Next season's roster

[nagemj02]

We've got a few days (Tuesday) until the Boilers' next game, so I figured I'd look ahead to next season just to identify the roster makeup and would like your feedback and assessments of it. I'm just going to assume that Biggie is going to stay in the NBA Draft this year. So, with Caleb Swanigan being an early-entrant and Spike Albrecht out of eligibility (Jon McKeeman as well), this is what next season's roster looks like (scholarship players):


1. SG Dakota Mathias (Sr.)
2. SF/PF Vince Edwards (Sr.)
3. C Isaac Haas (Sr.)
4. SG/PG P.J. Thompson (Sr.)
5. C/PF Jacquil Taylor (RS So. or RS Jr.)
6. SG Ryan Cline (Jr.)
7. PF/SF Eden Ewing (Jr.) (JC transfer)
8. PG/SG Carsen Edwards (So.)
9. PF/C Matt Haarms (Fr.)
10. PF/SF Aaron Wheeler (Fr.)
11. PG/SF Nojel Eastern (Fr.)
12. SG Sasha Stefanovic (Fr.)
13. open


I would have liked to have seen the coaching staff hold off on offering someone like a Sasha Stefanovic or an Eden Ewing so that they could pursue another dynamic, skilled, but proven guard in the vein of CE (with the exception of being taller/lengthier), as well as a lengthy, proven, shot-blocking 4 or 5 man.

Anyway, what are your thoughts on the makeup of the above roster/team?

 

[SnowLeopard]

In the tiny chance that Swanigan stays another year, we will be a top 5 team pre-season and a F4 contender

Very strong line-up even without Swanigan, pre-season top 20. Solid 7-8 man rotation, S16/E8 team

Haas
VE
Mathias
CE
PJ

Cline
Eastern
Taylor/Haarms/Ewing

 

[Frankie611]

That senior class will be special. I see no way Swanigan comes back. He is already having the best statistical year he could have. Three 20-20 games, 16 double doubles so far, shooting 50% from 3, on and on. He really has nothing else to gain from college. He will either be a lottery pick or foolish NBA owners will pass on him because "his skills don't transfer." He will then get picked up late by whichever team is the NBA equivalent to the Patriots and they will use his work ethic to make him an all star.

 

[New Pal Boiler]

We've got a few days (Tuesday) until the Boilers' next game, so I figured I'd look ahead to next season just to identify the roster makeup and would like your feedback and assessments of it. I'm just going to assume that Biggie is going to stay in the NBA Draft this year. So, with Caleb Swanigan being an early-entrant and Spike Albrecht out of eligibility (Jon McKeeman as well), this is what next season's roster looks like (scholarship players):


1. SG Dakota Mathias (Sr.)
2. SF/PF Vince Edwards (Sr.)
3. C Isaac Haas (Sr.)
4. SG/PG P.J. Thompson (Sr.)
5. C/PF Jacquil Taylor (RS So. or RS Jr.)
6. SG Ryan Cline (Jr.)
7. PF/SF Eden Ewing (Jr.) (JC transfer)
8. PG/SG Carsen Edwards (So.)
9. PF/C Matt Haarms (Fr.)
10. PF/SF Aaron Wheeler (Fr.)
11. PG/SF Nojel Eastern (Fr.)
12. SG Sasha Stefanovic (Fr.)
13. open


I would have liked to have seen the coaching staff hold off on offering someone like a Sasha Stefanovic or an Eden Ewing so that they could pursue another dynamic, skilled, but proven guard in the vein of CE (with the exception of being taller/lengthier), as well as a lengthy, proven, shot-blocking 4 or 5 man.

Anyway, what are your thoughts on the makeup of the above roster/team?

Starters:
Vince
Isaac
Dakota
PJ
Carsen

Rotation guys:
Cline
Eastern
Ewing
JT or Haarms

Redshirt Sasha and maybe Wheeler also?

