Purdue WBB vs. Notre Dame THREAD

[MichaelRR]

Look again, Moren is over $1.2 M and I think Gearlds is about #12 in the Big 10. Plenty of coaches ahead of her whose records don’t blow anyone away.

And if you include the new Big 10 schools, she slides further down the list.

I did look it up, and you are right, I stand corrected. I don't think pay though was why he chose Gearlds, again I think Bobinski just doesn't care one way or the other about women's sports in general.

 

[MichaelRR]

ND is insanely talented. Combination of recruiting high school all Americans and then adding really good, experienced veterans from the transfer portal will tend to do that to a team.

Miles and Hildago are probably the best guard rotation in the country. They did this not even being close to full strength as Westbeld, Karlen, Watson and Bransford are all out with injuries. Mercyhurst - whatever school that is - at least managed to get to the 60 pt mark against them and that was played at ND.

This is a harsh reminder that we will struggle mightly against sveral in an absolutely loaded big ten. Besides Northwestern - who is playing terrible, Rutgers and possibly Wisconsin - I don't see many wins.

KG can try to sugar coat this as some type of "learning lesson" for the team - but pretty much the only lesson we learned is that recruiting is not keeping up. Especially portal recruiting. Last summer they just went out and got a bunch of average players because we can't draw any notable ones here. Relying on two freshmen post players to be essentially your entire post game is not a wise thing to do. But hey - at least we have like 10 "wings" who can't score or really do anything productive.

Losing MA to Stanford where she is apparently going to be a 10 mpg backup this year for them really hurts. She could've had as many minutes as she wanted for us. But she wants to win and not live in Indiana - and I don't blame her.

I think our freshmen posts will be okay. Lots of learning curve and I expect them to foul out of more than a few games this season, but I really like that both of them held their own against Koval and played solid positional D on her. Unfortunately we only had one guard trying to feed the post, and its not Swanson's best skill set.

To build a program you have to get the best players you can and coach them up and get them playing better as a team than the sum of their parts. KG has shown no ability to do that at all in 4 years. I still have yet to see any player development from this staff, and that would be damning even with a roster like ND's.

Bright spots for me:

McCarthy played solid. Not great but solid against Koval, stone walling her a couple of times in the game. She doesn't run like a deer or handle like a point guard, but she has strength, soft hands and a good touch around the rim. I don't really care if she develops a shot from more than 4 feet from the rim, at her size she should be down low all the time. She just needs to get a better nose for rebounds. Too bad most of our team never looked inside to try and pass her the ball.

Puryear was a little rougher around the edges, but she was not intimidated and again, held position against Koval well. Needs a better nose for rebounds as well, and I liked her and McCarthy together as Puryear showed some nice passing ability from the high post.

Lombard was the best player on the floor for Purdue, by a big margin. But when ND figured out she was the threat they shut her down and our staff never adjusted to free her back up in any way. Fail on our bench yet again.

Amiyah at least looks like a point guard. She doesn't look like a very good one at this point in time, certainly not going to make anyone forget Terry, but she at least was trying to set up her team and run the offense.

Collier can shoot, and she had a couple of decent passes, but her defense is nearly non-existent. I agree a 10 minute a game player as a zone buster or such, but she should not be a rotation player on a mediocre or better D1 team. Maybe in the Horizon league, but certainly she is not Big Ten caliber.

Bass was a major disappointment to me. a 5th year senior that plays mediocre D, doesn't rebound, and is not a weapon on offense except where she hunts her own shot....

Jones and Smith, played pretty much the same way when in. Reckless drives to darkness, throwing up shit layups by the rim hoping to get fouled and not looking to pass into the post or run the offense. Their defense was okay, but not great. If I never saw either play again I would not miss them.

Swanson was the focus of ND's defense, and they smothered her. Again, no adjustment from our coaches and she had a terrible game. Our staff needs to take note because every team will try to emulate this game plan. Sophie fought hard, but there was no structure on offense for her to work with and her attempts to drive to the rim looked just as reckless and haphazard as Smith and Jones'.

Petree is a shot chucker with no shooting ability and a liability on defense. She doesn't need to be playing except after the game is out of hand.

It is going to be a long year, unlike Pride, I don't think we can beat UWisc..... maybe Washington and Rutgers. If we cannot beat winless Northwestern, KG needs to be fired in the locker room after that game because they are truly terrible.

 

[BoilerPride08]

I think our freshmen posts will be okay. Lots of learning curve and I expect them to foul out of more than a few games this season, but I really like that both of them held their own against Koval and played solid positional D on her. Unfortunately we only had one guard trying to feed the post, and its not Swanson's best skill set.

