What's different about this year

[SCBoiler1]

Now that it's a foregone conclusion that Purdue will win the B1G, its natural to look forward to the tourney.

I for one like our chances. A lot of talk in Purdue Nation that "Painter's teams aren't built for the tourney", "The B1G doesn't prepare us well", or "Purdue just has bad luck", but the reality is Purdue has pretty much matched expectations under Painter in the Tourney. We've never been a number 1 seed.

We've been seeded the following under Painter:
2 seed once (5 through 8 overall)
3 seed three times (9 through 12 overall)
4 seed twice (13 trough 16 overall)

Looking at it through that lens Purdue should have made one Elite 8 (2 seed) and 5 Sweet Sixteens (3 or 4 seed). Our actual results are spot on. One Elite 8 and 5 Sweet Sixteens under Painter. Injuries have played a role in where we have been seeded but once the seedings have been made, we've pretty much played to that level.

Unless something unforeseen happens, it looks like Purdue will be a number 1 seed this year. Assuming Purdue can continue meeting expectations, this is our year for a final four run and possibly a national championship!

 

[MetMyWifeAtHarrys]

Now that it's a foregone conclusion that Purdue will win the B1G,

it is?

 

[Poprudy]

Now that it's a foregone conclusion that Purdue will win the B1G, its natural to look forward to the tourney.

I for one like our chances. A lot of talk in Purdue Nation that "Painter's teams aren't built for the tourney", "The B1G doesn't prepare us well", or "Purdue just has bad luck", but the reality is Purdue has pretty much matched expectations under Painter in the Tourney. We've never been a number 1 seed.

We've been seeded the following under Painter:
2 seed once (5 through 8 overall)
3 seed three times (9 through 12 overall)
4 seed twice (13 trough 16 overall)

Looking at it through that lens Purdue should have made one Elite 8 (2 seed) and 5 Sweet Sixteens (3 or 4 seed). Our actual results are spot on. One Elite 8 and 5 Sweet Sixteens under Painter. Injuries have played a role in where we have been seeded but once the seedings have been made, we've pretty much played to that level.

Unless something unforeseen happens, it looks like Purdue will be a number 1 seed this year. Assuming Purdue can continue meeting expectations, this is our year for a final four run and possibly a national championship!

Win tonight and it should be.

 

[Boiler Buck]

Now that it's a foregone conclusion that Purdue will win the B1G, its natural to look forward to the tourney.

I for one like our chances. A lot of talk in Purdue Nation that "Painter's teams aren't built for the tourney", "The B1G doesn't prepare us well", or "Purdue just has bad luck", but the reality is Purdue has pretty much matched expectations under Painter in the Tourney. We've never been a number 1 seed.

We've been seeded the following under Painter:
2 seed once (5 through 8 overall)
3 seed three times (9 through 12 overall)
4 seed twice (13 trough 16 overall)

Looking at it through that lens Purdue should have made one Elite 8 (2 seed) and 5 Sweet Sixteens (3 or 4 seed). Our actual results are spot on. One Elite 8 and 5 Sweet Sixteens under Painter. Injuries have played a role in where we have been seeded but once the seedings have been made, we've pretty much played to that level.

Unless something unforeseen happens, it looks like Purdue will be a number 1 seed this year. Assuming Purdue can continue meeting expectations, this is our year for a final four run and possibly a national championship!

We have a pretty good defensive team as compared to last year. We get to the foul line and take advantage there. Team rebounding is great.

When competition gets better, as long as we hit 6+ threes in a game @ 35% or better we will be a tough out. But we need to play in the 70-80 range as the competition heats up. As 30pt halves don't cut it in late season play & leave you open to upsets.

 

[pubill]

it is?

Yes

 

[indyogb]

Are you *trying* to jinx us?

 

[meenie]

After tonight, if we win, we only have 8 games left. 4 at home 4 on the road. Two on the road are Wisconsin and northwestern. We should win both. Everyone else already has 4 losses or more. We win tonight, we’ll win the big outright

 

[Woodsa]

We should all be focused on the next game and only the next game. Something that I appreciate about this year's team is their humility. Being a #1 team brings added pressure and having a grounded team that focuses on the next game has been critical to the development of this team and individual players, who are still learning the game.

Learning. Gaining experience. Growing in confidence. All are positives for the program this year and beyond.

 

[Professor Emeritus]

It seems that the only forgone conclusion concerning Purdue athletics is that nothing is a forgone conclusion.

 

[DrEss]

And making the annual mistake of getting our hopes up, only to be bludgeoned into shreds. Hopefully this year is different, for all of us older, long sufferers.

 

[rgarlitz]

And making the annual mistake of getting our hopes up, only to be bludgeoned into shreds. Hopefully this year is different, for all of us older, long sufferers.

Guilty. Though I have managed to curb my enthusiasm in recent years.

 

[tjreese]

Now that it's a foregone conclusion that Purdue will win the B1G, its natural to look forward to the tourney.

I for one like our chances. A lot of talk in Purdue Nation that "Painter's teams aren't built for the tourney", "The B1G doesn't prepare us well", or "Purdue just has bad luck", but the reality is Purdue has pretty much matched expectations under Painter in the Tourney. We've never been a number 1 seed.

