Lance Jones

[Schmedly_Whiplash]

Could be one of several guys that have the potential to be an X factor. As noted in the article today his ability to defend 1 or 2's should be extremely helpful to the team. As will being able to give Braden more blows if he can initiate the offense to a fair degree.
I loved Braden and Lance going at it in the scrimmage, looked like a great developmental match up for practice.
He's got a real chance to be THE 1 year guy we've had hopes for multiple times. In large part because this team doesn't NEED him to do anything specific, just fit in and contribute. Helps to have that role on the best Boiler team of my lifetime (probably)

 

[lovelyblonde]

Could be one of several guys that have the potential to be an X factor. As noted in the article today his ability to defend 1 or 2's should be extremely helpful to the team. As will being able to give Braden more blows if he can initiate the offense to a fair degree.
I loved Braden and Lance going at it in the scrimmage, looked like a great developmental match up for practice.
He's got a real chance to be THE 1 year guy we've had hopes for multiple times. In large part because this team doesn't NEED him to do anything specific, just fit in and contribute. Helps to have that role on the best Boiler team of my lifetime (probably)

I was at the scrimmage and he can definitely play and defend. I don't say that about just anybody as I tend to be a little more cautious with my words these days, as expectations last year to make a deep run were trampled on, but this kiddo is a GREAT player. I love Braden Smith too, but this kid can defend as well as Smith.

 

[DwaynePurvis00]

I was at the scrimmage and he can definitely play and defend. I don't say that about just anybody as I tend to be a little more cautious with my words these days, as expectations last year to make a deep run were trampled on, but this kiddo is a GREAT player. I love Braden Smith too, but this kid can defend as well as Smith.

I think he’s a better on ball defender than Braden. Stronger at this point in his career (obviously because he’s been in college longer!). But I saw what you saw at the scrimmage too. I don’t doubt going against Lance every day has made Braden that much better. Excited to see both of them this year.

 

[Wolegib]

I see him as a great defender who can shoot the three. I’m unsure about his ball handling skills or his ability to play the point and distribute the ball and control the tempo.

 

[DwaynePurvis00]

I see him as a great defender who can shoot the three. I’m unsure about his ball handling skills or his ability to play the point and distribute the ball and control the tempo.

It seems like he was confident bringing the ball up and facilitating. But hopefully, he won’t need to do those things that much during a game, except when he gives Braden a break/we need to break the press.But I guess if teams have the “blueprint” on Purdue, they will be pressing more this year (I guess?).

 

[lovelyblonde]

I think he’s a better on ball defender than Braden. Stronger at this point in his career (obviously because he’s been in college longer!). But I saw what you saw at the scrimmage too. I don’t doubt going against Lance every day has made Braden that much better. Excited to see both of them this year.

Me too! Looking forward to another BBALL SEASON!

 

[northside100]

It seems like he was confident bringing the ball up and facilitating. But hopefully, he won’t need to do those things that much during a game, except when he gives Braden a break/we need to break the press.But I guess if teams have the “blueprint” on Purdue, they will be pressing more this year (I guess?).

Agree. I suspect there are a lot of teams who won't feel great about how they match up with Purdue straight up and will take high risk approaches to try to give themselves a shot.

I think that packing the lane and fouling the heck out of Zach are at the top of that list of approaches but agree that pressing is on the list as well.

 

[seminolesboilers]

After last year's debacle...I just want to make the NCAA Tournament.

 

[BoilerJS]

After last year's debacle...I just want to make the NCAA Tournament.

Barring another Covid debacle, a very small chance of NCAA violations that keep us out or an even smaller chance we have a complete team collapse, we make the NCAA Tourney!

 

[tjreese]

Could be one of several guys that have the potential to be an X factor. As noted in the article today his ability to defend 1 or 2's should be extremely helpful to the team. As will being able to give Braden more blows if he can initiate the offense to a fair degree.
I loved Braden and Lance going at it in the scrimmage, looked like a great developmental match up for practice.
He's got a real chance to be THE 1 year guy we've had hopes for multiple times. In large part because this team doesn't NEED him to do anything specific, just fit in and contribute. Helps to have that role on the best Boiler team of my lifetime (probably)

typing a bit in the dark, but going off what has been said...if Lance is in the game with Braden and outside of a high scoring 2, I put Lance on the 1 to set the tone on D and put Braden on the 2 to save a bit of energy for Braden to have some left on offense. If Lance causes problems on their 1 all of Purdue's D is improved.

 

[tjreese]

It seems like he was confident bringing the ball up and facilitating. But hopefully, he won’t need to do those things that much during a game, except when he gives Braden a break/we need to break the press.But I guess if teams have the “blueprint” on Purdue, they will be pressing more this year (I guess?).

