Express Thoughts: Purdue hoops, FB staff changes and more

Gold and Black Express Thoughts column, with analysis of Purdue football, Boilermaker men’s basketball, recruiting, or whatever else comes to mind.

ON PURDUE BASKETBALL

Losses are part of sports. Really bad losses are occupational hazards — in sports and life alike, some days, you just get your ass kicked — and Purdue’s home loss to Iowa State was not great. But once the buzzer sounds, what matters is what teams make of failure.

Three games after that grotesque second half against an outstanding Cyclones team, Purdue looks better than it has at any point this season. Braden Smith is playing at a best-of-the-best level at both ends of the floor, depth is really showing up, the defense has been impeccable and at a point in the season where stuff often starts getting taken away from offenses, Purdue is even seeing more open up.

Just have to carry it over into the resumption of Big Ten play and all things might be possible the rest of the way.

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ON DANIEL JACOBSEN

Players often make their biggest jumps between Years 1 and 2. Calling this “Year 2” for Daniel Jacobsen might be taking some liberties with that idea given that he was injured as a freshman, but nevertheless, the sophomore surge might be percolating for the Boilermaker center. Saturday vs. Auburn was maybe the first time he looked like a man instead of a boy, that youthy sort of giant paperboy look that in a roundabout way highlighted his massive upside.

The game is about to get more physical as Big Ten plaY starts and guerilla tactics vs. size commence. Auburn was a great test run. Jacobsen was a force, as he and Oscar Cluff continue to be a best-case-scenario tandem in support of the stars around it.

Purdue has been excellent on defense the past three games, like championship excellent. Jacobsen’s been a big piece of it and getting better.

ON PURDUE FOOTBALL’S COACHING STAFF

I get it: The hires Purdue announced as additions as Barry Odom’s coaching staff, on Friday afternoon of all news slots, don’t pop. Far from it. Bringing back a coordinator from the disaster of a prior staff is something that ought to be explained to the fans and donors you need supporting your football program right now. Kevin Kane is not Ryan Walters, but is inextricably linked to Ryan Walters and Purdue should want every association to Ryan Walters not just severed, but subsequently lit aflame.

But this is Barry Odom’s program, not that of any administrator or whoever. Odom has adequate resources to do with what he pleases. If he wants Kevin Kane, he gets Kevin Kane. It’s his call, and the outcomes his to be accountable for. He must have a vision for what he wants defensively and believes Kane to be someone who can help realize it. It’s not like Odom doesn’t know defense, nor is he unaware that good defense is good offense and vice versa. Purdue has to build an offense, too, that lends itself to being good on defense.

Regarding Zach Crabtree as offensive line coach and Bilal Marshall being promoted to wide receivers coach, don’t look at those young guys being “cheap” or underwhelming hires. I will say this after covering this stuff for a quarter century now: All the best assistant coaches Purdue has had came with the lightest résumés and almost all the worst assistant coaches came with the most stacked.

You build programs with energy and ambition, with people who are on their way up, not their way out. Never judge these hires by résumés, because not all experience is the same, and stacking “all-stars” and trying to win press releases is a dangerous, dangerous game.

You just have to identify the right guys and the right fits, and for the time being, Purdue just has to hope Barry Odom has done that.