Kind of a big game for Purdue today here in Mackey Arena against Illinois, don't you think?
It's probably the biggest home game for the Boilermakers in terms of implications in years. It's been a while since Purdue's been playing for something this time of year and the last time it was, 2012, I don't recall there being a singular home game that was this important.
Purdue has to win today.
It's not making the NCAA Tournament if it doesn't. I'd tag that as 'IMO' but that's like saying, 'Isaac Haas is tall, IMO.'
I don't know what's going to happen today, but I will say this: It will get Illinois' best effort and if the Boilermakers can't summon their own in this environment, with this much on the line, then the NIT will fit like a glove.
At this point, too, for all the progress made this season, you just can't finish up the regular season on a bottoming-out. I'd make the football analogy again, but I think people misconstrued what I was trying to say.
There's no shame in losing to Ohio State and Michigan State at their places, nor would there be any shame in losing today. Just deep, cutting disappointment and a likely the materialization of a huge lost opportunity.
This is kind of one of those moments if that makes sense. Not to get too dramatic or schmaltzy here about this, but we'll see what Purdue is made of today. It's been in positions like this before and the results have been mixed.
It's playing for everything today.
We'll see what A.J. Hammons is made of. It's been an unbelievable season for him, but the Michigan State game was his low-water mark of the conference season. That's scary considering how consistency has been fleeting for him in his career, though this season is a different animal because of how long he sustained being outstanding. The Michigan State game, in which Purdue felt the Spartans could have pulled swords on their big man without whistles blowing, can take him one of two ways now.
Purdue needs a positive result on that front, maybe an emphatic one.
Illinois is a good team, not a great team. They're probably better than they were earlier in the season, but that doesn't mean they'll be as good as they were that night and even then, Purdue lost that game as much as Illinois won it. Still, Leron Black cold-cocked Purdue from out of nowhere, sent the Boilermakers to the mat and they didn't come to until the bus ride home.
That game was a turning point for Purdue's season, the seminal moment that propelled it to heights no one could have seen coming.
Without a win today, Purdue might not be left with quite so much to show for that resurgence. The Big Ten Tournament's double-bye is of secondary concern right now. Purdue's playing for the NCAA Tournament today. If it wins, it can make it. I don't think it's anything close to locked up if the Boilermakers do win, but it keeps them alive. A loss ends it is a cyanide pill.
We'll see what happens.
Should make for some great theater.
This should be played like a game between two desperate teams because both are in desperate situations.
Also, remember that Purdue needs a Wisconsin win in Columbus, along with a win here in West Lafayette, to earn the double-bye now that Indiana has taken its red marker to Purdue's résumé yet again.
Discuss the game in this thread or in new ones. Whichever.
We'll talk to you again later with our game story, Wrap Video and post-game blog.
Follow along for in-game updates @GoldandBlack.com.
It's probably the biggest home game for the Boilermakers in terms of implications in years. It's been a while since Purdue's been playing for something this time of year and the last time it was, 2012, I don't recall there being a singular home game that was this important.
Purdue has to win today.
It's not making the NCAA Tournament if it doesn't. I'd tag that as 'IMO' but that's like saying, 'Isaac Haas is tall, IMO.'
I don't know what's going to happen today, but I will say this: It will get Illinois' best effort and if the Boilermakers can't summon their own in this environment, with this much on the line, then the NIT will fit like a glove.
At this point, too, for all the progress made this season, you just can't finish up the regular season on a bottoming-out. I'd make the football analogy again, but I think people misconstrued what I was trying to say.
There's no shame in losing to Ohio State and Michigan State at their places, nor would there be any shame in losing today. Just deep, cutting disappointment and a likely the materialization of a huge lost opportunity.
This is kind of one of those moments if that makes sense. Not to get too dramatic or schmaltzy here about this, but we'll see what Purdue is made of today. It's been in positions like this before and the results have been mixed.
It's playing for everything today.
We'll see what A.J. Hammons is made of. It's been an unbelievable season for him, but the Michigan State game was his low-water mark of the conference season. That's scary considering how consistency has been fleeting for him in his career, though this season is a different animal because of how long he sustained being outstanding. The Michigan State game, in which Purdue felt the Spartans could have pulled swords on their big man without whistles blowing, can take him one of two ways now.
Purdue needs a positive result on that front, maybe an emphatic one.
Illinois is a good team, not a great team. They're probably better than they were earlier in the season, but that doesn't mean they'll be as good as they were that night and even then, Purdue lost that game as much as Illinois won it. Still, Leron Black cold-cocked Purdue from out of nowhere, sent the Boilermakers to the mat and they didn't come to until the bus ride home.
That game was a turning point for Purdue's season, the seminal moment that propelled it to heights no one could have seen coming.
Without a win today, Purdue might not be left with quite so much to show for that resurgence. The Big Ten Tournament's double-bye is of secondary concern right now. Purdue's playing for the NCAA Tournament today. If it wins, it can make it. I don't think it's anything close to locked up if the Boilermakers do win, but it keeps them alive. A loss ends it is a cyanide pill.
We'll see what happens.
Should make for some great theater.
This should be played like a game between two desperate teams because both are in desperate situations.
Also, remember that Purdue needs a Wisconsin win in Columbus, along with a win here in West Lafayette, to earn the double-bye now that Indiana has taken its red marker to Purdue's résumé yet again.
Discuss the game in this thread or in new ones. Whichever.
We'll talk to you again later with our game story, Wrap Video and post-game blog.
Follow along for in-game updates @GoldandBlack.com.