 

[takedownboiler]

Even in your best dreams Swanigan won't be coming back. I'm still happy about our lineup next season. Thinking a grad transfer PF to pick up some slack on rebounding.

 

[Roeder]

We've got a few days (Tuesday) until the Boilers' next game, so I figured I'd look ahead to next season just to identify the roster makeup and would like your feedback and assessments of it. I'm just going to assume that Biggie is going to stay in the NBA Draft this year. So, with Caleb Swanigan being an early-entrant and Spike Albrecht out of eligibility (Jon McKeeman as well), this is what next season's roster looks like (scholarship players):


1. SG Dakota Mathias (Sr.)
2. SF/PF Vince Edwards (Sr.)
3. C Isaac Haas (Sr.)
4. SG/PG P.J. Thompson (Sr.)
5. C/PF Jacquil Taylor (RS So. or RS Jr.)
6. SG Ryan Cline (Jr.)
7. PF/SF Eden Ewing (Jr.) (JC transfer)
8. PG/SG Carsen Edwards (So.)
9. PF/C Matt Haarms (Fr.)
10. PF/SF Aaron Wheeler (Fr.)
11. PG/SF Nojel Eastern (Fr.)
12. SG Sasha Stefanovic (Fr.)
13. open


I would have liked to have seen the coaching staff hold off on offering someone like a Sasha Stefanovic or an Eden Ewing so that they could pursue another dynamic, skilled, but proven guard in the vein of CE (with the exception of being taller/lengthier), as well as a lengthy, proven, shot-blocking 4 or 5 man.

Anyway, what are your thoughts on the makeup of the above roster/team?

Thanks for posting this. I really like the make up of this roster and the incoming recruiting class.

I think Eastern and Wheeler will give Purdue a boost of length and athleticism at guard and on the wing that will fit nicely with the returning group.. I think Wheeler could be a steal. He retweets highlights of his games frequently and he has all the physical tools to develop into the athletic wing Purdue has rarely had.

If Swanigan leaves, that scholarship ideally should go to a defensive/rebounding post you feel can contribute right away. There will hopefully be a 5th year transfer fitting that mold that wants to play on a top 15 team. If not, there might be more high school seniors available if there are coaching changes and they want released from their LOI's.

 

[New Pal Boiler]

Thanks for posting this. I really like the make up of this roster and the incoming recruiting class.

I think Eastern and Wheeler will give Purdue a boost of length and athleticism at guard and on the wing that will fit nicely with the returning group.. I think Wheeler could be a steal. He retweets highlights of his games frequently and he has all the physical tools to develop into the athletic wing Purdue has rarely had.

If Swanigan leaves, that scholarship ideally should go to a defensive/rebounding post you feel can contribute right away. There will hopefully be a 5th year transfer fitting that mold that wants to play on a top 15 team. If not, there might be more high school seniors available if there are coaching changes and they want released from their LOI's.

Don't forget Epperson.

 

[cprh9u]

We've got a few days (Tuesday) until the Boilers' next game, so I figured I'd look ahead to next season just to identify the roster makeup and would like your feedback and assessments of it. I'm just going to assume that Biggie is going to stay in the NBA Draft this year. So, with Caleb Swanigan being an early-entrant and Spike Albrecht out of eligibility (Jon McKeeman as well), this is what next season's roster looks like (scholarship players):


1. SG Dakota Mathias (Sr.)
2. SF/PF Vince Edwards (Sr.)
3. C Isaac Haas (Sr.)
4. SG/PG P.J. Thompson (Sr.)
5. C/PF Jacquil Taylor (RS So. or RS Jr.)
6. SG Ryan Cline (Jr.)
7. PF/SF Eden Ewing (Jr.) (JC transfer)
8. PG/SG Carsen Edwards (So.)
9. PF/C Matt Haarms (Fr.)
10. PF/SF Aaron Wheeler (Fr.)
11. PG/SF Nojel Eastern (Fr.)
12. SG Sasha Stefanovic (Fr.)
13. open


I would have liked to have seen the coaching staff hold off on offering someone like a Sasha Stefanovic or an Eden Ewing so that they could pursue another dynamic, skilled, but proven guard in the vein of CE (with the exception of being taller/lengthier), as well as a lengthy, proven, shot-blocking 4 or 5 man.

