Next year's team a better tourney team?

[ChoiceBeef]

This. Biggie plus a Josh Jackson type of athlete. But that isn't happening anytime soon.

Have you watched Aaron Wheeler and Nojel?

Might not be day 1 but they are athletes

 

[Ben Richart]

The team was as prepared as they could have been. This has everything to do with the talent that Kansas has, plus they played one of their best games. Grow some testicles and man up Ben. We got beat by a better team. Maybe it is not the time to whine.

i'll give you that they were semi-prepared, but, let's be honest, Mason III can make teams look like fools if you're not uber-prepared and willing to give up some other things in defense of him.

 

[Summy1]

Having a backcourt of CE and Nojel will be huge. Both can create their own shot which is huge. Lets hope too that VE has a great season which will be key. Purdue will miss Biggie and his double doubles but I think they have potential to be good.

 

[GemstateBoiler]

Biggie will be sooooooo hard to replace but I am intrigued to see how Haarms works out in time. I have this feeling he could end up being a really good player. Time will tell.

 

[PU52Chevy]

I say the same if not better.......

Ewing, Taylor and Haarms contribute right away.....

Eastern and Wheeler contribute in limited minutes.....but by sophomore year starting.....

Ewing and Taylor will contribute the most next year IMO along with the returning senior class.

 

[ChoiceBeef]

I say the same if not better.......

Ewing, Taylor and Haarms contribute right away.....

Eastern and Wheeler contribute in limited minutes.....but by sophomore year starting.....

Ewing and Taylor will contribute the most next year IMO along with the returning senior class.

Fair take but I think Eastern and Wheeler will be playing significant minutes.

 

[mathboy]

i'll give you that they were semi-prepared, but, let's be honest, Mason III can make teams look like fools if you're not uber-prepared and willing to give up some other things in defense of him.

True that. Mason is a stud basketball player, and so is Jackson. In fact, I think Jackson might be the real engine behind this Kansas team. e makes it go.

 

[BoilerAndy]

What? We lose "one meaningful player"???? Did you watch Purdue play at all this year? Biggie is the team. Yes, we have some guys that can shoot, but without Biggie drawing double teams, no one will be sagging off our shooters next year. Also, not sure if you noticed but Haas did virtually all of his damage because Biggie was feeding him. He won't make up for Biggie, and in fact his numbers may go down.

He was a NPOY candidate (Mason definitely should win now) and far and away the B1G player of the year. Don't act like losing him isn't a huge deal. He's the best Purdue player since Big Dog 23 years ago.

And the year after Big Dog left, Purdue won the B10. The year after AJH left, many thought Purdue would be down because he couldn't be replaced. You don't replace players. You bring in new players, other players gain experience and step up, and the entire team fills the gaps.

 

[NVBoilerFan]

True that. Mason is a stud basketball player, and so is Jackson. In fact, I think Jackson might be the real engine behind this Kansas team. e makes it go.

Yep. If he doesn't get two cheap early fouls and sit most of the first half, that is likely a completely different game.

 

[tjreese]

I can see what you mean, but it's too early to tell. People keep saying how "big" Purdue is when they really aren't. Next year we will be much bigger and hopefully more athletic. Will that translate to a more tournament success? I don't know, but Kansas is showing why long, athletic wing players are a necessity once you get to the Sweet 16.
Carsen should be better next year, PJ played pretty well this year outside of some missed free throws, Vince had a good second half of the year, Dakota did Dakota things (which is a compliment), and Haas will hopefully learn to keep the ball high during the off season. I'm optimistic about the team being just as good at shooting, but better on defense with Ewing at PF.

I'm holding back on Ewing. The video I've seen does not have him giving the kind of effort Purdue needs. I hope that changes when he gets here.

 

[tjreese]

OP is on point... maybe not a better overall team next year... but I could certainly see a deep tourney run....

I may get railed for this, but I have thought Vince is more important than swanigan... not better, but more important in a motion offense

how about this...Vince's versatility was most important,b ut Biggies effectiveness was more important. I think that is what you are saying...maybe not?

 

[BeerbellyBoiler]

I hope the returning players learn the work ethic that Biggie showed them daily in practice. My question is how will CMP use the combo of Haas and Haarms and Taylor? Who will be the starting 5?