To build a program you have to get the best players you can and coach them up and get them playing better as a team than the sum of their parts. KG has shown no ability to do that at all in 4 years. I still have yet to see any player development from this staff, and that would be damning even with a roster like ND's.

Bright spots for me:

McCarthy played solid. Not great but solid against Koval, stone walling her a couple of times in the game. She doesn't run like a deer or handle like a point guard, but she has strength, soft hands and a good touch around the rim. I don't really care if she develops a shot from more than 4 feet from the rim, at her size she should be down low all the time. She just needs to get a better nose for rebounds. Too bad most of our team never looked inside to try and pass her the ball.

Puryear was a little rougher around the edges, but she was not intimidated and again, held position against Koval well. Needs a better nose for rebounds as well, and I liked her and McCarthy together as Puryear showed some nice passing ability from the high post.

Lombard was the best player on the floor for Purdue, by a big margin. But when ND figured out she was the threat they shut her down and our staff never adjusted to free her back up in any way. Fail on our bench yet again.

Amiyah at least looks like a point guard. She doesn't look like a very good one at this point in time, certainly not going to make anyone forget Terry, but she at least was trying to set up her team and run the offense.

Collier can shoot, and she had a couple of decent passes, but her defense is nearly non-existent. I agree a 10 minute a game player as a zone buster or such, but she should not be a rotation player on a mediocre or better D1 team. Maybe in the Horizon league, but certainly she is not Big Ten caliber.

Bass was a major disappointment to me. a 5th year senior that plays mediocre D, doesn't rebound, and is not a weapon on offense except where she hunts her own shot....

Jones and Smith, played pretty much the same way when in. Reckless drives to darkness, throwing up shit layups by the rim hoping to get fouled and not looking to pass into the post or run the offense. Their defense was okay, but not great. If I never saw either play again I would not miss them.

Swanson was the focus of ND's defense, and they smothered her. Again, no adjustment from our coaches and she had a terrible game. Our staff needs to take note because every team will try to emulate this game plan. Sophie fought hard, but there was no structure on offense for her to work with and her attempts to drive to the rim looked just as reckless and haphazard as Smith and Jones'.

Petree is a shot chucker with no shooting ability and a liability on defense. She doesn't need to be playing except after the game is out of hand.

It is going to be a long year, unlike Pride, I don't think we can beat UWisc..... maybe Washington and Rutgers. If we cannot beat winless Northwestern, KG needs to be fired in the locker room after that game because they are truly terrible.

Koval is a freshmen. Yes an extremely highly rated freshman but - still a freshman. Even the top ranked posts in the country struggle their rookie year. So I'm going to take how our rookie posts did against another freshman with a grain of salt. Sure they held their own physically because they are very mature physically for freshmen which is good and needed. But they didn't go against ND's best and most experienced post players. Koval only started because their top posts are out with injury.

Really hope I'm wrong here - but once they go up against experienced elite post players who are JR SRs Grad students, I have a feeling they're really going to struggle and foul trouble is going to be huge issue. But that's not their fault. They should struggle. Purdue just doesn't have any experienced post players that will be able to come in for them if they get saddled with quick fouls - it's a recipe for disaster.

 

[MichaelRR]

Koval is a freshmen. Yes an extremely highly rated freshman but - still a freshman. Even the top ranked posts in the country struggle their rookie year. So I'm going to take how our rookie posts did against another freshman with a grain of salt. Sure they held their own physically because they are very mature physically for freshmen which is good and needed. But they didn't go against ND's best and most experienced post players. Koval only started because their top posts are out with injury.

Really hope I'm wrong here - but once they go up against experienced elite post players who are JR SRs Grad students, I have a feeling they're really going to struggle and foul trouble is going to be huge issue. But that's not their fault. They should struggle. Purdue just doesn't have any experienced post players that will be able to come in for them if they get saddled with quick fouls - it's a recipe for disaster

I don't think we are in disagreement here very much. Betts and Markowski will likely have a field day against our frosh. Maybe even Mekkle at PSU. But I don't worry too much about Meister at IU, O'Grady at Iowa, or most of the other centers in the Big Ten. I feel like Koval is probably easily one of the 10 best centers we will encounter this season.

BTW, glad to hear from you, I have missed your opinion to counter mine. Neither of us is always right, but between us we usually cover most of the likely possibilities and I enjoy having someone who challenges my opinions as long as they can do so civally.

 

[Gesysp]

Signing Gordon and the third Reynolds gave me hope, but if we can’t stack on top of that class then it won’t move the needle much. And after our two games this season, I’m started to think Gearlds can’t get it turned around.

