Fun place to watch a game. One thing Purdue has which is uber cool - they have an app. Many, I mean thousands, of fans turn on the app and it allows the AV guys in the arena to control the flashlight on their phones. The result has to be the coolest pregame run up with sync'd on, off, flashing - it was simply amazing to watch. At first, I just thought everyone opposite of me was taking tons of pictures until I saw the guy next to me with his phone showing the Purdue logo while the flashlight went nuts. Super cool. NBA type of cool. Must be an engineering school. Sure wish NU had a big engineering department...
1. Benson was much better on the floor vs. Haas. Arms be damned, Haas was just too big for Pardon. Pardon was probably the most effective v Swanigan and the double team really caused Swanigan trouble.
2. #12 for Purdue reminded me of Lindsey minus the game in the paint. With Law on Mathius, the defense v #12 sucked and his 5-6 three's showed it. I think Lindsey makes a big difference here.
3. Purdue ran the twin towers a lot - and we got hit with foul after foul. The problem with going small and trying to run them into the ground: if Purdue makes the basket, they get back quick, even the big guys. If Purdue misses, they crash the boards and their height gets the rebound. So, no chance to go small and run against the twin towers.
I think, with more personnel in Evanston, when they go big, we run Benson and Pardon out there. Any combination of Law, Lindsey, Mac, Lumpkin, maybe a Skelly or Brown will fare better if our two bigs are on the floor with their two bigs. I also sensed that Haas cannot run all game and needs breaks - so keeping Benson on him and forcing him to play D is the ticket to getting him off the floor.
4. Haas should go pro - he is ready. He may not have Swanigan numbers, but I would take him over Swanigan. Maybe its just a man-crush.
5. We didn't hit three's because we didn't have open looks. It seemed like the game plan was to go to the rim and draw fouls. We just didn't execute that plan in terms of finishing or drawing the fouls necessary. But the few threes we took were not good shots or the right shooter (Lumpkin, Skelly, Ash).
6. I mentioned earlier that Tap was on the floor during warmups in dress shoes - no boot. No limp. In fact, he was chatting with a ref and I thought the ref was teasing him about not being in uniform. I think Tap is back next game - or has a latent problem and that would probably mean something bad...
7. Brown is not ready. Too green, too shoot first. He is like an early Demps in many ways.
8. Sorry wrassler, Ash will not be a contributor. He has not filled out like all the other guys. (Maybe he cannot find the weight room? He does not have a consistent shot, he does not have any swagger. It is plainly obvious why Brown's potential has passed Ash's experience. I obviously don't know - but it doesn't seem like Ash has committed to development the way Tap and Lump have over prior off-seasons. I don't see him transferring, I don't see him playing except when forced.
Purdue fans were great hosts. Real nice airport, nice people sitting around us, nice folks at the restaurants. We ran into a bunch of NU people at the pickle for dinner. If you were eating and drinking at the bar, then you saw Lara and me last night. I would definitely go back for another game. Next up: my parents alma mater, IU, for that game. And after last night, I expect better results surprisingly...
1. Benson was much better on the floor vs. Haas. Arms be damned, Haas was just too big for Pardon. Pardon was probably the most effective v Swanigan and the double team really caused Swanigan trouble.
2. #12 for Purdue reminded me of Lindsey minus the game in the paint. With Law on Mathius, the defense v #12 sucked and his 5-6 three's showed it. I think Lindsey makes a big difference here.
3. Purdue ran the twin towers a lot - and we got hit with foul after foul. The problem with going small and trying to run them into the ground: if Purdue makes the basket, they get back quick, even the big guys. If Purdue misses, they crash the boards and their height gets the rebound. So, no chance to go small and run against the twin towers.
I think, with more personnel in Evanston, when they go big, we run Benson and Pardon out there. Any combination of Law, Lindsey, Mac, Lumpkin, maybe a Skelly or Brown will fare better if our two bigs are on the floor with their two bigs. I also sensed that Haas cannot run all game and needs breaks - so keeping Benson on him and forcing him to play D is the ticket to getting him off the floor.
4. Haas should go pro - he is ready. He may not have Swanigan numbers, but I would take him over Swanigan. Maybe its just a man-crush.
5. We didn't hit three's because we didn't have open looks. It seemed like the game plan was to go to the rim and draw fouls. We just didn't execute that plan in terms of finishing or drawing the fouls necessary. But the few threes we took were not good shots or the right shooter (Lumpkin, Skelly, Ash).
6. I mentioned earlier that Tap was on the floor during warmups in dress shoes - no boot. No limp. In fact, he was chatting with a ref and I thought the ref was teasing him about not being in uniform. I think Tap is back next game - or has a latent problem and that would probably mean something bad...
7. Brown is not ready. Too green, too shoot first. He is like an early Demps in many ways.
8. Sorry wrassler, Ash will not be a contributor. He has not filled out like all the other guys. (Maybe he cannot find the weight room? He does not have a consistent shot, he does not have any swagger. It is plainly obvious why Brown's potential has passed Ash's experience. I obviously don't know - but it doesn't seem like Ash has committed to development the way Tap and Lump have over prior off-seasons. I don't see him transferring, I don't see him playing except when forced.
Purdue fans were great hosts. Real nice airport, nice people sitting around us, nice folks at the restaurants. We ran into a bunch of NU people at the pickle for dinner. If you were eating and drinking at the bar, then you saw Lara and me last night. I would definitely go back for another game. Next up: my parents alma mater, IU, for that game. And after last night, I expect better results surprisingly...