I will be shocked if "the press" (2-2-1) or any other zone press gives Purdue problems for any "duration". Purdue has a more athletic team this year as well as more experience. Purdue can put people at the 3 and 4 this year that can get to the rim and help with the ball. I feel pretty good with Waddell and Myles and just haven't seen enough from Cam to get a feel on his ball handling. We do know that with some space he too can get to the rim.

 

[pboiler18]

I will be shocked if "the press" (2-2-1) or any other zone press gives Purdue problems for any "duration". Purdue has a more athletic team this year as well as more experience. Purdue can put people at the 3 and 4 this year that can get to the rim and help with the ball. I feel pretty good with Waddell and Myles and just haven't seen enough from Cam to get a feel on his ball handling. We do know that with some space he too can get to the rim.

The press is a catch 22 for me on how we want to attack vs how we should attack. I think the thing the press is most effective at vs us is taking the extra 3-5 seconds off the clock for us to run offense and get our bigs a good look.

For as much as our “inability” to break a bread is ballyhooed on here…we really aren’t that bad at it. We just take our time, try to make high percentage plays and are successful 90-95% of the time. That’s VERY good Vs full court pressure!

The biggest thing we should change…especially with not having Zach involved in the press break is having him ready and able to revive the ball as soon as the press is broken and not give the defense the opportunity to recover after we break it and get reset. If we are going to sell out to break the press then wait to get our bearings and let the D get set again we are losing any advantage of breaking said press. Just need to be a touch quicker and more deliberate. From there…just need to make sure we get it to Zach quick so he has a guaranteed 1v1 when we do break the press vs hopping into a set with 17-15-13 seconds or so left on the clock.

Definitely throws off our offensive rhythm that way and we need to find a counterpunch that works to get teams out of it…or at least abuse them on it when they stay in it

 

[Schmedly_Whiplash]

I think we need to make teams pay for pressing us.
I hate letting teams press us and still able to drop back and setup defense as we pound the ball at the 1/2 court line and setup our offense. No consequences for them taking chances and harrassing us.
Nothing stops presses faster than a couple of dunks coming off press breaks.
We have the athletes to run the floor, we have the sweet passing pg with more experience.
ATTACK...
Secondarily that gives Zack some blows not having to cross the 1/2 court line at times. And leaves him back to defend our goal if the other team tries to run it back.

 

[tjreese]

The press is a catch 22 for me on how we want to attack vs how we should attack. I think the thing the press is most effective at vs us is taking the extra 3-5 seconds off the clock for us to run offense and get our bigs a good look.

For as much as our “inability” to break a bread is ballyhooed on here…we really aren’t that bad at it. We just take our time, try to make high percentage plays and are successful 90-95% of the time. That’s VERY good Vs full court pressure!

The biggest thing we should change…especially with not having Zach involved in the press break is having him ready and able to revive the ball as soon as the press is broken and not give the defense the opportunity to recover after we break it and get reset. If we are going to sell out to break the press then wait to get our bearings and let the D get set again we are losing any advantage of breaking said press. Just need to be a touch quicker and more deliberate. From there…just need to make sure we get it to Zach quick so he has a guaranteed 1v1 when we do break the press vs hopping into a set with 17-15-13 seconds or so left on the clock.

Definitely throws off our offensive rhythm that way and we need to find a counterpunch that works to get teams out of it…or at least abuse them on it when they stay in it

Some teams absolutely have little effort in trying to trap you and want to eat clock...and if you go fast you play into their hands. Some teams and Iowa will do this at times is eat clock and see where the players go and study how you intend to break a given zone press and then bring on the pressure once they see the tendencies. However, whatever zone press is used (because there are not that many man presses) you prefer to go over the top and where your 3 and 4 are valuable IMO. FDU hurt Purdue a bit with the run and jump which I'm unsure Purdue has seen that for quite some time...longer than I can remember.

Early in the year last year Purdue did get the ball off the break to Zach's hands quickly. Zach makes it difficult to determine which way is best before you see it because you don't want to speed up the game "if you don't score due to an incomplete pass and catch or missed shot and lost rebound" and lose Zach while he is going one way and the team is going the other. Zach is too important in a half court game to lose him and so you need to play at his speed a lot of the game. Still, you want to probe and score if an early push is there.

 

[Do Dah Day]

typing a bit in the dark, but going off what has been said...if Lance is in the game with Braden and outside of a high scoring 2, I put Lance on the 1 to set the tone on D and put Braden on the 2 to save a bit of energy for Braden to have some left on offense. If Lance causes problems on their 1 all of Purdue's D is improved.

