The December 5

[ChoiceBeef]

Not make or break but some tough games coming up over the next 5.

At PSU: always hard on the road and for the opener
Maryland: jury is still out
Texas A&M: “home” game and they are tough/physical team. Another good test.
At Auburn: potential away game against the #1 team in the country
Toledo: not really a slouch team.

I can see us winning 3 or 4 at most. Would be shocked if we win 4 and even more shocked if we went 5-0.

I do hope the young guys (Harris, Cox, Burgess) can get some minutes and put together some consistent scoring. Need them to be ready come B1G season.

 

[proudopete]

Not make or break but some tough games coming up over the next 5.

At PSU: always hard on the road and for the opener
Maryland: jury is still out
Texas A&M: “home” game and they are tough/physical team. Another good test.
At Auburn: potential away game against the #1 team in the country
Toledo: not really a slouch team.

I can see us winning 3 or 4 at most. Would be shocked if we win 4 and even more shocked if we went 5-0.

I do hope the young guys (Harris, Cox, Burgess) can get some minutes and put together some consistent scoring. Need them to be ready come B1G season.

That Auburn game is in Birmingham.

Whatever our record is against these teams let’s hope the losses aren’t in the conference games.

 

[ChoiceBeef]

That Auburn game is in Birmingham.

Whatever our record is against these teams let’s hope the losses aren’t in the conference games.

So a home game for them? Same way A&M is in Indy

 

[northside100]

That Auburn game is in Birmingham.

Whatever our record is against these teams let’s hope the losses aren’t in the conference games.

Agree on the conference games. So long as we take care of business versus Toledo, I could live with dropping the other two OOC games if we start conference play 2-0.

 

[qazplm]

Not make or break but some tough games coming up over the next 5.

At PSU: always hard on the road and for the opener
Maryland: jury is still out
Texas A&M: “home” game and they are tough/physical team. Another good test.
At Auburn: potential away game against the #1 team in the country
Toledo: not really a slouch team.

I can see us winning 3 or 4 at most. Would be shocked if we win 4 and even more shocked if we went 5-0.

I do hope the young guys (Harris, Cox, Burgess) can get some minutes and put together some consistent scoring. Need them to be ready come B1G season.

Win first two and last one and I'm happy. Split the other two and we are a top 15 ranked team going into the new year 2-0 in conference with only 2 losses.

That's a formula for a team competing for a conference title and a top 3 seed.

 

[Boiler Buck]

I know the TX A&M game at Texas would be a likely loss....like the Auburn game just might be?

Can Mackey Magic once again help Purdue overcome our teams weakness that the TexasAM team has been so good at vs others? (Edit... apparently game in Indy)

Took our best game to beat AL. Will take a similar effort here. I am psyched up about this game as TX is so good at our perceived weaknesses to date. Great test of measuring team improvement here in this one.

 

[northside100]

I know the TX A&M game at Texas would be a likely loss....like the Auburn game just might be?

Can Mackey Magic once again help Purdue overcome our teams weakness that the TexasAM team has been so good at vs others?

Took our best game to beat AL. Will take a similar effort here. I am psyched up about this game as TX is so good at our perceived weaknesses to date. Great test of measuring team improvement here in this one.

I believe A&M game is in Indy as part of the Indy Classic. They are good and we’d need to play well but that is a winnable game. I suspect that to beat Auburn in AL we’d have to play really well and may still need them to have an off game.

 

[Boiler Buck]

I believe A&M game is in Indy as part of the Indy Classic. They are good and we’d need to play well but that is a winnable game. I suspect that to beat Auburn in AL we’d have to play really well and may still need them to have an off game.

Didn't know that. Too bad. Love watching ranked teams come to Mackey

🤔 Ok then, knowing how we sometimes play in Indy....bet on TX lol. Would love a great crowd to be Mackey South and give us an advantage.

 

[oldboiler52]

I love and hate the tough schedule. One huge advantage we have is experienced guards. One disadvantage is we are the hunted and every game means so much more to the opponent. Another disadvantage is without a roster full of transfers we are easier to scout. I watched Auburn play Iowa St. and NC. They are beatable but unlikely to lose in Birmingham.

 

[Hausta01]

Toledo has lost their last 2 games by a combined 67 points to UC San Diego and Oakland... so we get at least 1 real cupcake

 

[Schmedly_Whiplash]

I love and hate the tough schedule. One huge advantage we have is experienced guards. One disadvantage is we are the hunted and every game means so much more to the opponent. Another disadvantage is without a roster full of transfers we are easier to scout. I watched Auburn play Iowa St. and NC. They are beatable but unlikely to lose in Birmingham.

