The 2013-14 non-conference schedule, released today, will be the opening act of that journey.
While the team's young core gained valuable experience in both the highs and lows of college basketball last season, the Boilermakers will be young once again in 2013-14. With an already young roster that is adding more new pieces, the staff placed a priority on playing a string of early home games.
This year's group will have the opportunity to play five-straight games at home to open up the regular season, factoring in the non-bracketed round game of the Old Spice Classic against Siena. In 2012-13, the Boilers opened up with three of their first six away from home and took some lumps that lingered throughout the non-conference season.
Utilizing the NCAA legislation that allows for the non-bracketed Old Spice Classic game against Siena was key in the sense that it gives the team additional game action before it heads down to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex to take on a loaded field at the HP Fieldhouse.
Purdue has placed a high premium on these early season multi-team events in recent years, as head coach Matt Painter has sought to prepare his teams for NCAA Tournament play. In one trip, Purdue will get three neutral-court games against quality opponents in what is annually considered one of the top in-season tournaments in college basketball.
The staff received a scheduling boost with the program's hosting assignment in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The hosting nod allowed Purdue to continue its long-standing philosophy of having a marquee non-conference game at Mackey Arena, without having to enter into a multi-season deal.
The final game on the non-conference slate - a date with West Virginia in Morgantown - will be a great final tuneup before Big Ten play begins. Any opportunity to take a young team into a hostile environment early in the year is an investment for the stretch run, and the series between schools with like-minded coaches in Painter and WVU's Bob Huggins - who value toughness, effort and execution - has been beneficial for all parties.
Heading into a season in which the Big Ten shows no signs of being knocked off its mantle as the top conference in the game, the Boilermakers have orchestrated a non-conference slate tailored to a team with a foundation of young talent. Purdue will have the opportunity to gel during its early-season home stand before heading out for early tests in both neutral settings and hostile environments.
When the ball goes up on Oct. 30 in the exhibition opener, the focus will be on the task at hand for this year's team. The path for the figurative rebound of the Purdue basketball program has already been laid before it.
]]>Also, in the short history of the CBI, programs like VCU, Butler and Pittsburgh - all NCAA Tournament teams this year - have played in the event.
I think there are other advantages, as well. Many fans who never get a chance to watch a game in Mackey will get that opportunity. Ticket prices have been lowered, and kids will get a kick out of watching a college game at one of the nation's best venues.
All of us know the Boilermakers have had a disappointing season by their standards, but maybe this appearance in the CBI will eliminate some of the bad taste. I'm sure for some fans - I'd like to think a minority of them - playing in this tournament is a waste of time, but I really feel this team will receive the support necessary to have a successful tournament.
The Nebraska loss kind of stunned me. I just didn't see that performance coming. It's been like that all season, though. Rarely have there been concrete clues as to what's about to happen. For example, did any one of us see the win in Madison on the horizon?
Right after the loss, it's understandable that few people want to continue, but time takes care of that. If you're a competitor given a chance to play, you'll take it every time. Matt Painter would coach a game on the moon if he had the chance.
Moving on to the NCAA Tournament, I don't have a clue who will end up winning the thing. I've been wrong all season, so I'll pass on picking a champion. I will say that I was really impressed with the NIT field, which has Kentucky as the top overall seed. Yes, the defending national champion.
Ohio State's win in Chicago surprised me, though it shouldn't have. Thad Matta's teams have been a force in Big Ten play since he took over in Columbus.
It's been a crazy season so far in college basketball, and I doubt that's going to change in the next three weeks. Let the madness begin.
]]>That's a quote from an article written by Wisconsin State Journal writer Tom Oates describing why Wisconsin fell to Purdue on Sunday. He wrote about how Purdue won the 50-50 balls and how it was much more physical and aggressive. Sound familar?
Matt Painter has been preaching that sermon every day for months, and the members of his congregation finally heard his words and responded with a resounding, "Halleleujah!"
]]> I can't say for sure that the win will catapult the Boilers to a successful run at the end of the season, but at least there is a template that can be archived for future reference. It's titled, "This is How You Play the Game."How unrealistic was it to expect Purdue to win? Think about it. Bo Ryan's teams have won 91 percent of their games at the Kohl Center. The Badgers were on a three-game winning streak with a margin of at least 20 points in each game. It was Senior Day, on which Ryan's teams had never lost. Oh, and Purdue was a 14.5-point underdog.
I have to put this among the top five most-gratifying road wins in my 36 years covering Purdue basketball. In recent years, other than winning at Bloomington, nothing beats a win at the Kohl Center. Matt Painter has been at the helm for three of them. He's the only Big Ten coach with a winning record against Ryan.