 

[MichaelRR]

Signing Gordon and the third Reynolds gave me hope, but if we can’t stack on top of that class then it won’t move the needle much. And after our two games this season, I’m started to think Gearlds can’t get it turned around.

I know this is going to be an unpopular opinion, but I am skeptical of anyone with a last name of Reynolds at this point.

And I am pretty much over the NAIA coaching experiment at this point and REALLY wish we had done the smart hire and gone for Shea Ralph instead of the easy choice that only hard core KG fans thought was a good idea. I feel before KG gets fired though, Bobinski needs to go or we will just end up with another lazy hire with no thought put into it.

 

[BoilerPride08]

I don't think we are in disagreement here very much. Betts and Markowski will likely have a field day against our frosh. Maybe even Mekkle at PSU. But I don't worry too much about Meister at IU, O'Grady at Iowa, or most of the other centers in the Big Ten. I feel like Koval is probably easily one of the 10 best centers we will encounter this season.

BTW, glad to hear from you, I have missed your opinion to counter mine. Neither of us is always right, but between us we usually cover most of the likely possibilities and I enjoy having someone who challenges my opinions as long as they can do so civally.

You're missing Kiki I at USC - Serah Williams at Wisconsin - VanSlooten at MSU - Bostic at Illinois. Iowa's O'Grady and Stulke combined for 34 pts in their big win against Virginia Tech the other night. There are TONS of really good post players in the Big Ten this year and most - if not all - are very experienced. I was stunned that our coaching staff didn't seem to understand this or recruit accordingly in the portal. They really needed to get more than one experienced post player - Bass will be a decent player but she's not going to help us that much down low against these bigs we are bout to see. But instead they chose to get like 3 fairly average players who played the same position. I will give the staff credit - I am pleasantly surprised that Lombard is as skilled offensively as she has shown. Her perimeter scoring will be crucial going forward.

Yes - there is some hope going forward. Gordon and Kira will be a formidable duo down low. Lets hope we have some loyalty with McCarthy and Puryear. I think we will as McCarthy was a complete diamond in the rough and seems to really like it here. She's from Maine and not NYC so she might fit better in the Midwest culture than MA did. Hopefully they will reward KG for taking a chance on them as neither were super highly recruited by major schools. But who really knows anymore with these kids. A post group of Gordon and McCarthy at the 5 and Puryear and Kira at the 4 will give many team absolute fits down low. So i'm hopeful. Also super excited to see Poole running the point and Jones at her natural off ball position.

 

[MichaelRR]

Kiki Irafen and Stuelke will be Bass' problem as Iowa is playing Stuelke at pf next to O'Grady. Williams will be a tough cover because of her quickness, but she is really more of a pf playing out of position. VaTech had no big to counter O'Grady, I watched that game and was not real impressed with her. She's serviceable, but not someone I think capable of putting up 30 against McCarthy and Puryear.

I do not share your enthusiasm for Jones, but we will see. She isn't the quickest girl on the floor anymore, but she and the coaches haven't adjusted her game to that reality. She still hasn't shown a jump shot worth respecting and her drives only work reliably against mid major level talent to include Northwestern. I hope Poole is a good player for us, because right now we don't have very many good players and no great ones. If she isn't it could be a very long year.

As to the transfers, I think we ended up taking anyone that would accept an offer. Lots of great players in the portal this year and we got none of them. Agree that Lombard has been a pleasant surprise, but her shooting has her at 2guard, not point where we needed the experienced player.

 

[BoilerPride08]

Kiki Irafen and Stuelke will be Bass' problem as Iowa is playing Stuelke at pf next to O'Grady. Williams will be a tough cover because of her quickness, but she is really more of a pf playing out of position. VaTech had no big to counter O'Grady, I watched that game and was not real impressed with her. She's serviceable, but not someone I think capable of putting up 30 against McCarthy and Puryear.

I do not share your enthusiasm for Jones, but we will see. She isn't the quickest girl on the floor anymore, but she and the coaches haven't adjusted her game to that reality. She still hasn't shown a jump shot worth respecting and her drives only work reliably against mid major level talent to include Northwestern. I hope Poole is a good player for us, because right now we don't have very many good players and no great ones. If she isn't it could be a very long year.

As to the transfers, I think we ended up taking anyone that would accept an offer. Lots of great players in the portal this year and we got none of them. Agree that Lombard has been a pleasant surprise, but her shooting has her at 2guard, not point where we needed the experienced player.

You think our post duo of Bass and McCarthy can match USC's post duo of seniors 6'4 Rayah Marshall averaged 10/10 last year and 6'3 Kiki Iriafen, currently averaging 22 and 13. It's gonna be a blood bath down low!