KaBINGO

 

[Do Dah Day]

I will be shocked if "the press" (2-2-1) or any other zone press gives Purdue problems for any "duration". Purdue has a more athletic team this year as well as more experience. Purdue can put people at the 3 and 4 this year that can get to the rim and help with the ball. I feel pretty good with Waddell and Myles and just haven't seen enough from Cam to get a feel on his ball handling. We do know that with some space he too can get to the rim.

Ok loyal followers, proceed with burning me at the stake .... I think pressing us this year will quickly be determined to be a big mistake. We have several wings who played serious AAU in the past few years. If they got ANY coaching, they will have developed at least some proper reactions. We have WINGS who can handle the ball and see the court as well as pull-up for a three. Our personnel against a press is totally different with Smith/Jones ... Loyer/ Colvin .... Waddel/Heide

 

[DwaynePurvis00]

Ok loyal followers, proceed with burning me at the stake .... I think pressing us this year will quickly be determined to be a big mistake. We have several wings who played serious AAU in the past few years. If they got ANY coaching, they will have developed at least some proper reactions. We have WINGS who can handle the ball and see the court as well as pull-up for a three. Our personnel against a press is totally different with Smith/Jones ... Loyer/ Colvin .... Waddel/Heide

sure, in theory, but nowadays all these guys play serious AAU. I would say it’s more about how they’re coached now and how they go about a press. Morton was MR Pennsylvania and played tons of AAU and I don’t doubt he could break a press in high school. Now, he doesn’t look to dribble it or try to break it, just passes it back and he’s only one example…as much as I was wanting Newman to play more minutes over Morton last year, he had some baaad turnovers against the press that you’re taught in 5th grade on what not to do. I would hope and assume we will be better when it counts, but we seem to say that every year and when it’s crucial to beat the press, we haven’t shown we can do it. Hope it’s diff this year.

 

[Do Dah Day]

sure, in theory, but nowadays all these guys play serious AAU. I would say it’s more about how they’re coached now and how they go about a press. Morton was MR Pennsylvania and played tons of AAU and I don’t doubt he could break a press in high school. Now, he doesn’t look to dribble it or try to break it, just passes it back and he’s only one example…as much as I was wanting Newman to play more minutes over Morton last year, he had some baaad turnovers against the press that you’re taught in 5th grade on what not to do. I would hope and assume we will be better when it counts, but we seem to say that every year and when it’s crucial to beat the press, we haven’t shown we can do it. Hope it’s diff this year.

no debate at this point.

 

[DwaynePurvis00]

no debate at this point.

I hope you are right and I am wrong!! And it’d be nice if we actually attacked the press instead of just getting the ball across half court and then setting up the offense. Doesn’t have to be every time, but at least some of the time to make them pay for pressing.

 

[tjreese]

sure, in theory, but nowadays all these guys play serious AAU. I would say it’s more about how they’re coached now and how they go about a press. Morton was MR Pennsylvania and played tons of AAU and I don’t doubt he could break a press in high school. Now, he doesn’t look to dribble it or try to break it, just passes it back and he’s only one example…as much as I was wanting Newman to play more minutes over Morton last year, he had some baaad turnovers against the press that you’re taught in 5th grade on what not to do. I would hope and assume we will be better when it counts, but we seem to say that every year and when it’s crucial to beat the press, we haven’t shown we can do it. Hope it’s diff this year.

As @Do Dah Day and I have stated with the players, but left out maybe why we believe what we do, is that these players have length, can handle the ball and can have some serious athletic ability as well. The athletic ability in an open court which is what is left somewhat after the first layer of pressure helps Purdue. Sure it is pass and catch in the gaps and dribble when able...but Purdue also has another year experience with Fletcher and Braden. I'm trying to recall...was Maryland with it's 2-2-1 the only team that the press with the athletes that drilled some 3s as well the only problem with the press for Purdue. I know FDU was mostly run&jump pressure but also caused some problems with their press that I can't recall specifics now.

Missing the 3 adn 4 man for effective press break put a huge weight on Braden's shoulders with fatigue eventually winning out. He should get maybe 4 to 5 more minutes of rest this year...and adding Lance if he plays D on the 1 makes those minutes left for Braden less fatigue. It is refreshing to see more people discuss the 3 and 4 spots since after the tourney there was much talk about the 1 and 2 against zone pressure when you needed the 3 and 4 to help with that pressure. I just think Purdue has filled a lot of holes. Now...they have to hit the FTs.....Trey!!!