I see that Butler...
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The Butler game and the m$u game are the games I want to win the worst this year. I am sick of Butler and ND being the superior bball schools in this state! Its time to take back whats ours and it starts on Dec 19th! Lets make a statement Boilers!!! Purdue by +20 and we completely embarrass the dogs'!
People on here say we don't do well......but I mean how many of these games were we "supposed" to really win? One? We've either played a fairly even opponent or were not favored (i.e. the last 3 years).
That being said, I still think this event is dumb and would prefer to play these games in home arenas.
We need to play them the same we played IU last year. Crowd their shooters on the perimeter and force them to drive the lane into Hammons or Haas or pull up inside the three point line for a long two point field goal attempt. Butler isn't going to beat us by driving and scorng. They can beat us by driving and drawing help then kicking to open shooters from deep. Make them put the ball on the floor. Offensively we just have to do what we do and do it well.
This is a huge game. I think they have beaten us five times in a row and we haven't ever won a game in this event. They should not be able to match up with us. Huge statement to be made here.
This is a huge game. I think they have beaten us five times in a row and we haven't ever won a game in this event. They should not be able to match up with us. Huge statement to be made here.
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Interesting facts:
KenPom currently ranks IU, ND, and Butler in the top 6 nationally in offensive efficiency, but all 3 are ranked between 106 and 131 in defensive efficiency.
Purdue ranks sixteenth in KenPom offensive efficiency, but first nationally in defensive efficiency.
Purdue and Butler are actually very similar in their strengths.
Butler is near the top of the Big East in field goal percentage, scoring margin, rebounding margin, 3 point percentage defense, assists, etc. - all categories that Purdue is also near the top of the Big Ten in.
Purdue has to go in and take advantage of their strengths - and do so with confidence. Just because their tallest guy is 6'10 - Michigan State dominated us in the paint last year with a 6'9" center. But they played more confidently and wanted it more. We won't win the rebounding margin because we have two seven footers and they don't.
Purdue has to stay focused and execute their game plan. Butler has very good 3 point shooting defense - so the way you loosen that up is to take their focus away from the perimeter. That means executing entry passes to the post and converting them confidently without turning the ball over. AJ/Isaac have to be confident on Saturday. Not reckless, but confident. AJ in the first half against Pitt was not that good - he was the timid, getting pushed around, etc. AJ. The second half AJ was the confident AJ that knows how to get the job done. Playing against these bad teams can get you a bit softer - you don't have to work as hard to get what you need. This isn't going to be the case with Butler - they are a hardworking, blue collar team - very similar to us.
Why is this event dumb?? If you go, you get to watch two games with the top four teams in the state. It's a great arena in a fun downtown atmosphere. Gives me an opportunity to watch Purdue with a much shorter drive than going to WL.
I think this post is mostly spot on. I just think our inside game is too strong for them. But Butler is tough and I expect a close game. If Dunham or Martin get hot, who knows.
I have degrees from both schools, so I win either way....but I'm pulling for Purdue. We need to show the state we're the king of Indiana this year.
I think Butler will be better next year. Brunk will add needed depth to the front court.
I love watching Butler play...as it stands, they have a better recruiting class than Purdue for 2016...this is a huge year for Purdue MBB, for a lot of reasons....
It's their highest rated recruited class ever and #1 in the Big East. I think Holtzman is the real deal.
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Before the first practice I told my sister and her son that if Butler beats Purdue this year thye will know the Butler coach is for real. I expect a double digit win. I expect Purdue to be focused and unless the ref do a really bad job I think Purdue leads from start to finish. The most amazing thing to me is Jones scoring inside. Purdue can defend their 3 if they play against the Purdue half court D. I don't see Butler beating Purdue 20 % of the time if they played several times this year...but one game?????
Before the first practice I told my sister and her son that if Butler beats Purdue this year thye will know the Butler coach is for real. I expect a double digit win. I expect Purdue to be focused and unless the ref do a really bad job I think Purdue leads from start to finish. The most amazing thing to me is Jones scoring inside. Purdue can defend their 3 if they play against the Purdue half court D. I don't see Butler beating Purdue 20 % of the time if they played several times this year...but one game?????
...and I thought I owned that gym in the early 60's when they had the rope nets on the baselines and two little bank boards and baskets on the side of the game goals...