What does this mean in the long run? Truthfully, I don't have a clue. This has been a whacky basketball season.
Think about this: Indiana beats Purdue by 37 at Mackey Arena, Wisconsin beats IU in Bloomington and Purdue beats Wisconsin by double digits in Madison. Gonzaga is ranked No. 1 this week, but has losses to Illinois and Butler. Those two teams have a combined 13 conference losses.
Think about this: Kansas leads the Big 12, but lost to 1-15 TCU. Penn State is 1-15 in the B1G, but beat fourth-ranked Michigan. Things have been really crazy this year.
I will openly admit that I misjudged the Purdue team early in the season. I was telling our longtime radio engineer, Wes Scott, on Sunday that the one thing I was most impressed by on the Italy trip was the maturity of the young players. That's been a big issue this season. It happens.
The lesson learned in Madison on Sunday was shared by both teams. If you play with purpose and energy, prepare for your opponent earnestly, respect your opponent always and play with passion, you will always compete. Great teams never forget that.
]]>From February of 2000 to January 2007 IU posted 11 wins in 13 tries. Prior to last year when Purdue lost both games the Boilermakers had won 6 of 7.
So what happens this week? First off Purdue has the home court but will it be that big of an advantage? The Boilermakers have lost three times at home and the only rated team in that group Ohio State had little trouble. Indiana and the Buckeyes are similar but I would give the slight edge to the Hoosiers. Indiana's team is made up of the same players that came into Mackey Arena last year and won going away 78-61, albeit it was a close game for 38 minutes.
This may sound obvious but IU is better this year, Purdue not as good. So logic says IU should be able to prevail and most likely do it easily. But wait we all know things don't always work out the way they should and if there ever has been a year for non- ranked teams to beat ranked ones this has been the year.
Purdue has done a good job since the Big Ten has started to win the games they must, if the post season is their goal. However, to be realistic the Boilermakers are going to have to upset some of these top echelon teams if they expect any chance at the NCAA. In fact they most likely would have to win four of those games. I know that appears to be a tall order but I think that's reality.
So how can the Boilers negotiate an upset this week? First off they have to believe they can do it. I always refer to the 1992 season when Purdue was beaten by 41 points in Bloomington but finished the season with a 61-59 victory at Mackey. Ironically IU was rated 4th in the country at the time and headed to a number one seed in Indianapolis. Purdue finished the season 18-15 losing to Florida in the third round of the NIT. But that loss sent Bob Knight into a tizzy and sent the Hoosiers out West so it did turn out to be quite satisfying despite the difference in the overall talent of the two teams. Matt Painter was a member of that team, so he certainly has a good reference point.
So it starts with a belief system and then a whole lot of things have to go right. Keep the game close and the crowd becomes a factor. How the game is officiated factors in as well. You probably want the game to be physical but not a foul fest, IU has too many good free throw shooters. IU is a terrific fast break team and loves to push the tempo we don't want to get into that game. And Purdue has to play at what Coach Keady referred to as the magic level to have a chance. That means hitting some threes, playing aggressive defense, and not turning the ball over.
Does this sound like a lot of things have to go well? Sure, that's how upsets happen. Let's be honest Indiana has a very good team, but has not shown at any time in recent seasons to be a dominant team on the road. Very few teams are in our conference. If Purdue does the things it practices, and gets some breaks it can win. However this isn't a typical year when the home team should win, IU will be a significant favorite.
One other note, win or lose against IU Purdue must recover quickly and perform well at Northwestern Saturday. Purdue annually labors in Evanston including last year when the Boilermakers prevailed 58-56.
First Things first though, let's get ready to rumble Wednesday night in Mackey!
On a good day for the Boilers, Michigan State is beatable at Mackey. The rest of the upper division of the league is going to be a huge challenge. You would hope that the rivalry with Indiana may spur a great moment, but the Hoosiers will be favored in both matchups.
If Purdue can string some wins together over the next week and a half, it could get to 10 wins soon, and you never know what can happen from there.
Talking of improvement, Purdue has really cut down on its turnovers, committing just six against Ohio State. Ronnie Johnson is settling in at the point, and A.J. Hammons is getting better at both ends of the floor. For the time being, I think this team is set at the point, the two (Terone Johnson) and center. The rest of the team is still battling some inconsistency.
A shout out to Sandi Marcius, who gave a strong performance the other night. I've been puzzled by his lack of contribution this year, but maybe the Ohio State game will be a turning point for him. Travis Carroll is an able center, but matchups like Derrick Nix, Amir Williams, Adreian Payne and others are tough for him. Marcius could help in that regard.
