First off, we hereby end from this day forward our ironic use of the term 'hot take.'
Some deep thoughts and musings, then, on what the box score tells us about Purdue's win in Spain today and the trip overall.
• On trips like these, winning doesn't matter all that much - not that a team would ever rather not win - but rather it's the process, the experience, the preparation and the chemistry-building mechanisms that count most.
That being said, this is a team that has to retool defensively and for Purdue to have done what it did on defense during this tour - regardless of competition - that is a very positive thing. Purdue may need some time to get its legs under it defensively, so this was a great experience and always good to experience some success.
Not sure what has gotten into Dakota Mathias with all these steals he's getting.
• Also a positive thing to get Carsen Edwards not only some experience playing with his new team, but also some experience playing alongside other point guards. He did largely play alongside other point guards on this trip, playing off the ball. He was recruited as a point guard and his style of play with the ball in his hands and defensive matchups suggest he'll definitely play a prominent role there, but his versatility could allow Purdue a great luxury in that it can play multiple point guards at once, especially valuable in the sense that all three of its options there can really shoot.
That could be a game-changer for Purdue in certain situations when Purdue might need more quickness or ball-handling, not that Mathias or Ryan Cline are deficient ball-handlers.
• Keep saying this, but Caleb Swanigan is all set up for a first-team All-Big Ten sort of season. He's going to be better with experience and he's going to be better because he's going to have more favorable matchups more often. Purdue is going to have a more flexible frontcourt mix now that it's no longer obligated to have a 7-footer on the floor at all times. That being said, A.J. Hammons will be missed at the rim defensively and on the glass. His ability to rebound above the rim is another element I'm not sure Purdue is replacing.
• P.J. Thompson stands to really improve this season also, due to experience. He did a lot of positive things last season, and did so in his first year playing a prominent role. He's always been able to make shots, so his scoring today isn't all that big a tell, but I do think you might see a more confident, more self-assured player this season.
Thoughts?
Some deep thoughts and musings, then, on what the box score tells us about Purdue's win in Spain today and the trip overall.
• On trips like these, winning doesn't matter all that much - not that a team would ever rather not win - but rather it's the process, the experience, the preparation and the chemistry-building mechanisms that count most.
That being said, this is a team that has to retool defensively and for Purdue to have done what it did on defense during this tour - regardless of competition - that is a very positive thing. Purdue may need some time to get its legs under it defensively, so this was a great experience and always good to experience some success.
Not sure what has gotten into Dakota Mathias with all these steals he's getting.
• Also a positive thing to get Carsen Edwards not only some experience playing with his new team, but also some experience playing alongside other point guards. He did largely play alongside other point guards on this trip, playing off the ball. He was recruited as a point guard and his style of play with the ball in his hands and defensive matchups suggest he'll definitely play a prominent role there, but his versatility could allow Purdue a great luxury in that it can play multiple point guards at once, especially valuable in the sense that all three of its options there can really shoot.
That could be a game-changer for Purdue in certain situations when Purdue might need more quickness or ball-handling, not that Mathias or Ryan Cline are deficient ball-handlers.
• Keep saying this, but Caleb Swanigan is all set up for a first-team All-Big Ten sort of season. He's going to be better with experience and he's going to be better because he's going to have more favorable matchups more often. Purdue is going to have a more flexible frontcourt mix now that it's no longer obligated to have a 7-footer on the floor at all times. That being said, A.J. Hammons will be missed at the rim defensively and on the glass. His ability to rebound above the rim is another element I'm not sure Purdue is replacing.
• P.J. Thompson stands to really improve this season also, due to experience. He did a lot of positive things last season, and did so in his first year playing a prominent role. He's always been able to make shots, so his scoring today isn't all that big a tell, but I do think you might see a more confident, more self-assured player this season.
Thoughts?
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