(SIAP as I wasn't on he board last night) there's an old adage that teams can sometimes learn more from a loss than they could from a win. Now, while a loss last night would have been devastating to Purdue and their NCAA hopes, they got the next best thing, a close win.
Some benefits I saw to last night's game:
- Purdue got to see how they'd play without Edwards and a shorter bench.
- Hammons and Haas had to play while saddled with fouls
- Purdue also got to see how they'd do for extended periods with a small lineup (made even smaller without Edwards)
- Purdue got more live experience working against what has been their Achille's Heel all year, the press.
- Haas got more experience playing extended minutes
While a 20 point, blowout win would have looked good to the fans, the team got tested in some new ways that can't really be duplicated during practice. That should benefit them in these upcoming games.
While they were a little rusty coming off the extended break, the rest did seem to help their 3-point shooting. Hopefully that will continue over these next three games (plus the tourneys).
Some benefits I saw to last night's game:
- Purdue got to see how they'd play without Edwards and a shorter bench.
- Hammons and Haas had to play while saddled with fouls
- Purdue also got to see how they'd do for extended periods with a small lineup (made even smaller without Edwards)
- Purdue got more live experience working against what has been their Achille's Heel all year, the press.
- Haas got more experience playing extended minutes
While a 20 point, blowout win would have looked good to the fans, the team got tested in some new ways that can't really be duplicated during practice. That should benefit them in these upcoming games.
While they were a little rusty coming off the extended break, the rest did seem to help their 3-point shooting. Hopefully that will continue over these next three games (plus the tourneys).
