Houston vs. Purdue: MASTER DISCUSSION THREAD
- Thread starter Travis Miller
- Start date
Well, I've predicted double digit wins for the first 2 rounds.
I'm going to go with the Boilers with a 6-7 point victory.....I'm on a streak.
I'm going to go with the Boilers with a 6-7 point victory.....I'm on a streak.
hope you're right but I think Houston does the ole take the head off the snake routine by doubling our guards when they have the ball creating problems and making Loyer disappear, hope I'm wrongWell, I've predicted double digit wins for the first 2 rounds.
I'm going to go with the Boilers with a 6-7 point victory.....I'm on a streak.
Could use some similar magic......
Man, we were so close that year.
Such a hard game to predict - Vegas likes Houston at 8.5. I get it - they are good and don’t make stupid mistakes.
There is a video out there breaking down how Purdue took it to McNeese’s defense. It was a master class in knowing what was coming and having counters. With a week to prepare for Houston - I think we shock some folks.
There is a video out there breaking down how Purdue took it to McNeese’s defense. It was a master class in knowing what was coming and having counters. With a week to prepare for Houston - I think we shock some folks.
I think we are competitive but we probably need everyone playing well all game. We can't have even a couple of minutes of lax play or we probably give up ten points like that
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Tonight, it's the #4-seed Purdue Boilermakers (24-11) taking on the #1-seed Houston Cougars (32-4) in a MIDWEST Region Semi-Final game from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. This will be the second game of the session with a late tip scheduled for approximately 10:09 pm (Eastern time) and television coverage on TBS/truTV. The winner will take on the winner of Kentucky (3)/Tennessee (2) in the MIDWEST Regional Final on Sunday.
It's only the fourth meeting between the schools all-time, and they haven't played since January of 1998. Purdue has a 2-1 series edge.
Projected Starting Line-ups:
Purdue - Trey Kaufman-Renn, Caleb Furst, CJ Cox, Fletcher Loyer, and Braden Smith
Houston - Joseph Tugler, J'Wan Roberts, Milos Uzan, Emanuel Sharp, and LJ Cryer
_____________________________
Houston comes into this contest as a solid favorite, on a 15-game winning streak. In the previous round, the Cougars managed to hold off a late charge from a game eighth-seeded Gonzaga team to advance. Houston is an impressive 32-4 overall and went 19-1 in the Big XII during the regular season. Arguably, they are playing consistently better or as well as any other team in the tournament and have been for most of the season after a slow start and some injuries. Against Gonzaga, Houston led wire-to-wire as they were up 10-2 early and didn’t look back from here. The Cougars led by as many as 14 in the first half and held an eight-point edge at the half. Houston was up 76-65 with 4:29 remaining and hung after Gonzaga cut the margin to 77-76 with 21 seconds remaining as they scored the final four points of the contest. The Cougars shot 46.8% from the field, including eight of 16 from three-point range, and held a 33-27 edge on the glass in the contest. L.J. Cryer led Houston with 30 points in the win.
For the season, Houston is 154th in the nation in scoring offense with an average of 74.5 points per game. Houston collects an average of 36.5 rebounds (113th) per contest and averages 12.1 assists a night. The Cougars are 1st in the nation in scoring defense as they allow an average of 58.4 points per game. L.J. Cryer leads the team with 15.6 points a game. Emmanuel Sharp (12.5 points), J’Wan Roberts (10.9 points, 6.3 rebounds), Milos Uzan (11.5 points, 4.3 assists) and Terrance Arceneaux all average better than seven points per contest. Mylik Wilson, Joseph Tugler, Mercy Miller, Ja’Vier Francis and Ramon Walker Jr. are all key players for Houston and coach Kelvin Sampson. Houston shoots 45.7% from the floor as a team, and it connects on 8.1 three-pointers per contest. The Cougars' 3-pt FG shooting percentage is 1st in Division 1, with 39.8% from beyond the arc as a team. Houston has been above average at the FT line, making 74.1% of their attempts on the year, that's good for 108th in the nation. Purdue is 137th in FT%, 73.04%
Houston is 3rd overall in the KenPom ratings, 11th in offensive efficiency and 1st in defensive efficiency. The Cougars play at one of the slowest paces among Division I teams, with an adjusted tempo rating of 360th. Purdue is currently 16th overall in the KenPom ratings, 8th offensively and 55th defensively. The Boilers play at a quicker pace than the Cougars but still well below average, rated 299th in adjusted tempo.
