it...that they will benefit from it...that it will make them better, etc. Unfortunately, that does not happen though.

That is an athletic Louisville team, but not a really good (never mind great) Louisville team...and, despite that, as you said, they were on the verge of blowing Purdue out in the first half because of Purdue's ineptitude with respect to the basics of the game of basketball.

Purdue had multiple games last year to prepare them for a run in the NCAAT, only to lay an egg in the first round against a clearly inferior UALR team...and I am hard pressed to deem this team better than that team.

Seriously shut up. I am so sick of you negatwatts getting on here and spewing your clueless garbage. go back to peegs numbnuts.

 

[IndySouthsider]

PJ was 4-7 from the field 3-4 from 3. Scored 13 points and no TO's
Carsen was 4-15 and 1-6 for 9 points. Also 3 Turnovers.

 

[DG10]

You make an interesting argument. I think every year, the team is different. This year no RayDay, and no AJ. This team needs to learn who to go to and how to deal with challenges. This game will help more than it will hurt, especially the way we came back in the second half.

Like say, easy to say that...but, will it REALLY help, or, is it just a continuation of what seems to be the case whenever Purdue gets an opportunity to do something special?

Learning who to go to should be a no-brainer pretty much...not something learned now, or from a loss, as that already happened as well (a short time ago for that matter).

I think this Purdue team is very similar to most before it...good enough to beat bad teams and teams that it should...good enough to beat some decent teams, and a good team even at home...good enough to win a bunch of games and make the NCAAT...but not good enough to win against great teams, and not good enough to win games in the NCAAT.

It just gets old to me to constantly hear about how a game like this will benefit or help Purdue in the long run, only for it seemingly never help them in the long run.

 

[mathboy]

Like say, easy to say that...but, will it REALLY help, or, is it just a continuation of what seems to be the case whenever Purdue gets an opportunity to do something special?

Learning who to go to should be a no-brainer pretty much...not something learned now, or from a loss, as that already happened as well (a short time ago for that matter).

I think this Purdue team is very similar to most before it...good enough to beat bad teams and teams that it should...good enough to beat some decent teams, and a good team even at home...good enough to win a bunch of games and make the NCAAT...but not good enough to win against great teams, and not good enough to win games in the NCAAT.

It just gets old to me to constantly hear about how a game like this will benefit or help Purdue in the long run, only for it seemingly never help them in the long run.

I guess I have to ask what are you expectations? We recruit in the middle range of players. We have been consistently a top 20 team. That means there are probably 20 teams that are better than us, and maybe 30 teams that recruit as good or better than us. I'd like to think we can upset some of those teams that appear better than us on paper. Like you, I am still waiting for that to happen this year.

 

[boilerpt]

I guess I have to ask what are you expectations? We recruit in the middle range of players. We have been consistently a top 20 team. That means there are probably 20 teams that are better than us, and maybe 30 teams that recruit as good or better than us. I'd like to think we can upset some of those teams that appear better than us on paper. Like you, I am still waiting for that to happen this year.

This. We consistently put together mediocre recruiting classes. To expect great teams from mediocre recruiting is unreasonable. We will be a decent team. That's about it.

 

[BoilerBiker]

And then bilas states we have top 10-15 talent

 

[cprh9u]

I hate these kinds of posts. Moral victory crap that simply isn't true. MSU uses tough games to get better. We lose tough games and then... lose tough games in March. New players, new excitement over the season, but same coach and same results year after year.

A great prep game for the NCAA would be to finally win one (or more) of these games and prep by getting a better seed and having a chance to make some noise in March.

 

[PU pit bull]

I love these posts.

 

[Purdue0034]

I always wondered this and I have to raise the question. I know it was a tough road game and that we were 6 point underdogs, so the lose is not that surprising but nonetheless, we seem to have underperformed in some of our bigger games especially away from home. Do you think maybe we practice too hard and leave it all on the practice court and then have no energy left for the real game? I think we have a smart, motivated team, but sometimes it seems like our energy has been zapped.
As far as the NCAA's go, this game probably helps more than it hurts. We are going to need everyone playing at a high level if we are going to do something special. If everyone plays up to their potential we could really be good IMHO, but if we continue to be inconsistent and continue to have games where production is down, we will be stuck in an early round exit again. It is going to take everyone playing at a high level and sacrificing to do whatever it takes for the team if we want to be special.

 

[cprh9u]

I always wondered this and I have to raise the question. I know it was a tough road game and that we were 6 point underdogs, so the lose is not that surprising but nonetheless, we seem to have underperformed in some of our bigger games especially away from home. Do you think maybe we practice too hard and leave it all on the practice court and then have no energy left for the real game? I think we have a smart, motivated team, but sometimes it seems like our energy has been zapped.
As far as the NCAA's go, this game probably helps more than it hurts. We are going to need everyone playing at a high level if we are going to do something special. If everyone plays up to their potential we could really be good IMHO, but if we continue to be inconsistent and continue to have games where production is down, we will be stuck in an early round exit again. It is going to take everyone playing at a high level and sacrificing to do whatever it takes for the team if we want to be special.

Definitely don't see it being a practice to hard and don't have energy issue. We lose these games year in and year out as we don't have superior athletes or coaching. It's a double whammy.

 

[DG10]

And then bilas states we have top 10-15 talent

I did not hear that comment admittedly, but, no way is it remotely accurate in terms of top 10 talent...fringe top 15 perhaps, and I would agree (for this year at least) that they are a top 20ish team, but, they are simply not a great team, nor capable of being one seemingly...just a nice team that will win a bunch of games, just not many meaningful ones, and bow out quietly early in the NCAA tournament again.

