Purdue is a more consistent unrevealing team with T. Johnson, R. Johnson, Davis, Byrd, and Hammons starting. They've played their best basketball this season as of late.
Hale had a good game against Iowa. He needs to show that kind of production in consecutive games before I think he deserves the starting 4 spot.
Lawson was huge for Purdue at the beginning of conference play against Illinois and he disappeared following. It was disappointing to not see him do much of anything since. I thought Painter had his primary starting 4, which now its not the case. It's better at the time to keep the starting lineup they have now.
Did anybody realize that Terone played nearly the entire game against Iowa? 44 minutes. He's needed for more than just scoring. He is averaging about 2.5 assists, 6 rebounds, and close to 17 points a game in conference play.
In this coming home game against IU, yes, Hammons and Byrd must have huge games. I'm looking forward to see how Hammons takes on, I believe, his hugest challange in his career thus far. He did fine @Michigan State and against Ohio State, but got into foul trouble. If he avoids fould trouble, he will make himself known. Byrd needs to hit 5 or 6 threes. In a home game, I expect he will have the capabilites to come up huge, that is, if IU's defense doesn't break through.
IU's Victor Oladipo is a threat and I am more concerned about him than the #1 NBA prospect in Cody Zeller.
IU has 4 shooters easily able to out-do Byrd at the perimeter.
The only way Purdue will send IU south with an L is if they shoot at least 45% as a team, make at least 60% of their free throws, and have more than three players have huge games, which incluedes my mentions earlier in this post. Screw rebounding and turnover margins, they mean nothing in games like this. it's about who gets the hot hand or doesn't for Purdue.
Analysts are still calling IU not an elite team. Why? Who is? Michigan? I guess so.
There are 21 players between the two squads that hail from the state of Indiana. True rivals.
Yes, the great state of Indiana will be represented well. Purdue will play well at home and in college basketball it's always hard to win on the road. I think IU's experience will be the determining factor. Indiana could be looking ahead to their showdown with Michigan Saturday, which I think Indiana will win.
Well said.. This is clearly a huge game for the Boilers. In order to have any real shot at dancing in March, short of taking the conference tourney, they most certainly will have to defend home court the rest of the way. I agree that Oladipo is the key to this game. When all is said and done for IU, when he comes up big, they are nearly unstoppable! Not sure what the story on Lawson is. He must either be injured or in Painters doghouse for some reason. That's too bad, because we could use him in this game.
I think our wild card here is Davis... If he comes to play and gets a couple to drop early, I think that makes guarding DJ all that much harder. Most experts say that we don't have too much of a chance... I don't know though, I've just got this weird feeling that the pieces are falling into place and we have a run in us that will somehow get us into the dance. We've just got to get that signature win that provides these freshmen with that spark... This would be the perfect game for that to happen...
Your Title is misleading - Purdue did not prepare for IU at all.
What an ugly game on our home court. Call it a learning experience but outside of a nice comeback from 2 fouls for Hammons it was a very ugly game. Down by 27 now with no hope of getting better.
Forget this one - move on and hoep for a win to go 12 -10 this weekend
Well, I thought this would be a better game. Indiana showed up last night and played to their potential, when they do that they're scary good. Hammons is going to be a good player, though I don't see him staying past his sophomore year. He does need to hit the boards harder, no excuse for the offensive rebounds IU was able to get when he was in the game.
I'm guessing nobody could have beat IU last night, although other teams could have kept it closer. We peed down our legs when we got down about 15, it was over then. We just started wasting possessions with bad shots and bad turnovers. You're right about Hammons, he played well on offense, but 5 rebounds isn't very good at all. Anthony Johnson looked the worst he has looked which is saying something. Ronnie took 16 shots to 17 shots for the rest of our guards (Davis, Byrd, T Johnson, Anthrop, A Johnson). He's supposed to be a point guard... He needs to kick out and players need to be ready to shoot.
I must admit that last night was bittersweet for me as an IU basketball fan from birth! I sat behind a Purdue fan a few years ago in Assembly Hall and all I could think about was what this guy was thinking last night...IU has jerk fans too and I know that but this guy was AWFUL and I had a young child with me. He let me know that Purdue would own IU for years to come with Painter in town lol. I am pro Big 10 and will always root for Purdue, especially the in state school but PU fans should be concerned right now. Painter is not building a winning team...call it rebuilding if you desire but this team is bad, they cannot score (outside Hammons), no defense or fight in them, and no chemistry. There is NO reason Painter should not be recruiting better other than IU and Butler recruiting the state well. I am thinking Painter is on a short leash if you don't make the Big Dance this year and next year is not much better. Alumni and Trustees hate 37 point beat downs more than the fans. Good luck and I will be rooting for you...of course not vs IU!!! What are the Purdue fans opinions on the season and Painter as a coach?
He recruited too many guards with the same skillset. Most of the defensive problems last night were simply a result of freshman playing a run and gun, high tempo transition team for the first time. Can't leave the trailing 3pt threat open on the break. For as much as 2008-2011 recruiting classes weren't good, 2012 is back on track. Next year we should be on par with IU assuming Zeller and/or Olidipo split for the NBA.
It was a bad loss, but we're still 4-4 in the B1G while starting 3 freshmen. Painter's seat isn't even room temperature yet.
