why doesn't every team suffer being worn down in March? Do you think Purdue players work harder than everyone else?
So, with Zach back, what changes?
- Thread starter bonefish1
- Start date
You think Loyer is going to be a better defender than Heide? Not sure I agree with that.
Same with Edey, I hope his 31 minutes per night get chopped to around 26-28 a night. That will free up a few more minutes for others like Furst, Renn, and maybe Berg.
It is the Play Hard mentality, but I wish CMP would emphasize more of a Play Smart mentality.
For example, I hope CMP observed in the NBA Eastern Conf Finals how useful it can be to mix in some zone, protecting guys in foul trouble, resting guys while leaving them in the game, and confusing the offense at times.
I can’t see Edey’s minutes going down. He’s the best player in the country and Painter is going to give him all the minutes that he can handle.
That's a fair point, Lenny.
Perhaps it's more of the mental aspect, especially if you look at some of the mistakes made and lack of execution......could it be the complexity of the playbook on both ends......certainly some of the pressure of the moment and being the favorite, plus the grind of the conference season as many have posed for several seasons.....who knows for sure. I don't think it's the overall game strategy, but the confidence and execution obviously took a dive the last month of the season and into the post-season.
Painter didn't lose his confidence in his team - at least from all of his public statements.....but he does have to turn things around come late March as to having his team make the right plays and play with poise.
Hopefully, Boilerepherine levels will be homeostatic this time around......we need a break or two.
Don't know how this season will go......but looking forward to it nonetheless......great opportunity for the Boilers.
I really don't know if you're trolling half the time or are just a miserable person. I hope it's the former.
Why reply, it's such a stupid question. Purdue was starting two undersized true freshmen and playing them huge minutes. Wow, shocking that they were worn down more than most other players.
He knows it's a dumb question, he's just being a troll.
Why would he give him all the minutes that he can handle? I'm sure MP wants to win every game but I think he gets that this is a marathon. Keeping Zach fresh and developing other players would be good for Zach and Purdue (even if it means a few additional losses in the early and mid season).
I will remember you said that. Don't come back and say you didn't later. This is your for-real perspective? Dumber than you look I guess.
8-(
Getting more athletic on the wing, having guys being able to punish the press with either shooting or penetration, knocking down wide open 3's in half court...would be the priority. We had too many one dimensional guys last year. We became easy to scout, defend, and game plan against because of it. You could create a list of things for each player but zach coming back and everyone being a year older is a start.
Add in the fact that they were being bullied more than usual as that was the only way to overcome what Zach would do to teams. I expect to see a much stronger team come March this time around.
Making it to a sweet sixteen is a very good season by any measure.
You’d rather lose in the 1st round to a 7 seed, but you’re in the minority.
Listen, I'm all for Big Ten championships but I think (and certainly hope) that MP knows that this is for all the marbles. No one cares if we win the BT by one game or five and even if the team slips and doesn't win the conference, you have to maximize your chances for the NCAAT.
Last edited:
Definitely not a fluke, and losing to double digit seeds three years in a row is certainly not a coincidence. Believing it to just be a fluke is a recipe for the same thing to continue happening.
NBA plays a 7 game series. It’s a different can of worms when you play a regular season to try to get a one or two seed and then a single elimination tournament.
Agree, not a fluke. There were real differences across those three losses but the common thread is that the backcourts just weren’t good / consistent enough. I really like Loyer and Smith but relying so heavily on two sophomores still makes me nervous.
I think it's the lesser overall talented teams that get worn down. Usually, teams that have more/better athletic recruiting seem to get better as the year goes. The B1G hasn't been a recruiting hotbed for a while. This year may change some of that with 3 teams in the top 20 and a Purdue team with the best returning roster in the B1G possibly the nation. Time will tell.......
This is why we need some scoring depth from Jones and Colvin. Those 2 could help tremendously on both ends of the court and could determine if this team is F4 worthy.
Last edited:
I agree with you here. Unless we improve our three point shooting we could have a worse record then last year even with everyone back. Last 10 games showed the vulnerability this team had to quality opponents.
not sure what the probabilities were for each game each year, but at 50% win losing 3 times in a row would happen 1 out of 8 times or 12.5%. The opponents were different, but many of the Purdue players are the same. This goes back to poise and confidences as well. Sometimes that monkey turns int a gorilla until beaten off. Need to understand how Purdue beats better teams doing what it does and then doesn't in the first game of the tourney, because those teams are not as good as the many teams Purdue beat during the previous months. If the Purdue playing style and players beat better teams in the season (and also outside the Big), why not in the tourney? That is the million dollar question.