Certainly, this is one of Purdue's toughest match-ups this season, and arguably as Matt Painter suggested, probably the toughest, given the stakes. Naturally, Purdue has to execute effectively on both ends of the floor to have a chance for success. LJ Cryer will be one of the focal points for the Boilers' defense, and he poses some major problems with how effective he can score in a variety of ways. Expect Houston to apply a variety of pressure schemes to hamper the Purdue offense, both in the ball-screen action and bring the ball up the floor to initiate offense. Braden Smith will definitely need some help from back-court teammates, and perhaps we'll see different sets/adjustments in the half-court. Purdue will also need to opportunistically push the base at the right time - get the first best shot when it's there and take advantage of transition - that will be a key balance to measure because if Purdue doesn't execute it correctly, Houston will likely punish those mistakes.
All of the usual keys become magnified when the competition is at this level - Boilers will have to shoot well and convert makeable opportunites. Trey Kaufman-Renn will have his hands full and cannot get frutrated, even if things don't start out smoothly. Braden Smith will have to make quick but smart decisions/reads. Fletcher Loyer needs to have a chance to make an impact. Take care of the ball, work to maintain the glass - and get production up-and-down the lineup and a big boost from the bench on both ends. Easier said than done for sure. Essentially, Purdue needs its best game tonight.
More thoughts on the match-up from Coach Matt Painter -
“Well, more than anything their balanced. They have a very efficient offense, they have the best defense in the country, they’re the number one ranked three-point field goal percentage team in the country, so I think that’s where you kind of see the difference. Their big guys can go make plays, their guards can go make plays, they make three’s, they kill you on the glass, they are superior defensively, so that’s a good recipe for success right there. When you can be efficient from an offensive standpoint, and be dominant defensively, and so like if one thing is struggling, they can dominate in the other area, but if both areas are dominating, that’s where they steamroll people.”
Painter's keys for Purdue to have a chance at arguably the biggest upset in the tournament so far -
“I get this way no matter who we play; you’ve got to be able to play without turning the ball over against their pressure, and then you’ve got to be able to get a rebound. If you can’t score on the glass against them, and you can’t score in transition, and you’ve got to do everything in the half court, it’s just too hard. It’s simply too hard, and so that’s going to be an important piece for us, is to be able to run offense and get a quality shot without turning the ball over, so you don’t let them get in transition, and then being able to keep them off the glass, but that’s easier said than done. They are very, very good in both those areas.
One of those cliches - "To be the best, you have to beat the best." Purdue is facing one of the best, a big obstacle, as the program has not yet beat a #1-seed in the NCAA tournament. However, with great challenges come great opportunities, and this game is undoubtedly a great challenge and a great opportunity. It should be a very spirited contest and a great environment. Can this Purdue team summon the effort and intensity, and have the poise to successfully face up to the challenge? Or does the season come to a close tonight for the Boilers?
We shall see.....coming up in several hours, later tonight.
Boiler up, my friends.
It's only the fourth meeting between the schools all-time, and they haven't played since January of 1998. Purdue has a 2-1 series edge.
Projected Starting Line-ups:
Purdue - Trey Kaufman-Renn, Caleb Furst, CJ Cox, Fletcher Loyer, and Braden Smith
Houston - Joseph Tugler, J'Wan Roberts, Milos Uzan, Emanuel Sharp, and LJ Cryer
_____________________________
Houston comes into this contest as a solid favorite, on a 15-game winning streak. In the previous round, the Cougars managed to hold off a late charge from a game eighth-seeded Gonzaga team to advance. Houston is an impressive 32-4 overall and went 19-1 in the Big XII during the regular season. Arguably, they are playing consistently better or as well as any other team in the tournament and have been for most of the season after a slow start and some injuries. Against Gonzaga, Houston led wire-to-wire as they were up 10-2 early and didn’t look back from here. The Cougars led by as many as 14 in the first half and held an eight-point edge at the half. Houston was up 76-65 with 4:29 remaining and hung after Gonzaga cut the margin to 77-76 with 21 seconds remaining as they scored the final four points of the contest. The Cougars shot 46.8% from the field, including eight of 16 from three-point range, and held a 33-27 edge on the glass in the contest. L.J. Cryer led Houston with 30 points in the win.
