A few quick thoughts on Purdue's practice today ...
Not gonna be much here that you probably didn't already know.
• I thought Ethan Morton was really good today. Looked assertive, confident and energized, happy to be out there. Made some really high-level passes in competitive drills and made some shots that suggest he's not going to be a liability in that regard. Looks like he's getting bigger, as the chronological passage of time tends to do for young men.
• One of Purdue's 5-on-5 competitive drills was dominated by Zach Edey. I don't necessarily mean that to say he scored every point or got every rebound — he got a bunch of both — but it just seemed like everything Painter said during the drill referred to dealing with Edey, whether it be using him on offense and trying to deal with him on defense or the glass.
• I don't know if Caleb Furst necessarily shot the ball great from three today, but he looks more than willing to do it and looks very capable.
• Collectively, I thought Purdue looked really good shooting threes today. Sasha Stefanovic shot a really high-percentage and made it look easy, and Brandon Newman looks like he's in a real rhythm. Newman is a professional type of shooter, IMO. Jaden Ivey looked good, especially from the corners, and Eric Hunter — who said at media day he's shooting the best he ever has — did as well. Mason Gillis looks great shooting it, and great in general, IMO.
I do think this team needs to prove itself in games still in terms of shooting from long range, but they have guys who can do it, I think.
• Jaden Ivey looks unstoppable off the dribble and really engaged and aggressive on defense. I know NBA people have been drooling over him when they've watched him practice.
Again, not much there that you probably didn't already know,
Not gonna be much here that you probably didn't already know.
• I thought Ethan Morton was really good today. Looked assertive, confident and energized, happy to be out there. Made some really high-level passes in competitive drills and made some shots that suggest he's not going to be a liability in that regard. Looks like he's getting bigger, as the chronological passage of time tends to do for young men.
• One of Purdue's 5-on-5 competitive drills was dominated by Zach Edey. I don't necessarily mean that to say he scored every point or got every rebound — he got a bunch of both — but it just seemed like everything Painter said during the drill referred to dealing with Edey, whether it be using him on offense and trying to deal with him on defense or the glass.
• I don't know if Caleb Furst necessarily shot the ball great from three today, but he looks more than willing to do it and looks very capable.
• Collectively, I thought Purdue looked really good shooting threes today. Sasha Stefanovic shot a really high-percentage and made it look easy, and Brandon Newman looks like he's in a real rhythm. Newman is a professional type of shooter, IMO. Jaden Ivey looked good, especially from the corners, and Eric Hunter — who said at media day he's shooting the best he ever has — did as well. Mason Gillis looks great shooting it, and great in general, IMO.
I do think this team needs to prove itself in games still in terms of shooting from long range, but they have guys who can do it, I think.
• Jaden Ivey looks unstoppable off the dribble and really engaged and aggressive on defense. I know NBA people have been drooling over him when they've watched him practice.
Again, not much there that you probably didn't already know,