Purdue is probably close to 25 attempts per game behind the arc. Hitting 10 gets that 40% while hitting only 6 drops it down the 24%. Is the 4 points in a game, if that many, that huge that it cannot be addressed by many other ways? Purdue needs better 3 and 4 play this year and it doesn't have to be only 3 pt shots or jump hooks, drops steps and up and unders IMO. The ability to face up and drive the ball a bit would be a huge plus as well as an effective mid range game that brings fouls and potential war in the paint...generally more versatility in scoring IMO
The monkey (gorilla) was mental, but I really think that it was the 16 turnovers that let FDU hang around, which in turn added pressure to the shooting. If Purdue can control the things under their control, I really think that the shooting will come around as well.
Assuming they don't get the offensive rebound - isn't that 12 points, TJ, or am I missing something?
Seems like the optimum number of 3pt attempts has been somewhere in the 15-20 range. To your point, they can certainly win from other ways and if the 3pt shots are not falling.......what they can't do?
Miss from 3pt land AND turn the ball over AND give up bad defensive possessions. Even as a #1 seed - that's a recipe for disaster.
Totally agree on needing more consistent offensive play from the #3 and #4.....doesn't necessarily need to be from deep, but that's the default scenario when Zach Edey's on the floor it appears. Painter has also repeatedly stated that he needs to find a way to get TKR more involved for his scoring production and that he messed that up last year.
with all due respect, every team plays hard. Purdue players don't put out any more or less effort than any other team. I do agree that Painter can manage playing time and situations better and maybe that helps reduce wear/tear as the season goes on.
I've held this position for a while. I think Purdue can do better. Now, go to a FF and win a NC and I'll reconsider.
I just don't think there's that much talent in the B10. Style of play and recruiting certainly doesn't help either.
This all day. I’d trade any “big” Purdue wins in November and December for some actual “big” wins in March and April. I don’t necessarily care if they win the whole thing in Maui now as long as they are targeted in on the main objective at the end of the year.
Well, the FD coach said it himself. He said he saw a way to beat Purdue. Granted, that's what he's got to say in front of the camera, but his team came out and took the fight to Purdue. He had Painter scouted and executed a game plan.
Point being, Painter did what he could do, which was put guys in position for wide open shots, but when those guys are literally afraid to shoot, somethings wrong mentally and that's on the coach.
I can’t disagree with this. They looked tight. Gillis looked REALLY tight.
Purdue lost 6 games last year. In four of the losses we shot less than 23% from 3. We lost all but one game by 8 points or less. So yes, hitting 1 or 2 additional three pointers would make a difference. Not only would it add the obvious 3 to 6 points but it would also make things easier for Zach.
Agree with this, particularly for the FDU game. Couldn't hit wide open shots, turned it over at times in ways that just looked like the players were uncomfortable, etc. Part of that was that there were guys who had not been there before but there were veterans who struggled just as much.
The year prior I felt optimistic following the Texas win because we got punched in the mouth and won handily, but the fools gold there was that we got a ton of calls that game. They were the correct calls as UT took an obvious approach of 'foul and make them call it', but I think that set up a JI meltdown the next game where they were just as physical or more and very little was called. Need to be able to respond in those situations without counting on help from the refs (even where it's warranted.)
My point is that the point difference can be made up a lot of different ways...and spacing is a function of threat not distance...no threat...less poison choice and nobody contends the shot. If a threat to score at 12 that is enough for Zach to get the boards as well. 3 pt shooting is not in a vacuum...those shots could take place on drives, getting to the foul line or a higher % of 2s. An empty three gains little to nothing as we have seen. Point is Purdue can be VERY good and still shoot poorly from behind the arc if not too many shots are taken and the 3 &4 are versatile enough to score in other ways.
Rather than hitting 1-2 more 3 point shots, wouldn’t driving to the basket and drawing a foul accomplish the same result? Or pulling up for a short jumper? Are those types of plays not also possible?
Similar threads
