Purdude abides

[ATWizJr]

Edey's only talent is being tall. That's all.

[BLWarrior91]

Great thing is that Purdue and MU will both be #1 seeds and Purdue will lose in the first round so we won't play them again.

[wadesworld]

5.  Put in Amadou.   Let him get some fouls and learn.   Edey is a force of nature at the college level.   How better to learn?

Definitely not by throwing him to the wolves in a tight game against a top 2 team in the country. Shaka played the foul trouble shuffle as well as you can. Al can learn by defending a top 5 big CBB in practice every day and taking notes on the bench in games. He's not ready or he'd play.

[MU82]

The last shot ...

1. Not surprised Shaka refrained from calling time immediately but I thought he might after a couple seconds when it didn't look like we had anything going.

2. Kam had Jop open for 3 on the left wing. Either he didn't see Jop or he ignored Jop. Hopefully the former. And maybe the fact that Jop was open - literally right in front of Shaka - was why Shaka didn't call time.

3. Bilas wondered if Painter might foul up 3 but it would have been weird to do so once we didn't have big-time speed going toward half-court. Good decision by Painter.

[Goose]

Lenny

I watched the game with my ball rabbi and he said to say hi to you. The following were his observations:

1. Kolek is the second best guard ever, behind Butch Lee. Wade is out of the discussion because he is best player ever.
2. Beyond bullish on Ben Gold. Loves how he can catch a pass and ready to shoot, much like Novak in that regard.
3. Loves Sean Jones and his pressure on defense.
4. Joplin is a very good role player, strictly based off of being limited athletically.
5. Said the last three days he felt like it was March Madness.
6. Could not be higher on this team or program as a whole.

My take, this team is really, really good and I am more bullish than I was a week ago and I was very bullish.

[WellsstreetWanderer]

What's being missed is that Marquette outscored Purdue 43 to 32 in the second half. That's a heck of an effort

[Viper]

Incredible game.  Incredible teams.  Tip your cap.

Can still be angry, the Marquette players will be.  It'll just fuel them.  The three-day experience of playing a great team and two tournament teams is what the doctor ordered.  Love this group

...looking fwd to seeing that anger release on RED in about 10 days!!

[panda]

It stinks losing, but we played really well. Purdue is the most unique team in the country and we'll never play a team with the same profile again unless we meet in the tournament.

We showed versatility tongiht and a ton of fight. What other team has a 7'5 freak of nature talent center with a supporting cast that can't miss from behind the arc ?

[The Sultan]

I agree that many were though I couldn't figure out why. Jop's ceiling is limited by a lack of athleticism. And he's small for his position. He already was a borderline elite shooter, so I didn't see a big jump there.

Sean has elite speed and quickness. Harnessing it could lead to a major leap. Chase has elite all around athleticism, so plenty of room to improve. Ben has size AND skill, so as the game slows down for him the possible upsize is great. Jop (imo) can only improve on the margins - and it's not his fault.

Agreed. Except I don't think he's a borderline elite shooter.

[WarriorFan]

Jop might be better as a 6th man, or, perhaps the talent has passed him up.

He needs to learn that when he gets run off the 3pt line, the possession is over for him and it's immediately time to pass the ball.  These aimless drives to the middle of the lane followed by a quintuple pivot and a turnover are hurting the team.

If Shaka is convinced he's a starter, get him a 3 in one of the first 3 possessions.  If he makes it he stays in.  If he misses, sub out.  Continue this until he has either 30 points or splinters.

Chase got sped up.  I suspect he'll learn quickly.

I liked Ben on Eady.  He did enough to allow the help to come and create turnovers.

I liked the 2nd half adjustments.

MU needs more plays that get Kam open 3's.  MU traded 3 for 2 too often today. 

Stevie ended up guarding Eady on the switch multiple times.  I cannot recall Eady scoring on him.  Maybe I missed one or two, but Stevie did well. 

[Goose]

Sultan

Do you think he is less than borderline? If so, I'm in agreement.

[Newsdreams]

Jop should be left behind in Maui, period.

[MuggsyB]

I was a little surprised JTY wasn't in the game in the closing stretch.  I get he missed that wide open corner three but he puts pressure on the defense with his initial bbs (blow by speed).  He also is pestiferous defensively.  My main point is having him on the floor in the last few offensive possessions could have helped. 

[MuggsyB]

Purdue outplayed us and deserved to win but that missed foul on Edey, on the Kam drive at about 6 mins. really bothers me. 

[Goose]

Muggsy

I am not sure they outplayed MU, but they deserved to win. Led the last approx 30 minutes and did what they needed to do to get the W. Time to regroup and close out the NC with no additional blemishes on the record.

[Uncle Rico]

Jop should be left behind in Maui, period.

Pull his scholarship and make his parents move to Illinois

[MU82]

I was a little surprised JTY wasn't in the game in the closing stretch.  I get he missed that wide open corner three but he puts pressure on the defense with his initial bbs (blow by speed).  He also is pestiferous defensively.  My main point is having him on the floor in the last few offensive possessions could have helped.

During one of the late time-outs, I wondered if Shaka might put in Sean to do just what you say here.

But I trust Shaka's decisions; he has earned that trust.

[The Sultan]

Sultan

Do you think he is less than borderline? If so, I'm in agreement.

Yes. He's above average but that's about it.

[Newsdreams]

Pull his scholarship and make his parents move to Illinois

Seems reasonable.

[Goose]

Sultan

Agreed.

[Uncle Rico]

During one of the late time-outs, I wondered if Shaka might put in Sean to do just what you say here.

But I trust Shaka's decisions; he has earned that trust.

I read in the game thread Shaka needs an aircraft carrier and shooters.  Until he does that, he shouldn't earn anyone's trust imo

[WellsstreetWanderer]

Purdue outplayed us and deserved to win but that missed foul on Edey, on the Kam drive at about 6 mins. really bothers me.

We outscored them in the second half despite poor shooting

[Lennys Tap]

Lenny

I watched the game with my ball rabbi and he said to say hi to you. The following were his observations:

1. Kolek is the second best guard ever, behind Butch Lee. Wade is out of the discussion because he is best player ever.
2. Beyond bullish on Ben Gold. Loves how he can catch a pass and ready to shoot, much like Novak in that regard.
3. Loves Sean Jones and his pressure on defense.
4. Joplin is a very good role player, strictly based off of being limited athletically.
5. Said the last three days he felt like it was March Madness.
6. Could not be higher on this team or program as a whole.

My take, this team is really, really good and I am more bullish than I was a week ago and I was very bullish.

Goose

Love hearing such positivity from the guy who was probably Al's most cerebral Captain. Agree on all of his points - please give him my best.

This team fears no other and plays like it. Any doubts that the sky's the limit were answered over the last week. I don't know (or frankly care) if our regular season record will be as good as last year - this is a better team that will be much more dangerous in March.

[MuggsyB]

With regards to Jop he battled all game defensively.  That said if he's going to be on the floor he can't take one shot in like 20 mins.  He's a scorer, find a way to get him catch and shoots or a few back doors.  I get it, he's not comfortable trying to score off the bounce and that's not his game.  However, if he's on the floor find a way to get him involved in the offense. 

[MU82]

Purdue did a nice job keeping Joplin and Kam from getting open looks. It was a major part of their game plan, and they executed it well.