I've read a lot of posts on here about Painter. Some for, and some against. Let me state my case.
I've been a proponent of getting rid of Painter since after the Junior season of Moore, Johnson and Hummel; but, my opinion has gotten 10 times stronger since, and here's why.
1) How many "really good" recruiting classes has Painter had? I argue that he's had only one. The Baby Boilers were his good class. Since, he's had "maybe" one "really" good recruit a year, but most years, not. I hear people say that we just don't get the really good players. That is on the coach. You have to show kids you're going to play a style of ball that will attract them
2) When was Purdue "really good" under Painter; and, what has changed since? The last season we were "really good" was when the Baby Boilers were here. Do you realize the most important change (IMO) since then? Cuonzo Martin and Paul Lusk have left the staff.
3) What are Purdue's most glaring weaknesses? Well, I have several, but let me point out a few: a) When was the last time you saw Purdue have an inbounds play under their own basket that resulted in a field goal? That's right, the last year Paul Lusk was here! Since then, it's been "heave the ball to the back court" and start the offense. b) How does Purdue try to break a press? We get the ball to a small guard, usually in the corner of the back court, and set him to dribble out of the press. I've coached in my past, and I NEVER coached breaking a press by the dribble. I ALWAYS coached breaking a press with a pass. The ball, being passed, is faster than a guy dribbling. Plus, we have TWO seven footers and a STRONG 6'9" guy. Put either of those three throwing the ball inbounds. Put your tallest guy in the backcourt between the top of the key and the half court line (where you're inbounding the ball), and they next tallest at in the front court (where you're headed). Inbound the ball to you to the one in the back court as he slashes to the inbound side of free throw line. Have him pivot and the player in the back court, sprints to the half court. Meanwhile, you have another player streaking from the back court on a full sprint to the front court and the player at mid-court hits him. Three passes and you've broken the press. Now there are variations you can run with this by setting picks, using different lines, etc. But PASSING will ALWAYS beat a press moreso than dribbling!
4) Why does Purdue lose double digit leads late in a game? This is coaching style, and it's one that Keady had as well. When Purdue is up double digits and under five or six minutes left, Painter puts them in a game with the play clock. We will play the motion until 5 - 7 seconds on the play clock, then try to score. We quit playing TO WIN, we start playing to NOT GET BEAT; and, that style backfires almost every time. We had the biggest team in the B1G this year, and we showed it with our rebounding; but, in the last 5 - 6 minutes of games where we had big leads, we quit getting the ball to those guys, because we quit ATTACKING!
5) Why do we seldom, if ever, get five start recruits. I hear people say that we just don't get the really good players, so it's on the players to get better. My belief is that is on the coach. You have to show kids you're going to play a style of ball that will attract them. The four and five starts want to run and show their talents. We haven't run for the majority of a season since the Baby Boilers! Keady, with his slow motion offense couldn't attract them, now Painter has the same offense (since Martin and Lusk departed) and he doesn't attract them.
This "recruiting" thing goes even further in my mind. Who was the last point guard who was truly a GOOD point guard? In my opinion, Chris Kramer! Your point guard has to be a leader. He has to have some fight. He has to be fearless. He doesn't have to score in double figures; his job is to quarterback the team on the floor, get in their face in huddles and the locker room. Do you realize how many teams have made the Final Four without a stellar point guard? Look it up ... close to ZERO.
There are many more weaknesses I could point out, but I think it all boils down to the fact that Matt has proven he is NOT a B1G coach. He seriously should return to a mid-major conference We need someone the likes of Brad Stevens, Shaka Smart, Dana Miller. Hopefully, the new AD (whoever he or she may be) will be better in tune with major sports, than Morgan, and go after someone with an established record; rather than someone who had been a HC at a MVC school for one year! Oh, by the way ... same issue in football ... even worse!
I've been a proponent of getting rid of Painter since after the Junior season of Moore, Johnson and Hummel; but, my opinion has gotten 10 times stronger since, and here's why.
1) How many "really good" recruiting classes has Painter had? I argue that he's had only one. The Baby Boilers were his good class. Since, he's had "maybe" one "really" good recruit a year, but most years, not. I hear people say that we just don't get the really good players. That is on the coach. You have to show kids you're going to play a style of ball that will attract them
2) When was Purdue "really good" under Painter; and, what has changed since? The last season we were "really good" was when the Baby Boilers were here. Do you realize the most important change (IMO) since then? Cuonzo Martin and Paul Lusk have left the staff.
3) What are Purdue's most glaring weaknesses? Well, I have several, but let me point out a few: a) When was the last time you saw Purdue have an inbounds play under their own basket that resulted in a field goal? That's right, the last year Paul Lusk was here! Since then, it's been "heave the ball to the back court" and start the offense. b) How does Purdue try to break a press? We get the ball to a small guard, usually in the corner of the back court, and set him to dribble out of the press. I've coached in my past, and I NEVER coached breaking a press by the dribble. I ALWAYS coached breaking a press with a pass. The ball, being passed, is faster than a guy dribbling. Plus, we have TWO seven footers and a STRONG 6'9" guy. Put either of those three throwing the ball inbounds. Put your tallest guy in the backcourt between the top of the key and the half court line (where you're inbounding the ball), and they next tallest at in the front court (where you're headed). Inbound the ball to you to the one in the back court as he slashes to the inbound side of free throw line. Have him pivot and the player in the back court, sprints to the half court. Meanwhile, you have another player streaking from the back court on a full sprint to the front court and the player at mid-court hits him. Three passes and you've broken the press. Now there are variations you can run with this by setting picks, using different lines, etc. But PASSING will ALWAYS beat a press moreso than dribbling!
4) Why does Purdue lose double digit leads late in a game? This is coaching style, and it's one that Keady had as well. When Purdue is up double digits and under five or six minutes left, Painter puts them in a game with the play clock. We will play the motion until 5 - 7 seconds on the play clock, then try to score. We quit playing TO WIN, we start playing to NOT GET BEAT; and, that style backfires almost every time. We had the biggest team in the B1G this year, and we showed it with our rebounding; but, in the last 5 - 6 minutes of games where we had big leads, we quit getting the ball to those guys, because we quit ATTACKING!
5) Why do we seldom, if ever, get five start recruits. I hear people say that we just don't get the really good players, so it's on the players to get better. My belief is that is on the coach. You have to show kids you're going to play a style of ball that will attract them. The four and five starts want to run and show their talents. We haven't run for the majority of a season since the Baby Boilers! Keady, with his slow motion offense couldn't attract them, now Painter has the same offense (since Martin and Lusk departed) and he doesn't attract them.
This "recruiting" thing goes even further in my mind. Who was the last point guard who was truly a GOOD point guard? In my opinion, Chris Kramer! Your point guard has to be a leader. He has to have some fight. He has to be fearless. He doesn't have to score in double figures; his job is to quarterback the team on the floor, get in their face in huddles and the locker room. Do you realize how many teams have made the Final Four without a stellar point guard? Look it up ... close to ZERO.
There are many more weaknesses I could point out, but I think it all boils down to the fact that Matt has proven he is NOT a B1G coach. He seriously should return to a mid-major conference We need someone the likes of Brad Stevens, Shaka Smart, Dana Miller. Hopefully, the new AD (whoever he or she may be) will be better in tune with major sports, than Morgan, and go after someone with an established record; rather than someone who had been a HC at a MVC school for one year! Oh, by the way ... same issue in football ... even worse!