Anyway, what are your thoughts on the makeup of the above roster/team?

I don't think we appreciate how much CS opens things up on the outside. His rebounding and scoring ability will be truly missed. Is Haas ready to step up and play starter minutes and take over that role as the dominant big man? Not from what I've seen this year. His progression is as big as anyone's, even though that seems odd to say since he is going into his senior year. If he can step up, be consistent and stay on the floor, we can be a good solid top 20-25 team. If not, even with improved guard play, I think it's quite a bit harder.

 

[BoilerInChiTown]

Nice experienced lineup, but with Biggie gone, rebounding will be our biggest weakness next year. We need a bruiser for rebounding otherwise we will get out rebounded on pretty regular basis unfortunately.

 

[tigerchump]

We've got a few days (Tuesday) until the Boilers' next game, so I figured I'd look ahead to next season just to identify the roster makeup and would like your feedback and assessments of it. I'm just going to assume that Biggie is going to stay in the NBA Draft this year. So, with Caleb Swanigan being an early-entrant and Spike Albrecht out of eligibility (Jon McKeeman as well), this is what next season's roster looks like (scholarship players):


1. SG Dakota Mathias (Sr.)
2. SF/PF Vince Edwards (Sr.)
3. C Isaac Haas (Sr.)
4. SG/PG P.J. Thompson (Sr.)
5. C/PF Jacquil Taylor (RS So. or RS Jr.)
6. SG Ryan Cline (Jr.)
7. PF/SF Eden Ewing (Jr.) (JC transfer)
8. PG/SG Carsen Edwards (So.)
9. PF/C Matt Haarms (Fr.)
10. PF/SF Aaron Wheeler (Fr.)
11. PG/SF Nojel Eastern (Fr.)
12. SG Sasha Stefanovic (Fr.)
13. open


I would have liked to have seen the coaching staff hold off on offering someone like a Sasha Stefanovic or an Eden Ewing so that they could pursue another dynamic, skilled, but proven guard in the vein of CE (with the exception of being taller/lengthier), as well as a lengthy, proven, shot-blocking 4 or 5 man.

Anyway, what are your thoughts on the makeup of the above roster/team?

Add another good big guy,and they should be a conference contender.

 

[lbodel]

We've got a few days (Tuesday) until the Boilers' next game, so I figured I'd look ahead to next season just to identify the roster makeup and would like your feedback and assessments of it. I'm just going to assume that Biggie is going to stay in the NBA Draft this year. So, with Caleb Swanigan being an early-entrant and Spike Albrecht out of eligibility (Jon McKeeman as well), this is what next season's roster looks like (scholarship players):


1. SG Dakota Mathias (Sr.)
2. SF/PF Vince Edwards (Sr.)
3. C Isaac Haas (Sr.)
4. SG/PG P.J. Thompson (Sr.)
5. C/PF Jacquil Taylor (RS So. or RS Jr.)
6. SG Ryan Cline (Jr.)
7. PF/SF Eden Ewing (Jr.) (JC transfer)
8. PG/SG Carsen Edwards (So.)
9. PF/C Matt Haarms (Fr.)
10. PF/SF Aaron Wheeler (Fr.)
11. PG/SF Nojel Eastern (Fr.)
12. SG Sasha Stefanovic (Fr.)
13. open


I would have liked to have seen the coaching staff hold off on offering someone like a Sasha Stefanovic or an Eden Ewing so that they could pursue another dynamic, skilled, but proven guard in the vein of CE (with the exception of being taller/lengthier), as well as a lengthy, proven, shot-blocking 4 or 5 man.

