Last 8 minutes

[arcb102000]

Mathboy, this comment may be somewhat obvious but so be it. The 40% figure that you cite is an average for the game. However, I would suggest that there is a likely falloff as the game progresses. Shooting begins with the legs and fatigue affects that.

Not going inside in the late stages of Iowa was a huge mistake.

 

[bonefish1]

You can't blame 3 pt shooters for taking 3's against a zone when they're open. That's what they're supposed to do.
Mccaffery was either going to let Purdue win by hitting 3's against his zone but he wasn't going to let Haas and Biggie dominate in the paint.
His gamble worked out and P went cold.
I would have like to have seen more of Carsen against the zone to see if he could do a better job of penetrating.

 

[tjreese]

I don't want to add to the negativity, but here is my humble look back at where this game was lost. Purdue entered the last 8 minutes of the game leading 71-66. Iowa had 8 fouls, putting Purdue in the bonus. Things were looking up. Purdue hadn't played very good defense for most of the night but was able to go toe-to-toe and then some offensively with Iowa.

Purdue was then outscored 17-7 in those final 8 minutes. Here are the results of each of the Purdue possessions in those final 8 minutes:

Mathias missed 3 pointer
V. Edwards missed 3 pointer
C. Edwards missed jumper
C. Edwards missed 3 pointer
Mathias missed 3 pointer
Cline MADE 3 pointer
Mathias MADE 2/2 FT
Cline missed 3 pointer
Mathias missed 3 pointer
Swanigan MADE jumper
Cline missed 2/2 FT
Thompson missed 3 pointer
Haas missed layup
Cline missed 3 pointer
Swanigan turnover
Swanigan missed jumper
Mathias missed 3 pointer

That is 10 3 pointers, only one of which was made. In that same span, Swanigan was 1 for 2. It is my belief that by the time it came down to those last few possessions, he had been effectively taken out of the game by his teammates. You could see his visible frustration when it was tied at 78 with just under 2 minutes left. Then to expect him to hit that game winning shot with 19 seconds left.. perhaps there were lingering effects.

I am not one who outright complains about 3 point shots. It is an important weapon of this team. It opens up the post. And we were effective shooting 3's for the first 32 minutes last night.. BUT when you are playing one dimensional and also not feeding your best player, it can come back to bite you.

sometimes easy baskets early are like fool's gold and get you going down a path that will soon fall away. Purdue's strength is inside whether they are hitting the three or not. Purdue's strength is banging not running whether Purdue gets a few easy ones or not. Players need to understand the strengths and play to them "most" of the game...well said first down!

 

[tjreese]

You can't blame 3 pt shooters for taking 3's against a zone when they're open. That's what they're supposed to do.
Mccaffery was either going to let Purdue win by hitting 3's against his zone but he wasn't going to let Haas and Biggie dominate in the paint.
His gamble worked out and P went cold.
I would have like to have seen more of Carsen against the zone to see if he could do a better job of penetrating.

you are correct and THAT is part of the problem. A read offense...and really all offenses lean to this is taking what is given. True, it makes no sense to throw the ball inside if nothing is there. However, I maintain that there was something between what we saw and last year where it almost always went inside...and THAT might have resulted in a W