Small guards, slow team = bad postseason

[JerseyBoiler]

It's not our defense
It's not man to man vs zone
It's not poor shooting
It's not bad shot selection
It's not missed free throws
It's not Painter
It's not heart
It's not hunger

We lost because a team with bigger guards and quicker players out shot us and out rebounded us at the end of this game, at end of UALR last year and at the end of the Cinci game two years ago. Not to mention other games this season. We have one quick player, CE, that's it and it's not enough. That's why Painter brought CE in and why we seem to be moving away from big and slow. That model wins a lot of games in non-conf and BT regular season but not postseason. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Purdue0034]

That may be true of the overtime sequence, however during regulation we just gave it away and had the game won if we just hit one and then 2 free throws. They only beat us because we beat ourselves.

 

[rgarlitz]

An 80% free throw shooting team can't afford to go 6-13 from the line.

 

[glenboiler]

I agree with the second post. As much as yesterday was frustrating, we beat ourselves. We were a 82 percent FT shooting team in conference play and go for 6-13 yesterday and we had several open looks from both at the rim and deep late - and the ball simply didn't go in....and I hate to pick on PJ, but if we simply makes 1 free throw, it might be a different game.

 

[bonefish1]

That parts of the game I got to see, we missed a ton of 50/50 balls. That could just be the way the ball bounces that game or it could be that better athletes are a step quicker, can jump a few inches higher, etc.
But, I do agree, other than CE, we really lack athleticism and quickness. Vince is a nice player, but he's only an average athlete.
I think we miss J Taylor more than is recognized. He's a 6'10 guy with good athleticism that could have helped in the paint.

 

[IndySouthsider]

6-13 with how many misses on the front of a 1-1?

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

That parts of the game I got to see, we missed a ton of 50/50 balls. That could just be the way the ball bounces that game or it could be that better athletes are a step quicker, can jump a few inches higher, etc.
But, I do agree, other than CE, we really lack athleticism and quickness. Vince is a nice player, but he's only an average athlete.
I think we miss J Taylor more than is recognized. He's a 6'10 guy with good athleticism that could have helped in the paint.

If you listen to IH's post-game comments, he mentioned this....some of that is also due to mental breakdowns. The one good thing I heard when I listened to that, and VE, DM, and PJT in their post-game comments is that the players weren't making excuses and realized they just didn't get it done. However, they also realized they had some good looks (and their opportunities to win) and seemed more upset than discouraged.....even though human nature suggests there would be some doubt when that kind of loss happens.

Now......will this translate to better execution and mental focus going forward in the NCAA tournament? I don't know, but I'm more positive thinking about it than right after the game.

Two other things. First, this team is yet to play what I think many would say is a complete game....if/when they do, they will be a very tough out. Certainly, they were playing better/more efficiently a couple of weeks ago.....but they have still put themselves in a position to make a run. If you're a competitor, that's all you want.....the opportunity is still there, regardless of what happened in the BTT.....go do it.

Second.....if anybody saw the end of the Seton Hall game, maybe you noticed something on the winning play......Josh Hart made a fine play and converted the and-one for Villanova to win. However, a Seton Hall player looked like he could have been in position to screen off/block out Hart had he been more active aware.....but like many, he was reacting to the flight of the ball....Hart swooped in, and Seton Hall lost. Sometimes, it's the little things......but that's why you practice and have coaches.....sometimes, those things are instinctive (but not nearly as much as some people think, IMO).

 

[JohnHoosierr]

Agree. Unless guys like cline are hitting 3's every night they don't offer much if anything to the table. And Dakota is a good player but should never be the focus of our offense if we want to do anything in march. We need our athletes like Carsen, caleb, Vince, and Isaac to step up.

 

[banshee90]

It's not our defense
It's not man to man vs zone
It's not poor shooting
It's not bad shot selection
It's not missed free throws
It's not Painter
It's not heart
It's not hunger

We lost because a team with bigger guards and quicker players out shot us and out rebounded us at the end of this game, at end of UALR last year and at the end of the Cinci game two years ago. Not to mention other games this season. We have one quick player, CE, that's it and it's not enough. That's why Painter brought CE in and why we seem to be moving away from big and slow. That model wins a lot of games in non-conf and BT regular season but not postseason. Just my 2 cents.

Well trying to play man to man with 2 short guards makes the pick and roll so much more beneficial. Watching PJ or Carsen try to win a post battle with a 6-5 player is never going to work. Painter needs to realize if he can't recruit athletic big guards he is going to need to take a step away from Man to Man. Athletic teams easily manipulate us there and overall gets us a lose more than anyone here would like to admit.

If we were competent in running a zone we could switch to it and have Haas play his natural role as an unathletic big center who you don't expect to try and make shit happen all the time.

 

[BoilerGal74]

Thank goodness a thread that hasn't become the blood bath I thought the entire B1G Tourney would be- at least yet. I was such a coward I had to wait 22 hours before even coming back to the Board. Anyway, not to lay blame on any individual guy on the team, I think reading their comments these guys know where and how they lost this game and I'm sure it hurts.
To think they were and are not still feeling the fan base pressure would be naive. They are smart kids, they know they have sooooo many more pieces than Purdue has had for some time.....How could they not feel it- I just want them to believe in the unit, which I think they really do- I just want them to believe in their self-personally like their teammates should. I want them to just go out there and play their game... To forget the fans, expectations, how much time they do or don't have left together....just go have FUN!! Maybe not too realistic but our guys just may be too smart, too nice and too worried about disappointing all the rest of us. It's a pretty big monkey to have to play with on their backs...and it's definitely there. They have talked about it all year long..." what we want to do for our fans that have waited so long"... What got between those kids ears is what happened yesterday in my opinion-Not coaches, not "no zone", not Painter's style of play They call these things " games" for a reason I just want to see them go out there and play like they ARE having fun. Do we have the perfect parts for every scenario absolutely not but who really does? But I am awfully happy with the parts we have and really happy they chose to play and coach for Purdue..But no, my gut has not stopped wrenching....

 

[Lionheart1]

Considering team's overall lack of quickness and athleticism they have had a great season. They played to their strengths (size and strength inside, good outside shooting, high team free throw %, mental toughness). That's what they will have to do in tournament. Would like to see a zone at least tried when in trouble against quick athletic teams.