Said it in an earlier post, Butler may be one of two teams this year to beat Purdue. If it's a Boiler win in Indy, this team could be sitting undefeated on selection Sunday.
I think you overrate their chances. They don't play anyone in their regular rotation taller than 6'8". They also score a lot of points at the rim. Our height should give them fits.
I think Purdue wins against Butler. And I think we have a virtually zero percent chance of going undefeated. We will lose a couple of games in the B1G. No worries, we'll be fine.
"Big East or not, you're still a mid major"
Very true. Ask anyone about The Big East and the last team to come to mind would be Butler.
Nobody would have ever heard of them if they never caught lightning in a bottle, two years in a row.....
Like it or not, Butler is in the Big East and has a big boy basketball budget. I don't think they're going away anytime soon.
That's a pretty big if. The second year, their best player had already bolted for the NBA.
I don't know why anyone hates on Butler. Because they've been better than us at basketball recently? Big deal. Them and a bunch of others. Not their fault. It's ours. I respect them for what they've accomplished and more importantly how they've accomplished it. There was much mutual respect between our coaching staff and theirs when Stevens was at Butler and I wouldn't be surprised if that's still the case. Would love for them to win the Big East this year.
They were a cute story until they made a final four and started becoming a real threat for in state recruiting. Time to squash this bug before it gets to be a real nuisance.
Only if they can keep the mojo going. A few bad years and they will be in the Big East basement until another Stevens comes along.
They have the permanent revenue stream (Big East TV deal). They have never really had the fans (don't think Hinkle has ever averaged anywhere close to its capacity) but they haven't needed them. They have the coach (for now). That's the biggest thing. But even if Holtmann bolts, this is a program that went to the Sweet Sixteen with basketball cluster**** Todd Lickliter as coach. They'll be fine.
I certainly want to beat them but I have a bit more respect for their program than you do. They were successful before Stevens and will be successful after him. I think the one danger they have in falling off the map is if they try to change their identity to be something they aren't. So long as they remain committed to the "Butler Way" that they've established over the past couple decades I think they will continue to be a successful program in the long term.
This is a great event for the state of Indiana. Its a chance for the best teams in Indy to showcase what they got. I always have a great deal of respect for Butler. They play as a team with a blue collar work ethic and just get the job done. Kinda like Purdue is doing this season. I think this will turn out to be a great game.
There are some who think we should play these games as home and home series instead of Indy where they feel IU has an advantage. It was discussed in another thread recently. If we could get the other schools to do this then sure why not? But that isn't happening especially with ND.
I have gone twice and enjoyed it both times, wish I could go this weekend!
I'm thinking their most highly rated recruiting class ever coming next year would suggest they're not going to be in the basement anytime soon.
I didn't say it would happen soon, but in Purdue's best interests it needs to be sooner than later. There will be more Brunks in the future and all IU needs is for their next coach to have a brain. I root against Butler for the same reasons I root against ND. Just because they are the plucky feel good story doesn't make them any less of a mouth to feed for recruits, fans, and media coverage. Obviously if you went to school there that's a different story.
And I think DePaul is actually a pretty good comp historically speaking.
They were very good in the 60's...fell a little in the 70's and more in the 80's, but then they hired a new president and he set out to emphasize basketball again and they moved back up. All the Big Ten would play them except IU dropped out. They also played UCLA and Notre Dame. Hink built the schedule by allowing east coast teams to play west coast teams in this huge gym...as long as they would also play Butler.
Ok back to the original topic, I believe 2 keys to the game are:
(1) Officiating, particularly in the paint
I think we will see a similar strategy from Butler as New Mexico (and others) employed. Basically try to neutralize our size advantage by being physical and trusting that the refs will not blow the whistle on every possession. In the first half against NM we started to pull away and the refs let them scratch and claw their way back into it. Unfortunately I don't see us having another +30 rebounding advantage, so we will need to hit free throws and a few outside shots if the officiating is tight on the outside and soft in the middle.
(2) Butler's outside shooting
Purdue can overcome mediocre outside shooting and win this one. Butler cannot. The 3 point line is the puncher's chance for anyone big or small to get a couple guys hot and carry a team to victory. It happens to us every year like clockwork against 1 or 2 teams in the nonconference. Last year was Vandy and Gardner Webb. This year I could easily see it being Butler.