 

[MichaelRR]

You think our post duo of Bass and McCarthy can match USC's post duo of seniors 6'4 Rayah Marshall averaged 10/10 last year and 6'3 Kiki Iriafen, currently averaging 22 and 13. It's gonna be a blood bath down low!

Oh, I think Bass is going to get exposed most nights as she seemed slow and not very aggressive on defense. I am not impressed with her at all. I was only referring to McCarthy and Puryear versus other centers they will face this year. I think we are outmatched at pretty much every other position by every player on the top 8-12 teams in the Big Ten. Swanson shows promise, but without help, a good point guard, and a better offensive scheme I think she will be shut down and frustrated most nights struggling to get good looks, through little fault of her own.

 

[Gesysp]

You're missing Kiki I at USC - Serah Williams at Wisconsin - VanSlooten at MSU - Bostic at Illinois. Iowa's O'Grady and Stulke combined for 34 pts in their big win against Virginia Tech the other night. There are TONS of really good post players in the Big Ten this year and most - if not all - are very experienced. I was stunned that our coaching staff didn't seem to understand this or recruit accordingly in the portal. They really needed to get more than one experienced post player - Bass will be a decent player but she's not going to help us that much down low against these bigs we are bout to see. But instead they chose to get like 3 fairly average players who played the same position. I will give the staff credit - I am pleasantly surprised that Lombard is as skilled offensively as she has shown. Her perimeter scoring will be crucial going forward.

Yes - there is some hope going forward. Gordon and Kira will be a formidable duo down low. Lets hope we have some loyalty with McCarthy and Puryear. I think we will as McCarthy was a complete diamond in the rough and seems to really like it here. She's from Maine and not NYC so she might fit better in the Midwest culture than MA did. Hopefully they will reward KG for taking a chance on them as neither were super highly recruited by major schools. But who really knows anymore with these kids. A post group of Gordon and McCarthy at the 5 and Puryear and Kira at the 4 will give many team absolute fits down low. So i'm hopeful. Also super excited to see Poole running the point and Jones at her natural off ball position.

I do think McCarthy, Puryear, Gordon, and K Reynolds can form a nice presence down low - we just have to stack the perimeter with top 30 players to go along with them. Can Gearlds attract them?

 

[MichaelRR]

I do think McCarthy, Puryear, Gordon, and K Reynolds can form a nice presence down low - we just have to stack the perimeter with top 30 players to go along with them. Can Gearlds attract them?

There is talent on the roster, can the coaches develop them is the bigger question to my mind. We need about three more GOOD perimeter players, so that players like Smith, Jones, Petree, and others are relegated to the end of the bench.... but those are not coming any time soon.

 

[purduedavie]

I know this is going to be an unpopular opinion, but I am skeptical of anyone with a last name of Reynolds at this point.

And I am pretty much over the NAIA coaching experiment at this point and REALLY wish we had done the smart hire and gone for Shea Ralph instead of the easy choice that only hard core KG fans thought was a good idea. I feel before KG gets fired though, Bobinski needs to go or we will just end up with another lazy hire with no thought put into it.

I shit you not I was going to post the same thing about the Reynold’s name. Are any actually any good? I hate to be hard on them but geez, show something ladies. There’s a brother Purdue is recruiting, I’m sort of like I’ll pass, I know that’s wrong but at this point that’s my opinion.

 

[Gesysp]

I shit you not I was going to post the same thing about the Reynold’s name. Are any actually any good? I hate to be hard on them but geez, show something ladies. There’s a brother Purdue is recruiting, I’m sort of like I’ll pass, I know that’s wrong but at this point that’s my opinion.

Agree, they haven’t shown anything yet.

 

[tomgloe]

Signing Gordon and the third Reynolds gave me hope, but if we can’t stack on top of that class then it won’t move the needle much. And after our two games this season, I’m started to think Gearlds can’t get it turned around.

We missed on some top 100 guards(2025) which is going to hurt. Unless a late target pops up, I believe we're going after a guard from the portal to round out the 2025 class.

Gearlds has had alot of 2026 prospects on campus already(mainly in-state), and it's imperative she lands another strong class here. I see 3 prospects in the top 60 of espn that have been on campus and are being recruited by the staff. Need to land some difference makers at the guard spots.

 

[MichaelRR]

I do think McCarthy, Puryear, Gordon, and K Reynolds can form a nice presence down low - we just have to stack the perimeter with top 30 players to go along with them. Can Gearlds attract them?

Also, I don't think Gearlds has recruited a top 30 player yet, so to expect a bevy of them to stack around unranked and middle of the top 100 ranked posts is expecting the near impossible IMHO. What she needs to do is get the best talent she can and then coach them up to their highest potential, and so far that development has been missing from every player she's had so far IMO.