Spike and the Final Eight

[PistolPt]

Certainly didn't miss Spike the last month but he will be needed in tourney. Glass not half full(sweet 16) but 3/4 full( Final Eight). Looking forward to a great Big10 schedule and 14-4 at the least(15-3 and B10 championship would get #2 seed) and thinking 16-2 ,Final Four is too much to expect or think about right now. That will happen when the Cubs win the..... nevermind.

3 seed would be great and a Final Eight appearance much like last season when Notre Dame went 32-6 and did so. I'll take that. Spike 9-9 in Free Throws this year. 2014 shot 91%. Get to Final Eight need guy in there to knock down end of game as should see nailbiter. We aren't bad as team(although PJ shot only 10 and Dakota 12 free throws so far non conference almost same number as Spike. Small sample but CE(22-36) and 62%. I see that improving B10 but that is something to keep a eye on and could be worrisome late in year. That can't stay at that percentage. Love the rotation with PJ and CE getting most minutes and keeping it that way, but IF Spike is healthier he might play a important role. Not so much B10 season, but getting to FINAL EIGHT. Get past dreaded first game and last 8 standing a solid goal. But the B10 season.

 

[burbo]

Hopefully his back, hips, and conditioning all permit him to contribute when needed.

 

[proudopete]

Elite 8

 

[Boiler Buck]

Certainly didn't miss Spike the last month but he will be needed in tourney. Glass not half full(sweet 16) but 3/4 full( Final Eight). Looking forward to a great Big10 schedule and 14-4 at the least(15-3 and B10 championship would get #2 seed) and thinking 16-2 ,Final Four is too much to expect or think about right now. That will happen when the Cubs win the..... nevermind.

3 seed would be great and a Final Eight appearance much like last season when Notre Dame went 32-6 and did so. I'll take that. Spike 9-9 in Free Throws this year. 2014 shot 91%. Get to Final Eight need guy in there to knock down end of game as should see nailbiter. We aren't bad as team(although PJ shot only 10 and Dakota 12 free throws so far non conference almost same number as Spike. Small sample but CE(22-36) and 62%. I see that improving B10 but that is something to keep a eye on and could be worrisome late in year. That can't stay at that percentage. Love the rotation with PJ and CE getting most minutes and keeping it that way, but IF Spike is healthier he might play a important role. Not so much B10 season, but getting to FINAL EIGHT. Get past dreaded first game and last 8 standing a solid goal. But the B10 season.

Hope Spike gets healed to the point where his shot comes back. Too many alternatives otherwise.

 

[New Pal Boiler]

Hope Spike gets healed to the point where his shot comes back. Too many alternatives otherwise.

Yeah our 8 man rotation is looking pretty salty at the moment.

 

[PistolPt]

I stand corrected, Elite 8. Thank you.

 

[TC4THREE]

I agree wholeheartedly about the value of Spike. Great player for us to salt away leads late with his ballhandling and free throw shooting. Even if we get to the point where he can just give us a few minutes a game and we use those in this capacity then we can recognize some good value from him yet this year.

That said I hope I'm wrong but your expectations appear to be on the extreme upper end of what I consider our spectrum of possibilities. I do find it funny that some people project us to get to the final eight but not have enough to get to the Final Four without knowing who we will be matched up with.

 

[PistolPt]

Elite 8 is a goal to shoot for(of course would love Final four) but yes matchups would decide advancing. This is a really good team. Inside presence, multiple shooters.
Last year Johnny Hill was playing. I love Johnny Hill but wow, teams guarding him in the paint when he had the ball daring him to shoot. Much more balance this year and dangerous. Big 10 appears to be not as strong and schedule also favors a strong run.
I can see them being 20-3 going into February. Keep improving each game already and expectations are grounded but this team has a different feel to me.
Love CE and he's awesome but 62% free throw percentage blows me away. Get in the gym young man! Boiler up folks and have a great holiday!

 

[delish1]

Rough year to be in purdue's position with so many loaded teams. Doesn't look like you want to face any of the top 6 or Louisville and WV. The boilers showed they can hang but hanging and winning two of those games are different things.

Last year this purdue team would be a strong favorite to make the final 4.

That being said, if Carson can take another step and the shooting is hot anything can happen.

 

[boilerzz]

Elite 8 is a goal to shoot for(of course would love Final four) but yes matchups would decide advancing. This is a really good team. Inside presence, multiple shooters.
Last year Johnny Hill was playing. I love Johnny Hill but wow, teams guarding him in the paint when he had the ball daring him to shoot. Much more balance this year and dangerous. Big 10 appears to be not as strong and schedule also favors a strong run.
I can see them being 20-3 going into February. Keep improving each game already and expectations are grounded but this team has a different feel to me.
Love CE and he's awesome but 62% free throw percentage blows me away. Get in the gym young man! Boiler up folks and have a great holiday!

If you remove the two free throws Carsen missed against ND when he was clearly hurt, he's at 67%. And he's been better since going 1-4 in his first game as a Boilermaker.

 

[TC4THREE]

If you remove the two free throws Carsen missed against ND when he was clearly hurt, he's at 67%. And he's been better since going 1-4 in his first game as a Boilermaker.

67% is good for Haas. Not so much for someone who will often have the ball in their hands at the end of close games. It's an area he can improve on but I doubt we see great improvement throughout this season. Would much rather have Spike out there with a 2 point lead and the ball with 25 seconds left.

FWIW, PJ is also in that same range as Carsen as a free throw shooter. Another reason I think there's big time value in having Spike healthy even if he can only give us limited minutes.

 

[boilerzz]

67% is good for Haas. Not so much for someone who will often have the ball in their hands at the end of close games. It's an area he can improve on but I doubt we see great improvement throughout this season. Would much rather have Spike out there with a 2 point lead and the ball with 25 seconds left.

FWIW, PJ is also in that same range as Carsen as a free throw shooter. Another reason I think there's big time value in having Spike healthy even if he can only give us limited minutes.

Of course. Sometimes it takes a while for freshman to get accustomed to the rigors of the college game and their shooting suffers. Carsen is 11-16 his last four game and if you exclude the ones he missed due to his arm issue against ND, that's a pretty robust 78%. I guess what I'm saying is, having seen Carsen several times in high school and seeing his form, I'm not concerned about his free throw shooting.