We are a FF contender if THIS version of Caleb Furst returns for the 24/25 season.

[Lilsweet]

Watch the highlights. I had forgotten how good he can be! Totally impacted the game. This solves a multitude of front court weakness we might otherwise have had off the bench this year.

24min 10reb 11pts 2ast 1blk 0turnovers

 

[pboiler18]

Watch the highlights. I had forgotten how good he can be! Totally impacted the game. This solves a multitude of front court weakness we might otherwise have had this year.

https://youtu.be/v4hRS2XF5WA?si=wYfe-hbrZSBofzhS

I think he’s being given chances. It’s on him now

 

[Roeder]

I agree he is a huge key to the season. Hope he gets some confidence and can play at this level again.

His dunk that was "blocked" by Kalkbrenner would have been a poster or foul on most centers he will see in B1G. Kalkbrenner is elite rim protector. Hope to see more of that aggression from him.

 

[Old Gold n Black]

I agree he is a huge key to the season. Hope he gets some confidence and can play at this level again.

His dunk that was "blocked" by Kalkbrenner would have been a poster or foul on most centers he will see in B1G. Kalkbrenner is elite rim protector. Hope to see more of that aggression from him.

In all fairness to Caleb, that was a foul by Kalk. Just wasn't called. Maybe that's why you put "blocked" in quotes???

It's just a matter of time before he gets his confidence back, even if that only translates to 5 pts/5 boards per game like his sophomore year.

 

[Roeder]

In all fairness to Caleb, that was a foul by Kalk. Just wasn't called. Maybe that's why you put "blocked" in quotes???

It's just a matter of time before he gets his confidence back, even if that only translates to 5 pts/5 boards per game like his sophomore year.

Yes agree, replay it showed it was a foul on the hand. In real time a ref is probably going to miss that most of the time though. Tip of the hat to Kalkbrenner for timing it perfectly AND not fouling with body either to sell it. He's really good. Most 5s in college would be sending Caleb to the FT line if he keeps taking it that hard to the rim.

 

[Gemini95]

Don't think that guy exists anymore.

 

[OneWayStreet]

Unless something changes in a hurry, I don't see him, in anyway, a key to our season.

 

[Chi-Boiler]

I'll say this: someone in the frontcourt besides TKR needs to become reliable for this team to be successful. I just doubt that Furst is going to be that guy.

 

[Schmedly_Whiplash]

Happy to see others that can see the forest for the trees. The kid just needs enough minutes to settle in and not play "nervous". Just like all the other bigs not TKR. He can and probably will be a rotation player.

 

[BoilerMaker P]

He’ll need more than 2 minutes a game to do that. Pretty efficient last night…a point a minute.

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

I'll say this: someone in the frontcourt besides TKR needs to become reliable for this team to be successful. I just doubt that Furst is going to be that guy.

Don't disagree, but it doesn't have to be the same guy every night, and Painter somewhat alluded to that after the game.

Jacobsen, Heide, and Burgess are possible candidates to produce more often over the course of the season from what I've seen, but I'm holding out hope Furst will have his moments.....Heide needs some confidence.....maybe Friday. All these guys just need to be ready to play when they get the call.

 

[Lilsweet]

Bump

 

[BBG]

Bump

Good necro-rez... well deserving.

 

[HarrysPostGame13]

Feel this team is sweet 16 material for sure right now, but to go to the promise land again we will need Myles or Cox to step up and hit some key shots. Anything can happen!

 

[BoilerDaddy]

One thing that changed is that Furst stopped trying to be cute. He’s not trying to be a three point shooter, but has embraced his role as the physical tough guy down low. It seems to me that by embracing that role he’s been able to relax and just play. He was really finishing well last night and some of those buckets that he scored were very impressive to watch.

Basketball is such a mental game. We see it with many, if not most, players at points in their career where they get in their heads for stretches. Furst seems to now be on the other side of such a (quite long) stretch and it’s not a coincidence that Purdue is rolling.

 

[DrEss]

One thing that changed is that Furst stopped trying to be cute. He’s not trying to be a three point shooter, but has embraced his role as the physical tough guy down low. It seems to me that by embracing that role he’s been able to relax and just play. He was really finishing well last night and some of those buckets that he scored were very impressive to watch.

Basketball is such a mental game. We see it with many, if not most, players at points in their career where they get in their heads for stretches. Furst seems to now be on the other side of such a (quite long) stretch and it’s not a coincidence that Purdue is rolling.