For the season, Houston is 154th in the nation in scoring offense with an average of 74.5 points per game. Houston collects an average of 36.5 rebounds (113th) per contest and averages 12.1 assists a night. The Cougars are 1st in the nation in scoring defense as they allow an average of 58.4 points per game. L.J. Cryer leads the team with 15.6 points a game. Emmanuel Sharp (12.5 points), J’Wan Roberts (10.9 points, 6.3 rebounds), Milos Uzan (11.5 points, 4.3 assists) and Terrance Arceneaux all average better than seven points per contest. Mylik Wilson, Joseph Tugler, Mercy Miller, Ja’Vier Francis and Ramon Walker Jr. are all key players for Houston and coach Kelvin Sampson. Houston shoots 45.7% from the floor as a team, and it connects on 8.1 three-pointers per contest. The Cougars' 3-pt FG shooting percentage is 1st in Division 1, with 39.8% from beyond the arc as a team. Houston has been above average at the FT line, making 74.1% of their attempts on the year, that's good for 108th in the nation. Purdue is 137th in FT%, 73.04%
Houston is 3rd overall in the KenPom ratings, 11th in offensive efficiency and 1st in defensive efficiency. The Cougars play at one of the slowest paces among Division I teams, with an adjusted tempo rating of 360th. Purdue is currently 16th overall in the KenPom ratings, 8th offensively and 55th defensively. The Boilers play at a quicker pace than the Cougars but still well below average, rated 299th in adjusted tempo.
Certainly, this is one of Purdue's toughest match-ups this season, and arguably as Matt Painter suggested, probably the toughest, given the stakes. Naturally, Purdue has to execute effectively on both ends of the floor to have a chance for success. LJ Cryer will be one of the focal points for the Boilers' defense, and he poses some major problems with how effective he can score in a variety of ways. Expect Houston to apply a variety of pressure schemes to hamper the Purdue offense, both in the ball-screen action and bring the ball up the floor to initiate offense. Braden Smith will definitely need some help from back-court teammates, and perhaps we'll see different sets/adjustments in the half-court. Purdue will also need to opportunistically push the base at the right time - get the first best shot when it's there and take advantage of transition - that will be a key balance to measure because if Purdue doesn't execute it correctly, Houston will likely punish those mistakes.
All of the usual keys become magnified when the competition is at this level - Boilers will have to shoot well and convert makeable opportunites. Trey Kaufman-Renn will have his hands full and cannot get frutrated, even if things don't start out smoothly. Braden Smith will have to make quick but smart decisions/reads. Fletcher Loyer needs to have a chance to make an impact. Take care of the ball, work to maintain the glass - and get production up-and-down the lineup and a big boost from the bench on both ends. Easier said than done for sure. Essentially, Purdue needs its best game tonight.
More thoughts on the match-up from Coach Matt Painter -
“Well, more than anything their balanced. They have a very efficient offense, they have the best defense in the country, they’re the number one ranked three-point field goal percentage team in the country, so I think that’s where you kind of see the difference. Their big guys can go make plays, their guards can go make plays, they make three’s, they kill you on the glass, they are superior defensively, so that’s a good recipe for success right there. When you can be efficient from an offensive standpoint, and be dominant defensively, and so like if one thing is struggling, they can dominate in the other area, but if both areas are dominating, that’s where they steamroll people.”
Painter's keys for Purdue to have a chance at arguably the biggest upset in the tournament so far -
“I get this way no matter who we play; you’ve got to be able to play without turning the ball over against their pressure, and then you’ve got to be able to get a rebound. If you can’t score on the glass against them, and you can’t score in transition, and you’ve got to do everything in the half court, it’s just too hard. It’s simply too hard, and so that’s going to be an important piece for us, is to be able to run offense and get a quality shot without turning the ball over, so you don’t let them get in transition, and then being able to keep them off the glass, but that’s easier said than done. They are very, very good in both those areas.
One of those cliches - "To be the best, you have to beat the best." Purdue is facing one of the best, a big obstacle, as the program has not yet beat a #1-seed in the NCAA tournament. However, with great challenges come great opportunities, and this game is undoubtedly a great challenge and a great opportunity. It should be a very spirited contest and a great environment. Can this Purdue team summon the effort and intensity, and have the poise to successfully face up to the challenge? Or does the season come to a close tonight for the Boilers?
