I could take Miami as a comparison. They been winning, in large part, by hitting large numbers of difficult 3 point shot attempts. The 2019 Carsen Edwards team may be an even better example of that. Purdue, this year, on the other hand, lost by missing large percentages of wide open 3 point shots. You don’t see better looks than Purdue was getting. The misses were not Zach’s fault. They also were not the fault of the scheme. Instead, they pointed to an inability of this group of players in this situation to handle the pressure. I don’t know what the fix is for that, but I certainly don’t think it is to replace the most dominant player in the NCAA.
My $.01 that I’ve held for quite a few years is two 4’s. I hoped that when Zach went out that Trey and Caleb would be those two 4s and that they had developed enough offense that both could play the low post as well as go out to 15 and be effective. I could see them depending on match up, one of them going down low and the other out, but none of that happened. Caleb has not added to his offensive game as I had hoped and Trey put on some weight and it slowed him down. Then, with the weight we saw him sub for Zach rather than those two providing a totally different look.
Still, I also recognize that Zach has also been recognized, as quite a player and wins all his 5 match ups and so even though that style isn’t my favorite, it was highly effective. While other teams are taking long 2s and hopeful to get a few buckets at the rim…Purdue always gets that. While other teams are driving the ball and provide more movement than Purdue, they end up taking harder shots typically and rarely get as many good looks behind the arc that Purdue does. So, although the offense is stagnant with Zach to the eyes, his mere presence creates a LOT of good looks for a lot of players. Tall defenders that threaten a dig, but close enough to recover on a Purdue player may give that player hesitation, but is there reason why the Purdue player cannot drive the ball and score other than his own ability? Does the physical and skill limitations of the Purdue players make hit hard for them to score…or does Zach make it hard for them to score?
Sometimes we see this or that in a team and think…wow…so fluid why doesn’t Purdue do that…and it is pleasing to the eyes. Still, the thought process is that if you have the right guys shooting shots within their lethal abilities and those abilities happen with only good looks…shouldn’t that team win if the other team doesn’t get as good of looks? Purdue’s record supports that this year. Rather than wish on this player and that player…which I understand…I wish the coaching staff would figure out “WHY” players shoot poorly with such great looks and I have thoughts, but that is for another day.
Anyway, Zach is Zach and a huge advantage for Purdue, but I would like for Trey and Caleb to provide more than jump hooks, up & unders, dives/back cuts depending on the double defender location. Even if none of this transpires as I wish…if only a 3 provides solid minutes of catching the ball, dribbling the ball, passing the ball, penetrating as needed and scoring in traffic…Purdue should be fine…after all it wasn’t that far from being really good other than poor shooting all year…wishful that the next game it would be good. That 3 man helps with a zone press…as could the 4 man in theory
I know many believe Purdue needs two more guards which would help with practice and if really good, help in games. I can go one guard…but not knowing how the three and fours shake out…I’m unsure about the second guard. This is all O, I’m sure we can list things on D that we wish Purdue would clean up and other things…like maybe doubling the post that some of us wish Purdue would play straight up early in the season some and grow with it
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