Anyway, what are your thoughts on the makeup of the above roster/team?

Is Taylor expected back healthy at all this season? Not that he'd get much PT (although there's a couple games he could), but would like to see him back in practice.

 

[Dakota Girl]

[QUOTE="nagemj02, post: 1319652, member: 5366"

I would have liked to have seen the coaching staff hold off on offering someone like a Sasha Stefanovic or an Eden Ewing so that they could pursue another dynamic, skilled, but proven guard in the vein of CE (with the exception of being taller/lengthier), as well as a lengthy, proven, shot-blocking 4 or 5.
[/QUOTE]

Do you realize that a tall long armed Carsen Edwards would be a top 10 recruit and likely the top 2 guard in the nation? That would be a gamble to toss out other recruits in hopes of landing that player this late even if you are a blue blood. I am again dazzled by your brilliance and inspired by your faith in our staff. Or were you just creating an impossible to achieve construct so you could rip them for failure to meet it later?

 

[Dakota Girl]

The three senior starters, Carsen, Cline off the bench plus the athleticism of the new class means an even better season. With a surprise return of Caleb this would be a NC contender.

 

[New Pal Boiler]

Do you realize that a tall long armed Carsen Edwards would be a top 10 recruit and likely the top 2 guard in the nation? That would be a gamble to toss out other recruits in hopes of landing that player this late even if you are a blue blood. I am again dazzled by your brilliance and inspired by your faith in our staff. Or were you just creating an impossible to achieve construct so you could rip them for failure to meet it later?[/QUOTE]
Hey let's throw in a 7 foot tall biggie with a 40 inch vertical while we're at it.

 

[Boiler Wolf]

When is the last time we had 4 seniors that played meaningful minutes? That plus the young talent coming inmakes me excited, even sans Biggie.

 

[Boiler Buck]

Without CS we are probably a B10 middle of the pack team.

 

[mathboy]

Without CS we are probably a B10 middle of the pack team.

Addition of 7'2" Haarms and guard Eastern, we are probably a top 3 team in the BIG. You must do the adds if you do the subtracts.

 

[DrEss]

I think most of us had some concern for this season's success without AJH. No one expected CS, except probably CS, to be the player he has been this season. With that, I see no reason why someone, specifically IH and VE shouldn't step up their play a bit more for next season. Getting contributions from a newbie similar to what CE has brought this season will also help. They should still be very competitive, but it might take a bit longer into the season until a leader by example like this season's CS, takes over.

 

[BoilerStation]

Will Haarms have to RS the first half of the season since he is currently redshirting this semester?

 

[BoilerFan#35]

I don't know much about 6th years in basketball. When will they decide if Taylor has a 6th year? I think it is after his 5th year but I'm not sure

 

[BoilerFan#35]

Will Haarms have to RS the first half of the season since he is currently redshirting this semester?

No this 2nd semester is basically a whole red shirt year. He will be able to play at the start of next season

 

[nagemj02]

Will Haarms have to RS the first half of the season since he is currently redshirting this semester?

From what I've read, no. I think he will be eligible to play immediately next fall.

 

[nagemj02]

Is Taylor expected back healthy at all this season? Not that he'd get much PT (although there's a couple games he could), but would like to see him back in practice.

I don't think so but maybe we'll soon get an update that he's practicing.

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

I don't know much about 6th years in basketball. When will they decide if Taylor has a 6th year? I think it is after his 5th year but I'm not sure

I believe it's a two-step process, where Purdue would request a waiver for this season, and then after the 5th year, Purdue would request an extension of the 5-year clock (the 6th year of eligibility).

 

[SnowLeopard]

When is the last time we had 4 seniors that played meaningful minutes? That plus the young talent coming inmakes me excited, even sans Biggie.