We shall see.....coming up in several hours, later tonight.
Boiler up, my friends.
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On a related but unrelated note.
I’m just wondering if any former boilers will be attending the game tonight? Jones? Hummel? Edey? Mathias? Ivie? JJ? Cardinal? It would be awesome to see some former players leading the cheers
I’m just wondering if any former boilers will be attending the game tonight? Jones? Hummel? Edey? Mathias? Ivie? JJ? Cardinal? It would be awesome to see some former players leading the cheers
Houston is sort of boring to watch, sort of like the old Wisky teams that D you to death. LJ Cryer is their best player, unlike past years though Houston can go 8-9 deep, it will be tough to win but I do think they’re the worst of the 1 seeds. Not sure Houston has any guys playing in the NBA next season.
I’m starting to get excited. I feel like I’m looking ahead to a date tonight with a a hot woman. I don’t know how far I’m going to get but I’m going to enjoy it.
I sort of agree and maybe Cline gives Fletch a call before the game to tell him "this is your Tennessee game"....
My overall keys:
- <10 turnovers
- Close to even on the boards and preventing offensive rebounds
- 20+ pts off the bench
- Limit foul trouble
- Let it rip from deep - they will close hard/fast, make them pay
That was a magical night, zz.....maybe good mojo going for tonight.
And yes, Carsen Edwards had a historic run in that tournament - just some unbelievable performances, but without Ryan Cline's just insane shooting in that second half, Purdue bows out earlier. Once Purdue lost the lead (after being up 18 at one point), it didn't look good for the Boilers. Not so fast.
One of the things that will always stick with me - My younger sister (who is a Marquette grad and casual basketball fan putting it mildly) who from time to time will text me without much extra conversation or background. She was bombarding my phone with texts during the game and primarily the second half -
"WHO is this Cline guy???" This is unbelievable!" "He hit another one - Crazy." "Go Boilers!"
"This is INSANE!!!! "
One thing we practiced in Taekwondo was when breaking boards we had to see our hand and or foot already through the board/object.. Boilers need to see themselves winning the game and believe.
Obviously they need to believe. I don't think confidence will be the issue though. If they win or lose, it will come down to a lot of little things throughout the game.
For sure. Also, for the first time, in a long time…the pressure is off Purdue as the higher seed. Hopefully they come out loose and flying around and it’s Houston that feels the pressure and is tight. Obviously that’s all hope 😂
Vince just posted on X that cline would go on those type of heaters in open runs and he’d get so pissed at him. But then he said he was so hyped when he saw cline FINALLY do it in a game like that 😂
I get the feeling Houston isn't a team that feels a lot of pressure
Those games at the YUM center were 2 of the most exciting sporting events I’ve ever attended… right there with the Holy Toledo game.
For me it's just hoping that they just have average to slightly below average shooting while we have a great night. That would be a formula for a win.
BTFU! I was gonna add POTFH because that’s always a thing but realized they only have two players on the roster and it might be hard to hit them 😅😂🤣😎🖤💛🏀
I'll be honest I don't feel great about our chances.. but.. I'll be drinking up my confidence as the night goes on!
We’ll live and die by the level of contributions by Loyer and the bench guys and by the Ievel of intensity we come out and play with throughout this game!!!
BOILER UP SWEET SIXTEEN LOOKING AT THE ELITE EIGHT!!! Let’s do this 🖤💛🏀!
BOILER UP SWEET SIXTEEN LOOKING AT THE ELITE EIGHT!!! Let’s do this 🖤💛🏀!
That always works. Started off with a nice lunch, couple of Buffalo Trace old fashioneds and now moving on to beer....until later😉
Houston's defense is very good. 10 will be a miracle.
This might be the key and I think if Hiede and Caleb come to play, we can do it.
Might be the toughest part of your equation. Harris and Heide along with Myles have to be smokin' hot.
Houston will force us into fouls and the refs have favored Houston all year.
Loyer has to on fire.
On the road, away from the beach. Ready at a hotel bar in Atlanta!
My appt with my accountant to do my taxes is at 6:30 --- I'll be in fine form by gametime!!!
wow, speaking of heating up, today is the 46th anniversary of the 3 mi island event out here in Pa.
Boy I had to stop watching pre game analysis. You'd think we were playing the Houston Rockets not the Cougars.
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