Purdue Athletics 2022 - 2023

[Dab]

Purdue handles NC State. It was fairly close all the way but I had total confidence we would win. In fact I was more concerned with covering the spread, I had put down the Boilers to cover (at -7.5) and also parlayed that with Gonzaga to cover as well (at -9.5) and then pre-game the line had dropped to Purdue -5.5 so I bet it again

Looks like the small ball lineup is here to stay. No Berg at all and it was pretty much an 8-man rotation. Braden controlled the game offensively despite another subpar shooting performance. He's definitely not getting to the rim as much this year, and the lack of Edey is a factor I'm sure. He is getting to the line more this year, and as usual led the team in minutes at 38 and as usual I worry about him getting worn down by tournament time. However, Gicarri Harris is starting to look comfortable and the has potential to relieve Braden of some of the ball-handling duties. Like Braden his shooting is not up there yet but defensively he's been good, he really helped break the press today, and he's just been playing smart, 3 assists, 4 boards and no turnovers today. Cam Heide also looking comfortable and starting to be someone other teams have to account for, a career high 15 points on 6-9 shooting (3-5 from 3) and was second in minutes to Braden with 35. He's shooting a sick 61.5 on 3s this year, only 2.2 attempts per game but that has been increasing

TKR did TKR things and was having a pretty good day at the line until he missed his last 2 and finished 6 of 10, right in line with his 62.5 percentage on the season. If he could just drag that up to closer to 70% it would be awesome but it is what it is

Ole Miss defeats BYU in overtime so no reunion with Kanon Catchings. He did have a good game for the Cougars, 5-10 from 3 and 17 points overall. The Boilers face Ole Miss for some more Thanksgiving tournament hardware

[dal9]

what do you think the lineup would be with catchings here. taking heide's minutes?

[Dab]

I would think so. Catchings has had a few good games but isn't setting the world on fire just quite yet. Heide definitely benefited from his leaving the program, and switch to small ball boosted his playing time as well. The way Colvin is playing defense I wouldn't see Catchings cutting into his playing too much. Heide was quite last night offensively, just 2 points, but Painter must feel comfortable with him on defense as Heide got 33 minutes of playing time

Was Painter trying to motivate Heide and Colvin by starting Cox and Harris at the beginning of the year? If so, it's worked seemingly. Boilers only played 7 last night. Cox got in for 5 minutes, but no Berg or Burgess. Colvin had a coming out party, scoring the game's first 5 points and then the game-winning putback with a half-second left. His defensive improvement is impressive and he scored a career high last night in just 24 minutes

I'm thinking the bench will get more minutes as the schedule eases up, but the schedule doesn't ease up. The next two opponents, Penn State and Maryland are both in (or near) the top 40 at the various college bball analytical sites, and after those two it's two ranked teams, Texas A&M and Auburn, who will probably take over the #1 spot this week? Following that is Toledo with nothing but Big Ten games the rest of the way

[dal9]

i guess walters gotta go, right?

[dal9]

like what heide is doing so far. can't argue with 60% 3FG% too much

[dal9]

this cignetti guy looks like a huge ****ing prick

[dal9]

this cignetti guy looks like a huge ****ing prick

believe it or not i posted this before the fake punt up 38-0

[Dab]

I don't know how the season is going to go, our lack of depth on the frontline is concerning. At some point TKR will run into foul trouble and then what? Furst gets pushed around too easily, Burgess has had his moments but according to Painter, he has conditioning issues and gets tired easily. Berg has the size and bulk and might get some play but his fouling is always going to limit him. I think we'll have trouble against some of the bigger teams in the Big 10, especially if the threes aren't falling

Such a huge moment for Myles to swoop and get that put-back basket to pick up the victory against Ole Miss. That win looks great on our resume and got even better as Ole Miss went into Louisville last night and whupped up on the Cardinals, who delivered their own pounding over Thanksgiving to our dear rivals

I'd be happy if we could get through the next 4 games at 2-2, ecstatic if we go 3-1, and disbelieving if we win all 4. At Penn State on Thursday, not going to be easy but probably the easiest of the 4? Then at home on Sunday against Maryland and their imposing front line, the Saturday after (the 14th) vs #22 Texas A&M at Gainbridge, and then a week later against Auburn in Birmingham, a pseudo-home game for the 2nd-ranked Tigers. It's not until the 29th against Toledo at Mackey that the Boilers will be a solid favorite, and then it's immediately into the Big Ten meat grinder

[Dab]

Weird times when you can come home at midnight and there's a Big Ten basketball game early in the 2nd half (USC-Oregon)

#1 Kansas, #2 Auburn, and #5 Marquette all go down tonight