 

[rjmpu82]

Don't know how many on this board were around during the Big Dog days, but one weakness that team had was everyone like to stand around and watch Glen. The offense became very one dimensional at times, especially at the end of close games. I think that happened this year at times during crunch time. Either the team relied too much on Biggie or he just tried himself to take over, I don't know which. When that happened, we struggled. Glenn was athletic enough to take take on the whole opposing team where Biggie isn't. Biggie will be a huge loss, but it isn't the end of the world. It is still a team game. A lot will depend on if VE can show up every game with a high motor and if IH can rebound better and eliminate TO's. Eastern will probably shine at times, much like CE did this year, but he will still be a freshman. The wild cards will be Taylor and the other new guys coming in, including Harmms. Hopefully they can add something to the equation.

 

[tjreese]

Don't know how many on this board were around during the Big Dog days, but one weakness that team had was everyone like to stand around and watch Glen. The offense became very one dimensional at times, especially at the end of close games. I think that happened this year at times during crunch time. Either the team relied too much on Biggie or he just tried himself to take over, I don't know which. When that happened, we struggled. Glenn was athletic enough to take take on the whole opposing team where Biggie isn't. Biggie will be a huge loss, but it isn't the end of the world. It is still a team game. A lot will depend on if VE can show up every game with a high motor and if IH can rebound better and eliminate TO's. Eastern will probably shine at times, much like CE did this year, but he will still be a freshman. The wild cards will be Taylor and the other new guys coming in, including Harmms. Hopefully they can add something to the equation.

I couldn't find it, but recall Keady telly his players to get involved and quit watching Robinson or something close I think. When you feed teh low post and he is a drop stepping there is some watching...and there was watching for some to see him get a rebound they could have got. Course you don't want to take your player towards him either. No matter what valuable "movement" helps your offense. I was around, but not sure Rivals was back then?

 

[bonefish1]

Caleb was the heart and soul of this team during the regular season and is an all time Boiler great, but even if he leaves after this game, I'm not sure that we're not a better tourney team this year than last. Assuming Caleb and Spike are the only losses, I think that we can expect a big jump in play from CE, a smaller jump from everyone else, VE and IH become the go to guys and good athleticism coming in. I don't know that we win another regular season championship without the weekly productivity of Biggie, but I think the team is more dangerous come tournament time.

Really tough to replace an AA, possible NPOY, and automatic double double machine and feel like you'll be better, especially when you're only bringing in one highly rated recruit.

 

[Schnelk]

The only thing for sure is that we'll have 4 seniors who will dictate the attitude and progress of the entire squad. Inconsistent, injured and transfer type juniors might be key contributors. What we get out of everybody else is gravy. But I expect Carsen to make a big leap going into his second season.

 

[BuilderBob6]

The team had a nice season this year no doubt. But is our fantastic 17 class rated in anyone's top 30? Other teams will add talented players, and as someone mentioned in another thread, we will continue to play boiler dino ball.

Our offense is going to change. We will go through Haas some but I expect to see us push the ball more, be back to a more motion offense, even some dribble drive stuff with Carsen and NE. Should be interesting. We can't rely on inside out to get all our threes anymore.

 

[boilernuke]

He's the best Purdue player since Big Dog 23 years ago.

False. I have repeated myself several times on this. Senior JJ was at least as good at sophmore CS, and I argue he was better. JJ was a monster both on offense AND defense, and he had much fewer TOs.

 

[Dryfly88]

Our offense is going to change. We will go through Haas some but I expect to see us push the ball more, be back to a more motion offense, even some dribble drive stuff with Carsen and NE. Should be interesting. We can't rely on inside out to get all our threes anymore.

I agree on offense. I hope on defense too.

 

[cprh9u]

Virtually the exact same thing was said last year when AJH left. We're going to be a much different team next year and whether it will be better or worse remains to be seen.

Except we had a 5 star freshman who was like 17 when he started at Purdue that was returning and exploded. Plus AJH was solid, but he was no POY candidate. Biggie's loss will certainly be "bigger".

 

[cprh9u]

And the year after Big Dog left, Purdue won the B10. The year after AJH left, many thought Purdue would be down because he couldn't be replaced. You don't replace players. You bring in new players, other players gain experience and step up, and the entire team fills the gaps.

I remember that year after Big Dog left... we got beat in round 2. Followed that up with another round 2 exit the next year.

 

[cprh9u]

I hope the returning players learn the work ethic that Biggie showed them daily in practice. My question is how will CMP use the combo of Haas and Haarms and Taylor? Who will be the starting 5?

Has to be Haas unless Haarms is mature beyond his years. You would think PJT, CE, DM, VE and Haas.