 

[Purdue0034]

Perhaps, but I think we could surprise if Vince comes alive and we start playing consistent basketball. We also need to figure out how to start fast. These slow starts are killing us and will cost us down the road again and again if we don't figure it out. I am hoping that this year is the year that we turn the corner and over-achieve for a change!

 

[klmLB]

I always wondered this and I have to raise the question. I know it was a tough road game and that we were 6 point underdogs, so the lose is not that surprising but nonetheless, we seem to have underperformed in some of our bigger games especially away from home. Do you think maybe we practice too hard and leave it all on the practice court and then have no energy left for the real game? I think we have a smart, motivated team, but sometimes it seems like our energy has been zapped.
As far as the NCAA's go, this game probably helps more than it hurts. We are going to need everyone playing at a high level if we are going to do something special. If everyone plays up to their potential we could really be good IMHO, but if we continue to be inconsistent and continue to have games where production is down, we will be stuck in an early round exit again. It is going to take everyone playing at a high level and sacrificing to do whatever it takes for the team if we want to be special.

Honestly, I think it was that we haven't faced that type of length and athleticism and as a result, our bigs lost confidence in the first half and then played too passively. We flinched.

In the 2nd half, they regrouped and gave a it a better effort. However, that mentally weak stretch in the first half cost us.

 

[DG10]

Perhaps, but I think we could surprise if Vince comes alive and we start playing consistent basketball. We also need to figure out how to start fast. These slow starts are killing us and will cost us down the road again and again if we don't figure it out. I am hoping that this year is the year that we turn the corner and over-achieve for a change!

One of the reasons for the slow starts is the struggles of Vince...he has just killed Purdue at both ends and in all phases of the game for that matter, as while not productive at the offensive end from a scoring standpoint, he turns the ball over way too much on top of it.

Right now, the elephant in the room is simply how bad he has been unfortunately...as he has consistently been bad from the outset this year save a nice second half against Auburn. Bottom line, right now, given his sturggles at both ends in conjunction with the slow starts that you alluded to, Purdue is better off for sure with him coming off the bench, and he may be as well...he certainly could not be worse in that role, even if it is only a temporary one.

I am tired admittedly of having to always hope to surprise in some fashion rather than simply being good and playing that way...and I am just as tired (for the same reason) of hoping continually that they might overachieve at some point opposed to underachive.

 

[htg2010]

Definitely don't see it being a practice to hard and don't have energy issue. We lose these games year in and year out as we don't have superior athletes or coaching. It's a double whammy.

couldn't that play into the practice theory though? Good quality but different players year in and year out with same result every time. The one thing that's consistent is the coach, and maybe his practice intensity prior to games is too high? Personally, I highly doubt it, but it's an interesting theory nonetheless.

In regards to the slow start, yeah that is killing us, but I think the bigger issue is turnovers. And it's not our guards committing the bulk of them, its the big men. To me, that is the bigger issue. If we just had cut the turnovers in half the outcome could have been different. There was a stretch in the last 6 mins of the game where we had pulled within 9, had back to back defensive stops, but had 2 really stupid senseless turnovers and the lead went back up to 12 or 13. Can't win games with 20+ turnovers.

 

[SIBoiler2]

Honestly, I think it was that we haven't faced that type of length and athleticism and as a result, our bigs lost confidence in the first half and then played too passively. We flinched.

In the 2nd half, they regrouped and gave a it a better effort. However, that mentally weak stretch in the first half cost us.

For example see Zeller's IU against Syracuse.

 

[BoiledSteel]

In regards to the slow start, yeah that is killing us, but I think the bigger issue is turnovers. And it's not our guards committing the bulk of them, its the big men. To me, that is the bigger issue.

Spot on here. Our guard play has vastly improved but the TOs are killing us.

And I have to give CMP credit because whatever adjustments he makes at halftime that get us going in the second half, are working. But we need that out of the gate.

There is progress being made to those with a realistic and objective eye, but there is more that needs to be done. This all will prepare us for the tourney in the end and that is what matters most.

 

[LROwnsU]

As far as the NCAA's go, this game probably helps more than it hurts.

Not sure I agree with this. How many more opportunities are there for a big out of conference win that could help with NCAA seeding? The Auburn and Utah St. wins will only go so far....which isn't far at all. The ND game in Indy is really it.

 

[IndySouthsider]

Not sure I agree with this. How many more opportunities are there for a big out of conference win that could help with NCAA seeding? The Auburn and Utah St. wins will only go so far....which isn't far at all. The ND game in Indy is really it.

Any of the Big Ten games will be enough to determine if Purdue goes to the tournament.

 

[FirstDownB]

We have not seen that kind of defensive pressure and athleticism before. L'vill about blew us out of the arena in the first half. Our team will learn from this. Exhibit a: the second half. This is the kind of game that prepares your team for a run in the NCAAT.

Closed within 4 in the last 2 minutes. I would not bet against Purdue if there was a rematch on a neutral floor. Nice game!

I agree it was a good learning opportunity.
My question is what was learned, by whom, and what will be done differently going forward? Is it strictly a learning experience for the players or are there coaching adjustments to be made?
The most obvious lesson from my couch is our 3 bigs are not athletic or quick enough to all be on the court at the same time against a team like Louisville.