I want to say the 2000 Elite Eight squad

Cardinal, Cornell, Robinson, McQuay

In addition to Haas/Vince/Dakota/PJ, 2018 potentially has 1 or 2 more 4th year player - Taylor and a grad transfer. Smotherman would have been a senior and a potential starter if he hadn't screwed it up

 

[Dakota Girl]

Do you realize that a tall long armed Carsen Edwards would be a top 10 recruit and likely the top 2 guard in the nation? That would be a gamble to toss out other recruits in hopes of landing that player this late even if you are a blue blood. I am again dazzled by your brilliance and inspired by your faith in our staff. Or were you just creating an impossible to achieve construct so you could rip them for failure to meet it later?

Hey let's throw in a 7 foot tall biggie with a 40 inch vertical while we're at it.[/QUOTE]
I saw one of those guys playing in the Y the other day. He said he scores 60 points a game on 22 shot attempts in the Mid Indiana Conference but has no offers and he said he loves Purdue.

 

[nagemj02]

I want to say the 2000 Elite Eight squad

Cardinal, Cornell, Robinson, McQuay

In addition to Haas/Vince/Dakota/PJ, 2018 potentially has 1 or 2 more 4th year player - Taylor and a grad transfer. Smotherman would have been a senior and a potential starter if he hadn't screwed it up

The 2003-2004 team: Austin Parkinson, Kenneth Lowe (5th-year senior), Brett Buscher, Chris Booker (yeah, we know his story), and Ivan Kartelo (5th-year senior) were all seniors.

 

[SnowLeopard]

The 2003-2004 team: Austin Parkinson, Kenneth Lowe (5th-year senior), Brett Buscher, Chris Booker (yeah, we know his story), and Ivan Kartelo (5th-year senior) were all seniors.

First round exit in the NIT

 

[nagemj02]

First round exit in the NIT

Correct

They finally beat Notre Dame this year! Now I'm rooting ND to beat Florida State (they're playing right now) solely for the purpose of giving Purdue one of many opportunities to rise on the tourney seed lines.

 

[StickPurdue]

I am not sure why people are saying they should have held off on offering Sasha. When teams started missing out on their first choice, Sasha was going to get a P5 offer and he would have taken it. The kid can hoop and will be a great boiler. Ewing was the one I thought we could have waited on, but he was a top Juco prospect, and he can play multiple positions. I see why Painter wanted to lock him in early. Purdue missed out on a lot of their top choices, but they got some players that can fill multiple rolls. We will have an opportunity to redshirt 1-2 players. We will miss Biggie, but I still think we will be a preseason favorite to win the Big Ten.

 

[nagemj02]

I am not sure why people are saying they should have held off on offering Sasha. When teams started missing out on their first choice, Sasha was going to get a P5 offer and he would have taken it. The kid can hoop and will be a great boiler. Ewing was the one I thought we could have waited on, but he was a top Juco prospect, and he can play multiple positions. I see why Painter wanted to lock him in early. Purdue missed out on a lot of their top choices, but they got some players that can fill multiple rolls. We will have an opportunity to redshirt 1-2 players. We will miss Biggie, but I still think we will be a preseason favorite to win the Big Ten.

I'm saying it and I'm saying it because there are going to be plenty of transfers available this offseason. Having another guard with similar skills and abilities to CE would be more beneficial to next season's team than having another guard that is, for the most part, a one-dimensional scorer (Mathias, Thompson, and Cline). It's nothing against Stefanovic, but Painter and staff need to pursue more guards in the mold of CE if they want to win big in March/April.

 

[Boiler Buck]

Addition of 7'2" Haarms and guard Eastern, we are probably a top 3 team in the BIG. You must do the adds if you do the subtracts.

It is not like the rest of the Big Ten is sitting still either.....they are adding players too. While we lose our star, our class coming in, while it has real good long term players might be middle of the pack in the Big Ten. It will rank higher than it should due to volume of players....not because it contains an immediate superstar all Big Ten player.