Only reason as a fan to hate it is for the stress of close games.
For the team getting better there is no debate.
Remember all those Boiler teams that were good, but seemed to lay an egg come tourney time?
THOSE results are the why.
None of these game results mean much come March.
What does mean something is the experience and toughness the team develops during stressful, close games.
Especially handling pressure in a hostile environment and keeping your composure.
Invaluable come tourney time.
Only way to learn it is is to earn it.

 

[Dryfly88]

Only reason as a fan to hate it is for the stress of close games.
For the team getting better there is no debate.
Remember all those Boiler teams that were good, but seemed to lay an egg come tourney time?
THOSE results are the why.
None of these game results mean much come March.
What does mean something is the experience and toughness the team develops during stressful, close games.
Especially handling pressure in a hostile environment and keeping your composure.
Invaluable come tourney time.
Only way to learn it is is to earn it.

These games for sure mean a lot come March. We will be on here debating resumes and so will the selection committee. PU getting a number 1 seed the past 2 years wasn't just because we won the B1G. It was because we played very well in the pre-conference and beat some very good teams. These games do matter.

 

[DwaynePurvis00]

I love and hate the tough schedule. One huge advantage we have is experienced guards. One disadvantage is we are the hunted and every game means so much more to the opponent. Another disadvantage is without a roster full of transfers we are easier to scout. I watched Auburn play Iowa St. and NC. They are beatable but unlikely to lose in Birmingham.

All true but this is how it’ll be in conference and March, so def better to experience it all now and be ready for it at the end of the season, rather than be shocked/have a let down in March.

As a fan, it’s awesome to watch such great games. I can’t imagine just playing cupcake after cupcake, winning by 15-20+, being so confident your team is good and then being so shocked your team gets mopped off the floor by a mediocre/decent team that can actually knock down shots and match your athleticism.

 

[ChoiceBeef]

Only reason as a fan to hate it is for the stress of close games.
For the team getting better there is no debate.
Remember all those Boiler teams that were good, but seemed to lay an egg come tourney time?
THOSE results are the why.
None of these game results mean much come March.
What does mean something is the experience and toughness the team develops during stressful, close games.
Especially handling pressure in a hostile environment and keeping your composure.
Invaluable come tourney time.
Only way to learn it is is to earn it.

This is some good points because there are no easy days in conference play and March.

We have shown the ability to play close games (Alabama/Ole Miss) and take body blows - we also saw the flip side against Marquette where we couldn't fight back.

My biggest fear on these 5 is how we refocus for Toledo since it will be over break and no Paint crew and if the energy is there from the crowd if the game gets tough.

What really gets me nervous for all these games, can we get bench production. We went from having Colvin/Heide giving us semi-consistent bench minutes and scoring. We had 2 bench points against Ole Miss.....that isn't going to work.

 

[Schmedly_Whiplash]

These games for sure mean a lot come March. We will be on here debating resumes and so will the selection committee. PU getting a number 1 seed the past 2 years wasn't just because we won the B1G. It was because we played very well in the pre-conference and beat some very good teams. These games do matter.

No they really don't.
You may be here debating rankings in March, I won't.
Higher ranking doesn't give you squat.
Win the games (WHOEVER it is) and you win the tourney.
1st or 64th.

 

[Ihaveswag29]

No they really don't.
You may be here debating rankings in March, I won't.
Higher ranking doesn't give you squat.
Win the games (WHOEVER it is) and you win the tourney.
1st or 64th.

Disagree. The higher the seed the easier the road in March and the more likely to win it all. Something espoused by Painter and a big reason Painter schedules the non-con how he does.

 

[boilerzz]

No they really don't.
You may be here debating rankings in March, I won't.
Higher ranking doesn't give you squat.
Win the games (WHOEVER it is) and you win the tourney.
1st or 64th.

Dafuq?

 

[Bleedinggoldandblack]

I agree on developing our bench is critical as Heide and Colvin seem to be finding themselves, our bench needs to continue growing to play well in March , especially defense and rebounding. These games are good for us win or lose. Naturally winning is the way I roll , my biggest concern is actually Braden learning to relax , when he does man can he light it up. Changes everything.

 

[ChoiceBeef]

I agree on developing our bench is critical as Heide and Colvin seem to be finding themselves, our bench needs to continue growing to play well in March , especially defense and rebounding. These games are good for us win or lose. Naturally winning is the way I roll , my biggest concern is actually Braden learning to relax , when he does man can he light it up. Changes everything.

Good point on Braden.....when he isn't pressing and letting the game come to him and picking his shots, he is the best PG in the B1G and country.

We saw some of that against Ole Miss and saw some of bad Braden too when he forces things. As the season goes and things get tough, he has to keep his cool