We've been seeded the following under Painter:
2 seed once (5 through 8 overall)
3 seed three times (9 through 12 overall)
4 seed twice (13 trough 16 overall)

Looking at it through that lens Purdue should have made one Elite 8 (2 seed) and 5 Sweet Sixteens (3 or 4 seed). Our actual results are spot on. One Elite 8 and 5 Sweet Sixteens under Painter. Injuries have played a role in where we have been seeded but once the seedings have been made, we've pretty much played to that level.

Unless something unforeseen happens, it looks like Purdue will be a number 1 seed this year. Assuming Purdue can continue meeting expectations, this is our year for a final four run and possibly a national championship!

Still takes some breaks and maybe a bit of luck

 

[RossMackey]

And making the annual mistake of getting our hopes up, only to be bludgeoned into shreds…

Why would you think it’s a “mistake” to get excited about the possibilities??

No doubt our hopes and expectations have not yet been realized, but I’ll NEVER think it’s a mistake to get excited about our chances…

Why the hell else is there to being a fan??

 

[DrEss]

Why would you think it’s a “mistake” to get excited about the possibilities??

No doubt our hopes and expectations have not yet been realized, but I’ll NEVER think it’s a mistake to get excited about our chances…

Why the hell else is there to being a fan??

Oh brother. Lighten up Francis

 

[RossMackey]

Oh brother. Lighten up Francis

Sorry …
I’ll step out of this discussion , and go back to making mistakes and being bludgeoned from rooting for the #1 team in the nation😎

 

[BoilerAndy]

We have a pretty good defensive team as compared to last year. We get to the foul line and take advantage there. Team rebounding is great.

When competition gets better, as long as we hit 6+ threes in a game @ 35% or better we will be a tough out. But we need to play in the 70-80 range as the competition heats up. As 30pt halves don't cut it in late season play & leave you open to upsets.

This. Improved -- and still improving -- defense. And reducing senseless turnovers!

 

[BoilerFan#35]

The difference is Braden Smith and Fletcher. We've never had guards like this. Both give max effort on D. They can score from anywhere and are great passers. Fletcher is like E'Twaun and Braden has no comparison in Purdue memory.

 

[tjreese]

This. Improved -- and still improving -- defense. And reducing senseless turnovers!

smart players...they understand and try to address...they learn

 

[pulax78]

Now that it's a foregone conclusion that Purdue will win the B1G, its natural to look forward to the tourney.

I for one like our chances. A lot of talk in Purdue Nation that "Painter's teams aren't built for the tourney", "The B1G doesn't prepare us well", or "Purdue just has bad luck", but the reality is Purdue has pretty much matched expectations under Painter in the Tourney. We've never been a number 1 seed.

We've been seeded the following under Painter:
2 seed once (5 through 8 overall)
3 seed three times (9 through 12 overall)
4 seed twice (13 trough 16 overall)

Looking at it through that lens Purdue should have made one Elite 8 (2 seed) and 5 Sweet Sixteens (3 or 4 seed). Our actual results are spot on. One Elite 8 and 5 Sweet Sixteens under Painter. Injuries have played a role in where we have been seeded but once the seedings have been made, we've pretty much played to that level.

Unless something unforeseen happens, it looks like Purdue will be a number 1 seed this year. Assuming Purdue can continue meeting expectations, this is our year for a final four run and possibly a national championship!

If we don't win the Big outright, it's on you jinxman.

 

[tjreese]

The difference is Braden Smith and Fletcher. We've never had guards like this. Both give max effort on D. They can score from anywhere and are great passers. Fletcher is like E'Twaun and Braden has no comparison in Purdue memory.

passing is possibly the most underappreciated skill for many fans and yet many times the difference between teams. Other than Zach the success of this year is not so much the skill set (although Braden and Fletcher have been great) but teh collective, being students of the game. There were some posts months ago about this group would be smarter and play a full forty minutes and for the most part this team has done that. You can't do it without the skill and ability, but we have recently seen that skill and ability alone will not provide the results that were within grasp. I believe the intelligent play generally is why so many enjoy this team. Now, the youth has been pretty steady in hostile environments, but Saturday will be the most hostile game to date and yet part of me thinks this group is up to the challenge and will not fall apart half way through the first half like last year when Purdue handed IU the game.

 

[ImRonBurgandy?]

We can actually play our 3 best players at the same time.

 

[johnboiler123]

Are you *trying* to jinx us?

If we don’t win the title outright I’m blaming the guy who made this post

 

[Boileratthebeach]

We run our offense. We don't have Carsen or Ivey to run down the floor and immediately jack up a shot. That's why we are ranked something in the 60s in PPG but yet #2 in offensive efficiency. We are deliberate and are probably the best pass into the post team we have ever had.

 

[mathboy]

If you watch Loyer, he is directing traffic and organizing the players on the court. This guy is a coach on the court. He will bea coach within a few years of graduating, if he doesnt play pro.

 

[HarrysPostGame13]

The rapport with this group also stands out to me as well. They seem like they truly get along playing with one another and are a very unselfish bunch that just wants to win.