Painter will have his work cut out for himself next year fitting pieces together to get up to be a top 3 team like you claim. It is possible he does that, sure.....but dont discount the rest of the Big Ten either.

 

[StickPurdue]

I'm saying it and I'm saying it because there are going to be plenty of transfers available this offseason. Having another guard with similar skills and abilities to CE would be more beneficial to next season's team than having another guard that is, for the most part, a one-dimensional scorer (Mathias, Thompson, and Cline). It's nothing against Stefanovic, but Painter and staff need to pursue more guards in the mold of CE if they want to win big in March/April.

I don't think you want to be loaded down with players that need the ball in their hands. I think Sasha was a great pickup. I though Purdue should have gone after Bane as well. He is having a pretty decent year with limited minutes in the Big 12. We should have offered him early and given him a redshirt. We waited too long hoping we could get him as a walk on and he moved on. Sasha would have moved on, and he will be a nice piece. Sure, we would love to have top 50 type guards with skills like Boogie, but I would much rather have Sasha for 5 years than a fifth year transfer for one (especially when the chances of us grabbing an elite 5th year is very slim). Also, there isn't incoming freshman that has that same skill set that we would be able to get for next years class. Also, with Biggie leaving, we will still have an open spot. I think a fifth year big man would be much more helpful to next years team.

Next year, we should be going all in for Robert Phinisee. He is that type of player and would allow us to go three guards and shred opposing defenses. He is a backyard kid, and we have been after him for a while. Would be an extremely nice addition.

 

[delish1]

It is not like the rest of the Big Ten is sitting still either.....they are adding players too. While we lose our star, our class coming in, while it has real good long term players might be middle of the pack in the Big Ten. It will rank higher than it should due to volume of players....not because it contains an immediate superstar all Big Ten player.

Painter will have his work cut out for himself next year fitting pieces together to get up to be a top 3 team like you claim. It is possible he does that, sure.....but dont discount the rest of the Big Ten either.

I think that lineup looks experienced, deep and talented, but I do see the hole at backup 5. We can dream of Taylor being a contributor but I don't see that being very successful. They would still be a top 5 Big Ten team, maybe better as a team that commits very few turnovers.

 

[nagemj02]

I don't think you want to be loaded down with players that need the ball in their hands. I think Sasha was a great pickup. I though Purdue should have gone after Bane as well. He is having a pretty decent year with limited minutes in the Big 12. We should have offered him early and given him a redshirt. We waited too long hoping we could get him as a walk on and he moved on. Sasha would have moved on, and he will be a nice piece. Sure, we would love to have top 50 type guards with skills like Boogie, but I would much rather have Sasha for 5 years than a fifth year transfer for one (especially when the chances of us grabbing an elite 5th year is very slim). Also, there isn't incoming freshman that has that same skill set that we would be able to get for next years class. Also, with Biggie leaving, we will still have an open spot. I think a fifth year big man would be much more helpful to next years team.

Also, in regards to your Stefanovic comment, I'd rather see the team win big as soon as possible (i.e. talking about transfers for roster spot preferences for next season) than wait 5 years for something that never arrives.



Next year, we should be going all in for Robert Phinisee. He is that type of player and would allow us to go three guards and shred opposing defenses. He is a backyard kid, and we have been after him for a while. Would be an extremely nice addition.

I don't think you want a team loaded down with role players. You need some stars who can make plays out of very little or nothing when a game is on the line. I think Carsen Edwards is one of those players but the program could use another player or two like that next season. I think Vince Edwards can do that occasionally but I don't know that he can do it as consistently as CE.

Also, as far as your comments regarding Stefanovic (i.e. preferring to have him for 4 or 5 years over an instant-impact transfer that might play 1 or 2 years at Purdue), I'd rather the Boilers have a team that can win big in March/April as soon as possible instead of waiting 4 or 5 years for something that never arrives.

