Purdue vs. Northwestern Game Thread

[lou v]

 

[jensberg]

Purdue Center is killing us right now with 7 points out of their 11. Not having page really hurts.

 

[PURPLECAT88]

Starting out just like yesterday.

 

[jensberg]

Need to take Reed out he's just having a terrible game

 

[WestCoastWildcat]

Purdue is fresh and making everything inside. We are tired and not able to score enough to keep up.

 

[jensberg]

We could easily lose by 30 in this game

 

[TheC]

Just outclassed tonight. Purdue is a good team and Painter has them ready for our trapping defense. They are killing our double teams.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Pu putting on a clinic

 

[PURPLECAT88]

Need to take Reed out he's just having a terrible game

If we take out everyone who is struggling, you’ll have to put on a uniform.

 

[TheC]

Well... a really important off season begins. Need to retain guys and then develop em.

 

[EagerFan]

Pu putting on a clinic

How to succeed when you've had a week of rest and are playing a team on it's third game in three days?

 

[WestCoastWildcat]

Brutal first half. Purdue just too much size pounding the Cats inside.

 

[hdhntr1]

Need to take Reed out he's just having a terrible game

Legs gone

 

[CatManTrue]

 

[TheC]

Legs gone

PU has been dominating from the tip. Can't really blame it on tired legs yet.

 

[jensberg]

The only player who looks like he's a big ten starter today is of course Nick.

 

[jensberg]

Unfortunately West came back to Earth

 

[PURPLECAT88]

Hard to watch, but I don’t want to turn off what might be Nick’s last game.

 

[jensberg]

Well way too little and too late but all of a sudden we look like a Big Ten team and most of the guys are playing much much better including Reed

 

[PURPLECAT88]

This is getting… I won’t say interesting, but a little fun at least.

 

[WestCoastWildcat]

Like how the Cats continued to fight until the end even though they were outgunned and outmatched esp with Page out. Congrats to Martinelli for another great season. Go Cats!

 

[MCC_Cat]

We really needed Page (good Page at that) to have any chance. Sucks.

 

[MCC_Cat]

But we fought til the end and that final score was not an embarrassment.

 

[EagerFan]

Can the announcers fawningly fellate Purdue any harder? Somehow Painter has become a genius because Smith can pass the ball to the 7' tall guys and Painters' defense is super awesome like they haven't been all season because Purdue has found joy in the game again?

Pathetic.

 

[Arlcatsfan]

The guys didn't quit. Played hard till the end. Scored 47 pts in the 2nd half. Reid and Clayton looked great together knocking down 3's left and right.
Hopefully the core of Tre, West, Kropp stay together and develop. Add in a more consistent Reid and a vastly improved Jordan Clayton and you have a nice group. Of course AP might be the key. If he stays and keeps engaged and has the mental fortitude to stay the course he could be a special player.
Last but not least. I want to thank Nick Martenelli for showing in an age where players and coaches change teams faster than they change their underwear what it is like to be loyal and keep pushing and work and work to improve himself to be one of the best college basketball players in the nation.Hopefully, that work ethic that every player on NU saw first hand will rub off on them and push them to be better.
It has been a pleasure watching Mart these past 4 years and wish him all the best whether it's in the NBA or Europe. Good Luck. GO CATS.

 

[prez77]

I've thought for his whole career Smith was over-rated with gaudy but easy assist numbers. Take that away and he's a good but not exceptional player. I also don't think Fears was All League team 1. He's a good player but misses a lot of shots and his assists are good but not remarkable.

 

[TheC]

I still think Smith is overrated, but 16 assists is pretty impressive even if he's made a career by passing to guys who are much bigger than their opponents.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

I still think Smith is overrated, but 16 assists is pretty impressive even if he's made a career by passing to guys who are much bigger than their opponents.

This is old Boo Buie bias that's been around here from the time Smith got awards that many thought Boo should have got. He been an exceptional college player. Second all time in Assists.

I don’t believe he has a NBA future, but he deserved to be recognized as an elite player. .

 

[hdhntr1]

PU has been dominating from the tip. Can't really blame it on tired legs yet.

One of the big reasons for that domination is that we started the game a half a step slower. Shots at the beginning were short. West and Singleton seemed most affected and to some extent Reid early where he was short on everything. (later Reid settled in) West's overall game and Singleton picking up some cheap fouls early

 

[EagerFan]

Singleton's hand was taped and he reported it was injured, which seemed obvious by his play and unwillingness to shoot.

Smith has great court vision, has learned to pass very effectively, and I'd agree that his career has been built on passing to guys bigger than their opponents. I agree I have a Boo bias because when it comes to individual offense and defense skill, Smith is kinda mediocre. Even tonight against exhausted defenders, he tried to penetrate and get his shot off and couldn't. Some of that was to pump up his assists, but there were several times he was obviously trying to score and couldn't get an open look.