It will be hot if they don't make the Tourney this year. If Zeller leaves which he most likely won't and I see Oladipo staying too...next year will be magical! Vonleh can play 4 positions and Williams is a taller Oladipo, don't discount our #3 ranked class next year. I understand you thinking PU will be on par with IU some time soon but I just don't see it, not with the recruiting IU is doing and if IU happens to win it all this year or next...PU will be down for quite some time. Not trying to rain on you but can you really see PU on par with IU? I agree with your take on why PU is struggling, Painter did not put the puzzle together well for this year, he is missing a lot! His seat will be hot I have a feeling! Also, with beat downs like last night recruiting gets tougher and some might walk away...
I think it's very likely Olidipo or Zeller leaves, and a decent chance that they both leave. I'm not discounting your recruiting class, but I will say this class for Purdue was underrated just for the mere fact that Hammons was way underrated. 18th ranked center according to ESPN? There are maybe 2 or 3 freshman centers ahead of him. I expect to be back in the top 25 next year. IU is at least top 25 next year, and maybe top 10 depending on who stays/leaves. So IU might still be a half step ahead, but certainly IU and Purdue will be the closest in skill we've been since 2007-2008 season.
I guess I can understand what you are saying...if you are a true fan you want to believe and I get that. IU slacked off of Hammons because of his lazy reputation...Painter has done great with him! I don't see Purdue in the top 25 next year when thinking of Mich, MSU, OSU, and Illinois, us. IU even without Zeller and Oladipo (which won't happen) is top 10-15 with Sheehey back, Yogi back, Perea back, Hollowell, all else and the class coming in! I totally disagree with that last statement...with the recruiting Tom and staff has done...PU will struggle for a long time to come and Painter knows this! My friends that are PU fans see it and readily admit it...
The outcome was not close to anybody's expectations. IU used the last 10 minutes as straight up practice. This turned out to be the worst home win for Purdue in the 199 game series... If not their worst loss ever in Mackey. Where was Terone? Byrd? Defense? For the fact Purdue shot 40% from the floor it's hard to believe they lost by 37! IU is elite. Purdue is not a 4-4 B1G record team, but simply just the 11-10 overall team. NIT boundedat most, Purdue still has many chances to get a few more upset wins. Hammons was officially awakened. He became the first freshman to score 30 in a game since Glenn Robinson and averages 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game... as a freshman.
Purdue has a freshman point guard averaging 10 points, 3.3 assists, and 4 rebounds. Lewis Jackson last season averaged near identical numbers, yet Ronnie Johnson is just a freshman. Terone and Hammons each have a good chance to become first team-all conference next season. Purdue will be, at the least, close to receiving raking votes next season. This is a rebuilding season.
Maybe you guys are right but the rebuilding statement is so over used. Now in a situation when you are cleaned out like IU...now that is rebuilding but if Painter and staff had done their job you would not be in this situation to begin with.
This is classic overreaction to a game that got out of hand. Every other Big Ten game, Purdue has been in it for at the first 25-30 minutes (Michigan and MSU) or brought it close at the end (OSU). Shit**** we lead Michigan for over half the game. This was an IU team who took it to us, we panicked, and it ended up way more lopsided as a result. It's not some harbringer of things to come. It must be fun to have such a rollercoaster of evaluation though. We suck, we rock, we suck...must be tiring though.
The state of Indiana has produced some of the best talent in the B1G: Burke, Thomas, Harris, Dawson, Hammons, Robinson III, Farrell, etc. Purdue, historically, isn't getting the huge recruites. Hammons was not highly recruited, but traditionally Purdue thrives off of off the radar recruits like him. With that, you get players like Carroll, Marcius, and Lawson who don't become that productive player intended. Also, keep in mind that Purdue lost two potential senior starters in Barlow and a healthy Hart. We lost more than just Hummel and Jackson from last season. At 11-10, Purdue must win their remaining games against Iowa, Northwestern, and Penn State to have a realistic chance to get a .500 conference record, which going 9-9 in the B1G would be quite a feat for a team rebuilding.
... You must realize Purdue is only losing DJ Byrd after this season. Purdue will have a solid, yet young starting lineup next season. We will have shooting guards fighting for starts, along with a possible All-American center. Painter is a good coach and is doing quite well without a Zeller, RobinsonIII, or Gary Harris.
Painter is an above average coach but that is all I will continue to give him. He did recruit poorly for a number of years and that is what has left us high and dry right now. The freshman are good and will get better but Painter has no control over them right now - that needs to change and quickly for next year to show improvement.
Keys to our success - and I do believe this team has the talent to be Top 25 nexy year -
1. Hammons needs to play better D AND stay out of foul trouble. I still see him staying at least thee years. He is far from fully developed which may be the scariest thing about him.
2. Ronnie Johnson needs to play point guard. Don't brag about him scoring 10 points a game. That is only happening because of the pure volume of shots he is taking. When he goes 1 for 9 in a game that;s like adding 5 turnovers to his total. He needs to calm down and learn his role.
3. Painter seems to play games with Lawson, Hale and Davis. There are games where they just seem to have been told not to shoot. These guys need to start shooting. Any game where Raphael Davis does not shoot more than five times is simply a waste. Same for Hale. Ronnie needs to get these guys the ball.
4. Anthony Johnson should get less playing time and next year with TH, RJ, Davis and the two freshman I can't see him playing much at all. I have seen him have a good game but there have been more bad than good.
5. I thought the D was improving and then we had this game. I am with others - this game simply just does not count. IU is an order of magnitude better than us right now. We were young and overwhelmed.
I do not believe Matt Painter is on the hot seat yet -- but he could be if next year is a struggle.
Ronnie has improved his field goal percentage since he has taken less threes and progressed his ability to consistently get to the rim. I am just saying, how good will his numbers/contributions be in a few years!
