Up to #16 in AP Poll
- Thread starter boilernuke
- Start date
MSU up to 3.
How does Maryland move up to 2?
Do these writers not watch the games?
How does Maryland move up to 2?
Do these writers not watch the games?
About six years?
In all seriousness, I think the 09 Boilers starting 5 was more talented (or maybe 4 of the 5), but the current team is way deeper and bigger. It would be fun to see the two teams play, and I think I would put money on this years team winning.
Well, I suppose it's somewhat by default, but North Carolina, Duke, and Kansas all lost last week. I guess you could make a case for Iowa State and Michigan State being ahead of Maryland. There's going to be a lot of volatility this year I think, but it usually works itself out.
Nothing. I don't think that team started out top 5. They were top 5 when Rob went down...
They probably aren't watching that many games, particularly at this stage of the season. Many of these writers cover sports other than college bball and focus most of their attention on the local teams they write about and the "high profile" teams.
So, voters basically take the preseason rankings and just move teams up/down each week based on wins and losses. Like others have said, keep winning and it will take care of itself.
2009 started out #7, but they had more preseason attention due to being a S16 team the year before. To get to #3, they went 24-3, including 4-0 against top 10 teams.
Just comparing both teams 5 games into the season
Arguments for 2009
- More tested. 5-0 with wins over St Joseph's and #9Tennessee which had made the NCAAT the season before, whereas the 2015 Boilers have not played against a team that made the NCAAT last season.
- Elite perimeter defense to take away 2015's outside game.
- Slight edge in key fundamentals like FT%, A/TO ratio, 3PT%
Arguments for 2015
- Depth obviously. 2009 was 7 deep, 2015 is 10 deep. We all knew early in 2009 that we were thin, except we were more nervous about JJ going down than Robbie.
- Will crush 2009 on the boards
- Painter 2015 should be more wily than Painter 2009
Toss-up
- Who has the better team chemistry? 2009 was a well oiled machine....the 3rd year the starting 5 were playing together. While 2015 doesnt have the same familiarity with each other that 2009 had, there's plenty of great story lines, great characters, and veteran leadership.
- Competitive landscape. Both 2009 and 2015 seasons had no single dominant superstar teams in the mould of a 2014 Kentucky
I'd give the edge to 2009 till I see 2015 in action against the top 10. The last 3 great Purdue teams were
1. 1993 Boilers (Elite Eight)
2. 2009 Boilers (with Robbie)
3. 1999 Boilers (Elite Eight)
It is clear 2015 belongs in this tier of great Purdue teams. From what I've seen, it is probably better than 1999. Lets see if they can better 2009 and 1993
Just comparing both teams 5 games into the season
Arguments for 2009
- More tested. 5-0 with wins over St Joseph's and #9Tennessee which had made the NCAAT the season before, whereas the 2015 Boilers have not played against a team that made the NCAAT last season.
- Elite perimeter defense to take away 2015's outside game.
- Slight edge in key fundamentals like FT%, A/TO ratio, 3PT%
Arguments for 2015
- Depth obviously. 2009 was 7 deep, 2015 is 10 deep. We all knew early in 2009 that we were thin, except we were more nervous about JJ going down than Robbie.
- Will crush 2009 on the boards
- Painter 2015 should be more wily than Painter 2009
Toss-up
- Who has the better team chemistry? 2009 was a well oiled machine....the 3rd year the starting 5 were playing together. While 2015 doesnt have the same familiarity with each other that 2009 had, there's plenty of great story lines, great characters, and veteran leadership.
- Competitive landscape. Both 2009 and 2015 seasons had no single dominant superstar teams in the mould of a 2014 Kentucky
I'd give the edge to 2009 till I see 2015 in action against the top 10. The last 3 great Purdue teams were
1. 1993 Boilers (Elite Eight)
2. 2009 Boilers (with Robbie)
3. 1999 Boilers (Elite Eight)
It is clear 2015 belongs in this tier of great Purdue teams. From what I've seen, it is probably better than 1999. Lets see if they can better 2009 and 1993
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I'd take that bet. This years team is good, but we all know what that team was capable of before Robbie went down. This team COULD be as well, but we just don't know yet. The 09 team had 3 elite players that are better than any 1 player on this team. This team is deep and has size, but I wouldn't bet against Robbie, Moore, JJ and Kramer. It would be interesting to see JJ and Robbie spacing the current big men out and making them guard them all over the floor. Either way, I'm leaning 09 until I see this years team beat some better teams.
This is how most people seem to act when talking about the Baby Boilers.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/69478
Don't get me wrong, I loved watching them play, but most of you guys act like they were unbeatable.
As long as we're going to compare the 2009/10 and current teams, here's a few stats to keep in mind after the first 5 games into each season (note: keep in mind there is no way to compare the relative difficulty of each team's early schedule):
A/TO Ratio
2009 - (80A/66TO) 1.2
2015 - (91A/65TO) 1.4
Rebound Margin
2009 - (180PU/169OPP) +2.2 R/G
2015 - (227PU/157OPP) +14.0 R/G
Overall FG%
2009 - (135FG/302FGA) 44.7%
2015 - (147FG/291FGA) 50.5%
3pt FG%
2009 - (28FG/94FGA) 29.8%
2015 - (56FG/134FGA) 41.8%
Tennessee & St. Joseph's were the "marquee" matchups in the first 5 games in 2009, while Old Dominion & Florida are the significant games so far this year. Tennessee was ranked early in 2009, and Florida may very well be underrated this year. Make your own conclusions. Either way, our stats this year are across the board better than at the same time in 2009.