Looking at the Big Ten, I haven't seen enough to pick a winner. I will say that Minnesota has been the best team in the league, in my opinion. They went to Champaign and pounded the Illini. If I was to choose right now, I'd pick Minnesota, Michigan and Indiana as a top three. Purdue has five games left against those squads. Talk about a challenge.
]]>I'm pleased with the performances against Ball State and William & Mary, but they are average teams. You have to take baby steps, though.
Here are some keys to a successful conference ride:
Improvement and offensive output from rookies Rapheal Davis, A.J. Hammons and Ronnie Johnson. It's pretty obvious that Hammons has become a centerpiece of the offense, but he must become more aggressive. He's improving, but it must be accelerated.
Right now, the energy guys are Davis and sophomore Jacob Lawson. Both have high ceilings and can make that climb during the remainder of the season. Lawson has to channel his aggressiveness and keep from getting into foul trouble, but he's played very well to this point. Davis has a world of ability and just needs to keep improving.
Defensively, this team has surprised me a bit. It's important for Hammons to be on the floor. His presence in the paint does help some lapses in containing the dribble. He has also been able to change the flight of shots taken against him.
Finally, Terone Johnson, Anthony Johnson and D.J. Byrd have to play like veterans every time out. Coach Painter has talked about it constantly. They need to play to their strengths and do it consistently. Both Terone Johnson and Byrd should consistently average double figures.
If the Boilermakers are going to make any noise in the Big Ten this year, they will have to make strides. Purdue has lost six home games over the last two seasons, so home victories aren't a given. The league's strength is even better this season than over the last five years, so there will be plenty of challenges.
Obviously, I have no idea what will happen, but I do know this won't be an easy ride. Let the games begin.
]]>We also know a performance like D.J. Byrd had can make things much easier on the road. Once Clemson had the scored doubled, the Tigers were playing much of the remaining game out of their comfort zone.
This was an encouraging win for other factors, too. Brad Brownell is a very good coach and he threw the defensive book at the Boilermakers. Sometimes Purdue adjusted, other times it was a chore, but regardless, the experience was important. Coach Painter ended up playing four guards and freshman Ronnie Johnson played his best game of the year.
Speaking of the Johnson's, A.J. has really done well in my estimation. There was a lot of concern earlier in the year he may have trouble running the team at the point guard position, and I feel he's been very solid.
Regarding the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, it surprised me the BIG didn't win after the conferences played to a draw. Penn State has been crippled by losing star Tim Frasier, so losing at home to Boston College wasn't surprising. I did feel that Wisconsin would win at home and Michigan State would beat Miami on the road. Remember though, an unranked Miami team was a slight favorite over the Spartans. The two marquee games, IU-North Carolina and Duke-Ohio State, went according to plan, although the Buckeyes did push the Dukies to the limit in Durham.
Coach Painter said this week that he feels his team is searching for an identity. No argument here. My early opinion is that the start is more a result of a system issue than anything else. Yes, the team is young and inexperienced, but it just hasn't had time to properly understand what is needed of them within the team concept. Sometimes when you think too much, other aspects of your game can be affected.
I think this team will be good in time, but it will take patience.
Also, remember that the coaching staff is using an incredible amount of different combinations involving nearly the whole roster. In time, that will be pared down and every player will have a defined role. I wouldn't venture a guess as to when that may happen.
I'm also not convinced that the shooting woes will continue from the three-point arc and the foul line. My experience tells me that statistics usually settle in after 12 games. Free throw numbers will improve when a player gets more minutes. Like anything else, it's hard to get into rhythm when you're only taking a few shots a game.
I think it's fair to say that D.J. Byrd and Terone Johnson haven't started well. This will change. Terone's ankle injury hasn't helped him in the early going.
So, what's on the horizon? Working together to get better, I assume. This year's Boilermakers have some interesting parts. As was demonstrated in the Oregon State game, A.J. Hammons could be a star. That's up to him, because he certainly has the talent he displayed at Madison Square Garden. He also has plenty of company in the talent department.
Attitude and work ethic lead to victories. Some teams understand that, some don't. Bottom line: when this team grows up and does the right thing, victories will follow. It sounds simplistic, but it's true.
Some other thoughts:
Good luck to the football team against Indiana.
Like a lot of people, I was surprised to see the Big Ten add Maryland, and potentially Rutgers, to the conference. Let's face it, there are no geographical boundaries any longer, and expanding into those markets will increase the Big Ten brand.
To all those Boilermaker fans out there, have a safe and joyous Thanksgiving!
]]>I have mentioned this before, but back in the early 70s (yes, the 1970s), I missed on all 11 bowl games! Kind of funny they only played 11 bowls back then.
I don't think it's hard to predict who will be good in the Big Ten this year. The issue is how good they'll be.
