Jones changes this team to multidimensional

[tjreese]

yep...huge pick up...but he still is a little loose sometimes offensively on the trigger just so we get an area to improve. I got my answer from a month or so ago with what I expected @Do Dah Day . Matt started him against the good PG and although he was feeling his way he turned up the heat as did the team second half. After Lance, Matt put Ethan on him and then Braden

@Do Dah Day

Braden Smith's evolution on display in Purdue's Maui Invitational win over Gonzaga

The sophomore guard had a nightmarish game in the NCAA Tournament loss to Fairleigh Dickinson but showed how far he's come on Monday.

theathletic.com

snip...snip...

"The finish to last year was nightmarish for Smith. He had seven turnovers in the NCAA Tournament loss to No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson. It was a lot to put on a freshman. He needed help in the backcourt. Someone else able to handle the ball and a guard with some speed to match up with smaller teams. That’s why adding a guard like Jones, who transferred in from Southern Illinois, was so important. Smith believes the FDU loss doesn’t happen if Purdue had Jones, who also had 13 points against Gonzaga.

More importantly, Jones was able to guard Gonzaga’s star point guard Ryan Nembhard, the most taxing assignment of the day.

“It’s been amazing,” Smith said of the Jones addition. “Just helped me and my legs. I don’t get so tired. He’s another guy to go make plays.”

 

[SCBoiler1]

That’s what we said about our team in the losses last year.

The problem is that it's hard to beat 6 good teams in a row if you have inconsistent/poor three-point shooting. Gonzaga shot 18.8% last night and it wasn't that they were all contested. Eventually in the tourney we're going to run into a team with a hot hand and in those games we're going to need to hit the three at a reasonable percentage. I believe Bilas said it last night. We don't need to be the best three-point shooting team but we need to be better.

 

[Boiler Buck]

The problem is that it's hard to beat 6 good teams in a row if you have inconsistent/poor three-point shooting. Gonzaga shot 18.8% last night and it wasn't that they were all contested. Eventually in the tourney we're going to run into a team with a hot hand and in those games we're going to need to hit the three at a reasonable percentage. I believe Bilas said it last night. We don't need to be the best three-point shooting team but we need to be better.

Got to believe as the season progresses & roster minutes move in the direction of different guys we will get the 35% needed.

 

[BoilerDaddy]

Jones has been a great addition this year, but Smith has been outstanding on his own right. If he keeps up this level of play, the national recognition has to follow.

 

[SCBoiler1]

Loyer had one of his worst games, but he’s a good player. I think he’ll show it soon enough.

I didn’t think that Morton got a lot of minutes, but I thought he played well. I do think that Heide and Colvin will continue to earn more minutes as the season goes on, but I have no issues with the minutes Morton got tonight.

Morton is kind of in the "do no harm" mode. Jones impacts the game. Huge upgrade. My only concern is with his shot selection. Hoping Painter can reign him in a little bit without taking away his aggressiveness.

 

[Boiler Buck]

Jones has been a great addition this year, but Smith has been outstanding on his own right. If he keeps up this level of play, the national recognition has to follow.

Surely not? I know I read on here he was a lightly recruited no star nobody. How could that be?

 

[SCBoiler1]

Got to believe as the season progresses & roster minutes move in the direction of different guys we will get the 35% needed.

Before the season began Loyer and Smith would have been the only "reliable" three-point shooters projected to be in the starting lineup. If Loyer's not hitting then something has to give and after what I saw last night I don't think Jones is going anywhere.

 

[02BoilerUp]

For Those people who question why we didn’t add two transfers, who would you have cut to create the room to add somebody? You also realize the player on the team has to willingly leave. He can’t just be cut. If your answer is Morton, maybe he didn’t want to leave. I questioned the legacy signing. Waddell. He looked ok in one game in Europe, but I can’t see him playing any real minutes for the next 4 years.

We had 1 more open scholarship.

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

Jones has been a great addition this year, but Smith has been outstanding on his own right. If he keeps up this level of play, the national recognition has to follow.

Haha - even Bill Walton mentioned Braden Smith before the UCLA/Marquette game.....that's a YUGE step right there.

Of course, he may have just been mesmerized with the various and tremendous wonders and colors of the islands and basking in the lasts days of what will be known as THEE Conference of Champions.......

 

[Boiler Buck]

Before the season began Loyer and Smith would have been the only "reliable" three-point shooters projected to be in the starting lineup. If Loyer's not hitting then something has to give and after what I saw last night I don't think Jones is going anywhere.

Jones & Smith are studs that make this team go. Hope Loyer gets it going today. Nice to have options when he is off. Coaches have to recognize him being off & use the options better.

 

[Schmedly_Whiplash]

I think Colvin is that rare player who can both shoot and score. Painter is trying to bring him along slowly and not wear him out by season's end but I am not sure you can keep him off the floor indefinitely.

Painter is waiting for his defense to appear He's working at it now.

 

[tjreese]

Jones has been a great addition this year, but Smith has been outstanding on his own right. If he keeps up this level of play, the national recognition has to follow.

He went last year from an unknown to those that never saw him play to a nationally known player last year. That said you are correct that if he can keep up his level of play the recognition will be even more known by casual fans

 

[BoilerAndy]

Why CMP only brought in 1 impactful guy I don't know. 2 would have been ideal.

Because they don't grow on trees?

And because bonefish welched on his NIL commitment to bring in top talent?