Just a thought.
The fact that we can even think about comparing this team to the 2009 team means that we're gonna be in for a pretty darn good year, health permitted.
I am trying to think of some comps from the teams those Baby Boilers went up against.. 2008/09 UConn was big like 2015/16 Purdue, but they also had NBA talent all over the place. Minnesota was big but less talented and not particularly well coached. Wisconsin maybe?
That was about to be the #1 team in the country and a likely #1 overall seed until Robbie went down in a late February conference game. I have high hopes for this team, but it's pretty difficult to put them over a top 3 team that was catching fire in late February. Florida and ODU are decent wins but they are both fringe tourney teams. We could win it all or we could be a 5-6 seed. All I'm saying is I'm not ready to crown our current team 5 games into the year. No disrespect to either team.
I completely agree. I also think, talent wise, we are just as good as that team. I think Edwards is just as good if not better than Hummel. I think Hammons and Haas are both better than JJ. If we look ahead, I think we have at least 4 guys (Biggie, Edwards, AJ, and Haas) that could have better NBA careers than any of the Baby Boilers. I think the potential of this team is much greater than the Baby Boilers. Its gonna be fun!
If this team is playing like the '09 team was that dreadful night in Minny. Then we will be a #1 seed as well.
That team was electric on both ends and if this team hits that stride in February, with the depth we have?
They will be better.
That team was electric on both ends and if this team hits that stride in February, with the depth we have?
They will be better.
I think talent wise, there's not that much separating the top talent in both teams. You could make the argument either ways. I see the 2009 Big 3 as being the better college players, and 2015 Big 4 as the better pro prospects.
What we have yet to see is if 2015 can finish games as ruthlessly as 2009. When you are down by 1 with one minute to go, can 2015 pull it off?
Will be a good season to watch.
I feel good about our chances to make a FF before the Haas-Vince class is done at West Lafayette
I think this years team has a higher ceiling than the 2009 team. The 2009 team however played nearer to their ceiling more consistently because the core had been playing together for 3 years.
If everyone played to their absolute potential best including the growth a Caleb Swanigan can still make, I think the 2015 team beat the 2009 team.
I find early season polls (in football and basketball) quite useless. They are good for discussion boards like this and to keep people interested.
The only polls that matter are in feb and mar as inputs into seeding. Of course I also think that seeding is over rated. Oh my... We got a 4 instead of a 3...who cares. In the end you have to beat the good teams head to head and the rest takes care of itself.
I would say we are top 10 going into Big 10 play. I expect we will beat Pitt and show up well (win) against Butler. Essentially games that a top 10 team should win.
The only polls that matter are in feb and mar as inputs into seeding. Of course I also think that seeding is over rated. Oh my... We got a 4 instead of a 3...who cares. In the end you have to beat the good teams head to head and the rest takes care of itself.
I would say we are top 10 going into Big 10 play. I expect we will beat Pitt and show up well (win) against Butler. Essentially games that a top 10 team should win.
Thanks for that link. I have never seen that. I took a few minutes and studied that, it's a joke. I didn't put too much stock in polls before but now I'm really jaded. Everyone should take a look at that and see who actually voted for who and at what spot. There were actually 2 people that didn't even have us ranked in the top 25! I'm not going to quibble about a few spots up or down, but you can't possibly be watching games and have us out of the top 25 all together.
It's interesting to read some of the bio's of the voters. There were 2 of them that had us #21+ that have never been college basketball reporters. They are both football beat writers. I know I shouldn't get worked up about it, but after studying it a little bit I couldn't help it!!
I'm off my soap box now.
He's an IU homer... he will probably still rank IU ahead of Purdue next week.
Agreed.
And as much as I want to say early polls don't matter, they do. Recruits see them. Writers see them and that might be the only time some of the writers see Purdue in the polls and start paying attention so that rankings toward the end of the season fix themselves.
Seeing that link just put another nail in the coffin of my personal loathing of Dick Vitale. After WINNING our Non-Con tournament, beating 2 quality opponents in ODU and Florida handily... he actually DROPPED us 1 slot from 21 to 22 with his vote.
Can someone please just put him out to pasture? He is clearly as senile as Lou Holtz.
Can someone please just put him out to pasture? He is clearly as senile as Lou Holtz.
Too bad Boilers, that's a Shame. I'm lookin for style.....for pizzazz, Paisan.....like Coach K, the AP-So-LOOt Best....the Maestro! They don't call me Dukie V for nothing, Baby!
Speaking of reporting posts.I just reported your post.
I would like to thank whoever started end Rally at Purdue thread.
Finally a Boiler final four made a pretty racist statement in that thread. I jumped in the opportunity to report it and ask that he be shown the door.
Seems he has vanished and one can only hope he indeed has been banned.
Once again, although the thread went way out there. I want to thank you.
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