When someone asks me how many games I think Purdue will win this year, I'm just throwing out a number just like the average fan. It's opinion and a discussion point, that's all.
I've been through this thing for 36 years, but predicting how a team will do before the season begins is for entertainment only.
I will go out on a limb with this statement: I think we will have a good team. Sure, it may take a while, but unlike college football, you have time to develop. I go back two seasons with the incredible run Uconn made at the end of the year. As long as you have a conference tournament with the winner getting an automatic NCAA bid, you're always in the game in the Big Ten.
I like this team, but I've only witnessed six exhibition games, including Italy. That's a small sample size to make any definitive statements. The youth doesn't bother me. The talent is there. What I want to see is chemistry.
So, to put something into print that could come back to haunt me, I'm going to give you my predicted victory total for the year. It is ... 23.
]]>I'm not buying into the thought that we're in rebuild mode. I base that on the fact that this year's freshman class is much different than the norm from an experience standpoint. Donnie Hale played a year of prep ball and redshirted a season. He starts the season as a 21-year old freshman. Rapheal Davis, Jay Simpson and A.J. Hammons all played at a prep school. Heck, Hammons played abroad in China and Italy before even playing his first college game. Ronnie Johnson played in a big-time program at North Central High School. I just think that this group is collectively more mature than the normal first-year college class.
It may take some time to mix and match these guys with the veteran players, but I don't think it will take as long as most people think.
Here are some reasons I've heard why Purdue will labor. They have only one point guard and he's a freshman. How did Trey Burke work out for Michigan last year?
This is a team that can't shoot from the perimeter. I find that evaluation interesting since we haven't played a game yet. We will be a bad foul shooting team. Is that based on this season or last season?
How are we going to score points? I honestly think there are a lot of players on this team who can score. Do we have a 16 and 7 guy like Rob Hummel? Maybe not, but I wouldn't definitively say no. Both Terone Johnson and D.J. Byrd can really fill it up.
What I'm saying on the eve of the 2012-13 season is that expect this Purdue team to be good. I think the future is very bright. There's a common sentiment among the fan base that we're a year away from being a good team. I can assure that nobody within the program shares that view, and neither do I.
]]>Kramer saw time in all five games for the Pacers, posting averages of 6.6 points and 1.2 boards. His best effort of the week came in the Pacers' final game, a loss to Brooklyn that saw him score 11 points and deal out three assists.
Moore averaged 14.0 points per game for the week to finish ninth in the league. He also started four of five games and chipped in averages of 2.8 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game. The East Chicago, Ind., native also saved his best for last, dropping 18 behind a 3-of-4 effort from the arc in Friday's win over the Magic.
]]>The Big Ten has always been a steady contributor to the NBA, and this year is no different with plenty of Big Ten student-athletes officially entering the NBA Draft. BTN will help tell their stories when it airs a special NBA Draft preview edition of the Big Ten Basketball Report at 9 p.m. ET on Friday. The special will include interviews with some of the Big Ten's top draft entrants and also will give viewers an inside look at the draft process.
]]> Dave Revsine and Jim Jackson will host the show that will feature a one-on-one interview with Ohio State's Jared Sullinger. Other student-athletes who will be interviewed include Meyers Leonard (Illinois), Draymond Green (Michigan State), Jordan Taylor (Wisconsin), William Buford (Ohio State) and Purdue's Robbie Hummel.The program will also include expert analysis from NBA writers, as they give their assessment of each of the Big Ten entrants.
]]>Purdue ranked 21st nationally with an average of 13,324 fans per game. The Boilermakers were one of six Big Ten teams in the top 25 of the national rankings, along with Wisconsin, Ohio State, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan State.
No other conference had more than four top-25 programs in terms of attendance this season.
Purdue has not finished lower than 36th in the national attendance standings uner head coach Matt Painter.
]]>Cardinal owns averages of 1.0 points and 0.8 rebounds per game this season as a glue guy for the Mavericks.
JaJuan Johnson has seen time in 30 games for the Boston Celtics, averaging 3.3 points and 1.4 rebounds each time out. Johnson and fellow Boilermaker E'Twaun Moore, who has averaged 2.5 points and 0.8 assists in 31 games this season, have helped the C's to the lead in the Atlantic Division and the fourth seed in the East as of Friday morning.
Carl Landry has played in 33 games in his first full season in New Orleans, making eight starts. He is averaging 12.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.
Landry had 20 points and 11 rebounds, to go along with five assists, on Monday in a narrow loss to the Clippers.
The elder statesman of Boilermakers in the league, Brad Miller has played in 12 games for the Minnesota Timberwolves, earning one start. Miller is averaging 2.0 points and 1.3 assists per game for the season.
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