 

[lbodel]

I don't know much about 6th years in basketball. When will they decide if Taylor has a 6th year? I think it is after his 5th year but I'm not sure

I'd be shocked if he didn't get a 6th year. They used to be pretty strict on 6th years, not as much anymore.

 

[boilersallthewaynow]

We've got a few days (Tuesday) until the Boilers' next game, so I figured I'd look ahead to next season just to identify the roster makeup and would like your feedback and assessments of it. I'm just going to assume that Biggie is going to stay in the NBA Draft this year. So, with Caleb Swanigan being an early-entrant and Spike Albrecht out of eligibility (Jon McKeeman as well), this is what next season's roster looks like (scholarship players):


1. SG Dakota Mathias (Sr.)
2. SF/PF Vince Edwards (Sr.)
3. C Isaac Haas (Sr.)
4. SG/PG P.J. Thompson (Sr.)
5. C/PF Jacquil Taylor (RS So. or RS Jr.)
6. SG Ryan Cline (Jr.)
7. PF/SF Eden Ewing (Jr.) (JC transfer)
8. PG/SG Carsen Edwards (So.)
9. PF/C Matt Haarms (Fr.)
10. PF/SF Aaron Wheeler (Fr.)
11. PG/SF Nojel Eastern (Fr.)
12. SG Sasha Stefanovic (Fr.)
13. open


I would have liked to have seen the coaching staff hold off on offering someone like a Sasha Stefanovic or an Eden Ewing so that they could pursue another dynamic, skilled, but proven guard in the vein of CE (with the exception of being taller/lengthier), as well as a lengthy, proven, shot-blocking 4 or 5 man.

Anyway, what are your thoughts on the makeup of the above roster/team?

We will digress significantly.

 

[lbodel]

I don't think you want a team loaded down with role players. You need some stars who can make plays out of very little or nothing when a game is on the line. I think Carsen Edwards is one of those players but the program could use another player or two like that next season. I think Vince Edwards can do that occasionally but I don't know that he can do it as consistently as CE.

Also, as far as your comments regarding Stefanovic (i.e. preferring to have him for 4 or 5 years over an instant-impact transfer that might play 1 or 2 years at Purdue), I'd rather the Boilers have a team that can win big in March/April as soon as possible instead of waiting 4 or 5 years for something that never arrives.

Unless you can attract star players with a smile and a wave (which there's about 5-7 programs that can), you have to have a balance. I mean look at Michigan - they are still trying to recover from losing guys early. They didn't make the tourney 2 years ago, made the last 4 in last year and are not on track to make it this year.

Also, the notion that you'll get an "instant-impact transfer" is much easier said than done. Given the amount of experience we would have back (particularly at the guard position), I'm perfectly ok going the development route.

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

We will digress significantly.

that happens every day.....it's a Board rule.

 

[lbodel]

I think that lineup looks experienced, deep and talented, but I do see the hole at backup 5. We can dream of Taylor being a contributor but I don't see that being very successful. They would still be a top 5 Big Ten team, maybe better as a team that commits very few turnovers.

That's the thing - you adapt your team to your strengths. Going back 4-5 years, people complaind that Purdue never had good big men and we weren't a good rebounding team. Now the last few years we've had a great inside game and one of the best rebounding teams. Then when people weren't satisfied, they complained we didn't have good guards and couldn't hit outside shots. Now we have the best 3 point shooting team in the Big Ten (by over 3%). A few years ago, people complained we focused too much on defense, now we have the highest scoring team in the Big Ten.

This isn't by mistake or coincidence - it's not like Painter is like holy crap, we have a good offense suddenly.

If we do lose Swanigan, we'll be losing points and rebounding. But we were also a good rebounding team before Swanigan and if a guy like Taylor can play minutes, he may not bring the offense that Swanigan had, but he seems to be a darn good rebounder. And as you mentioned, losing Swanigan we may lose points and rebounds, but we also could become more efficient with turnovers and better defensively overall. It's not like we're not going to miss him, but you adjust and adapt as best you can.