Finally have some time to sit down and write out some thoughts on the season. The sting of that last second loss to UVA is starting to wear off, and looking back this is probably my favorite Purdue team since I started paying attention in the mid 90's. 26-10, Elitie Eight, Co-B1G Champs, and a team that at the end of the year was legitamately good enough to win it all, losing to the eventual National Champs on a 1/1,000,000 play.
Looking back, what Carsen and Cline did in the NCAA tournament was ridiculous. Cline going off in the 2nd half against Tenessee was easily one of my top 5 Purdue sports moments. The UVA game ended in a loss, but we witnessed one of the most clutch shooting performances in the history of the NCAA from Carsen. I will look back at that in 20 years with the same fondness that some of Reggie Millers bombs against the Knicks in the playoffs are etched into my brain.
Purdue loses a ton. Grady Eifert defined what it means to be a Boilermaker this year. Walking on, getting abused in practice for 3 years by Haas/Swanigan/Hammons, getting a chance his Sr year and making the most of it. His example alone will set a foundation for the next 3 seasons of what accepting your role, effort, and unselfishness look like to make a winning team. Cline showed what Painter was talking about the past 3 seasons when he said the team had "6 starters", always reffering to Cline as the 6th. Carsen will go down as one of the best ever to wear a Purdue uniform. It was a joy to watch him develop, and I hope he has a long NBA career.
Next year we return.......
Matt Haarms - 9.4ppg/ 5.4rpg/ 2.1bpg, .63FG/ .69FT/ .29 3FG, 22.9mpg
Nojel Eastern - 7.5ppg/ 5.5rpg/ 2.5apg/ 1.1spg, .495FG/ .65FT, 28.2mpg
Trevion Williams - 5.2ppg/ 4.0rpg, .54FG/ .51FT/ .33 3FG, 10.2mpg
Evan Boudreaux - 5.2ppg/ 3.0rpg, .455FG/ .738FT/ .34 3FG, 12.0 mpg
Aaron Wheeler - 4.7ppg/ 3.0rpg, .444FG/ .61FT/ .365 3FG, 13.7mpg
Sasha Stefonovic - 2.5ppg/ 1.1rpg, .39FG/ .35FT/ .41 3FG, 11.5mpg
Eric Hunter Jr - 2.2ppg/ 1.4rpg/ 1.1apg, .303FG/ .70FT/ .21 3FG ,12.6mpg
On paper this group will likely be counted out again, but like last year there will be an opportunity for guys to step into new roles with increased minutes and I can see this team proving people wrong once again. The experience the returning guys recieved playing in big games this year is invaluable, and I believe the culture has been established to finish near the top of the conference and make runs past the 1st weekend of the NCAA tournament a regular occurence. I did notice that ESPN kept Purdue out of there Way to Early Top 25, which is laughable, but predictable. They had 4 B1G teams in the top10 (MSU, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio State), and Iowa will be tough next year too. Anyways, will be fun to see what Coach Painter and the staff does with these pieces next year.
Looking back, what Carsen and Cline did in the NCAA tournament was ridiculous. Cline going off in the 2nd half against Tenessee was easily one of my top 5 Purdue sports moments. The UVA game ended in a loss, but we witnessed one of the most clutch shooting performances in the history of the NCAA from Carsen. I will look back at that in 20 years with the same fondness that some of Reggie Millers bombs against the Knicks in the playoffs are etched into my brain.
Purdue loses a ton. Grady Eifert defined what it means to be a Boilermaker this year. Walking on, getting abused in practice for 3 years by Haas/Swanigan/Hammons, getting a chance his Sr year and making the most of it. His example alone will set a foundation for the next 3 seasons of what accepting your role, effort, and unselfishness look like to make a winning team. Cline showed what Painter was talking about the past 3 seasons when he said the team had "6 starters", always reffering to Cline as the 6th. Carsen will go down as one of the best ever to wear a Purdue uniform. It was a joy to watch him develop, and I hope he has a long NBA career.
Next year we return.......
Matt Haarms - 9.4ppg/ 5.4rpg/ 2.1bpg, .63FG/ .69FT/ .29 3FG, 22.9mpg
Nojel Eastern - 7.5ppg/ 5.5rpg/ 2.5apg/ 1.1spg, .495FG/ .65FT, 28.2mpg
Trevion Williams - 5.2ppg/ 4.0rpg, .54FG/ .51FT/ .33 3FG, 10.2mpg
Evan Boudreaux - 5.2ppg/ 3.0rpg, .455FG/ .738FT/ .34 3FG, 12.0 mpg
Aaron Wheeler - 4.7ppg/ 3.0rpg, .444FG/ .61FT/ .365 3FG, 13.7mpg
Sasha Stefonovic - 2.5ppg/ 1.1rpg, .39FG/ .35FT/ .41 3FG, 11.5mpg
Eric Hunter Jr - 2.2ppg/ 1.4rpg/ 1.1apg, .303FG/ .70FT/ .21 3FG ,12.6mpg
On paper this group will likely be counted out again, but like last year there will be an opportunity for guys to step into new roles with increased minutes and I can see this team proving people wrong once again. The experience the returning guys recieved playing in big games this year is invaluable, and I believe the culture has been established to finish near the top of the conference and make runs past the 1st weekend of the NCAA tournament a regular occurence. I did notice that ESPN kept Purdue out of there Way to Early Top 25, which is laughable, but predictable. They had 4 B1G teams in the top10 (MSU, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio State), and Iowa will be tough next year too. Anyways, will be fun to see what Coach Painter and the staff does with these pieces next year.