Completely agree. He and the coaches have made the game simple for him, by him just doing the dirty work. To add, he is playing with an increaed confidence level as a result of. Lastly, knowing the end of his college career is approaching, has fueled an added edge now. Go Caleb!!

 

[Boiler Buck]

Furst is playing great. Really helping on D. Glad he had a nice offensive game too.

Raises the ceiling of the team. Because he is a fit for the needs..... experienced and helps on D and rebounding. But in contrast with OP, not sure that ceiling is FF though? E8.....maybe?

Sure there is a chance. Given the emergence of Cox, the stability of the 2nd best PG in the nation....the do everything, Smith and development of great D, anything is possible.

 

[oldboiler52]

To quote Jon Rothstein " Death Taxes and Matt Painter" It's not the players you have but how you use what you have. I suppose we all forget the great coaching job, or we take it for granted. He lost the two biggest parts of his recruiting class, and yet we are title contenders for both the B1G Ten and National Championship. I doubt we would be much better with Catchings or Jacobsen replacing Cox and Furst. Props to Caleb he knows the game and how to play it. But for me I'm in awe of another GREAT coaching job.

 

[Boiler Buck]

To quote Jon Rothstein " Death Taxes and Matt Painter" It's not the players you have but how you use what you have. I suppose we all forget the great coaching job, or we take it for granted. He lost the two biggest parts of his recruiting class, and yet we are title contenders for both the B1G Ten and National Championship. I doubt we would be much better with Catchings or Jacobsen replacing Cox and Furst. Props to Caleb he knows the game and how to play it. But for me I'm in awe of another GREAT coaching job.

I suppose if things fell just exactly 100% perfect on matchups....maybe NC?? Long odds on that though. But agree, more likely a shot at a B10 championship is still realistically in reach.

100% agree on coach. A master of his craft.

 

[PaBoiler78]

I suppose if things fell just exactly 100% perfect on matchups....maybe NC?? Long odds on that though. But agree, more likely a shot at a B10 championship is still realistically in reach.

100% agree on coach. A master of his craft.

I think sweet 16 is our ceiling

 

[boilerzz]

I think sweet 16 is our ceiling

I'll never understand the concept of a ceiling. What was NC State's ceiling entering the ACC tournament last year? Or FAU and Miami the year before?

 

[Steve83]

One thing that changed is that Furst stopped trying to be cute. He’s not trying to be a three point shooter, but has embraced his role as the physical tough guy down low. It seems to me that by embracing that role he’s been able to relax and just play. He was really finishing well last night and some of those buckets that he scored were very impressive to watch.

Basketball is such a mental game. We see it with many, if not most, players at points in their career where they get in their heads for stretches. Furst seems to now be on the other side of such a (quite long) stretch and it’s not a coincidence that Purdue is rolling.

Mental for sure.

 

[KentuckyBoiler]

Only way we would get to the FF is if we get some bench production.

 

[BoilerAndy]

I'll never understand the concept of a ceiling. What was NC State's ceiling entering the ACC tournament last year? Or FAU and Miami the year before?

Really good point. How do you measure heart?

 

[dumpsterFyre]

I think sweet 16 is our ceiling

I hear what you're saying. We'll be favorite in rounds 1 and 2, then dogs the rest of the way.

 

[boilerzz]

I hear what you're saying. We'll be favorite in rounds 1 and 2, then dogs the rest of the way.

Damn Nostradamus, who are we playing?

 

[Gemini95]

I hear what you're saying. We'll be favorite in rounds 1 and 2, then dogs the rest of the way.

Could easily be a 5-6 seed and not favored in round 2.

 

[Hausta01]

Could easily be a 5-6 seed and not favored in round 2.

Could also be a 2 or 3 seed and favored through the S16.

 

[qazplm]

Furst is playing great. Really helping on D. Glad he had a nice offensive game too.

Raises the ceiling of the team. Because he is a fit for the needs..... experienced and helps on D and rebounding. But in contrast with OP, not sure that ceiling is FF though? E8.....maybe?

Sure there is a chance. Given the emergence of Cox, the stability of the 2nd best PG in the nation....the do everything, Smith and development of great D, anything is possible.

I think we will know more by the end of the conference season after we face that gauntlet.

We are definitely a team that can make the Sweet 16 without it being a surprise. After that, we will have to overcome a team or two that plays our worst matchup style and that definitely makes it tough.

But obviously we shall see.

 

[Chi-Boiler]

Could also be a 2 or 3 seed and favored through the S16.

Could also win out and be the #1 overall seed.