Feature image from @RutgersMBB

Who could have pointed to the game at Rutgers as a desperately needed Quad 1 win for Purdue before the season began? Sports are weird sometimes.

And The RAC, as they call their gym, is a weird place. When it’s half-full, as it was when I visited during the Hammons years, it’s pretty pathetic. Saying “high school atmosphere” would be a little insulting to your local gyms. But when Rutgers is improbably ranked in the Top 25 and legitimately contending for the Big Ten regular season title, it feels like one of the more unique venues in college basketball.

During Rutgers’ 11-0 run within the first five minutes of the game, it sounded like a ravenous crowd right on top of the court. Honestly, I don’t know if it’s ever been rocking, because [*points generally at Rutgers basketball history*]. Shoutout Steve Pikiell for leading Rutgers to (likely) their first winning season in 14 years.

Tonight was strength fighting strength – both Rutgers and Purdue thrive by relying on grinding defenses and rebounding-heavy offenses, and both teams love winning ugly.

And while Purdue opened ugly after 5 quick points, Rugers…well…

Isaiah Thompson’s corner three finally broke the Rutgers run with 15 minutes left to play in the half. And while Purdue’s defense stepped up, driven by Nojel Eastern locking down Geo Baker and holding Rutgers to 4 points over the next 5 minutes, the Boilers weren’t able to take advantage on the offensive end.

These offensive lulls, especially as the opponent isn’t able to hit a shot, is far to common of a sight this year. Capitalizing during these runs, especially in losses like tonight and the Illinois last week, is essential for Purdue to finally notch its first road win.

Slowly but surely Purdue chipped away at Rutgers’ lead, primarily through the beautifully beastly Trevion Williams in the post. But when Rutgers hit their stride again, going on a 9-0 run after a flagrant foul on Isaiah Thompson that took approximately 25 minutes of video review to call:

Two quick threes from Proctor cut the lead to 12 at halftime, but the hole was dug deep. Too many Purdue turnovers (11), very few Rutgers fouls (4, the referees were the stars of the show tonight), and with a 12-to-1 free throw disparity presented a tough second half to navigate.

But somehow Jahaad Proctor singlehandedly cut Rutgers’ lead, to the tune of 6 points and an assist as Rutgers struggled to score midway through the half. Purdue finally found a scoring run as Rutgers cooled off, with Proctor and Trevion relentlessly attacking (and Boudreaux emerging as a key role player, hitting a beautiful KOBE midrange turnaround fadeaway jumper) to cut the deficit from 17 points to 7 with six minutes left.

An absolutely gorgeous Proctor/Matt Haarms pick-and-roll cut the lead to 4 with three minutes to play, followed by two tremendous defensive possessions anchored by Haarms (and serving as Haarms’ only strong moments of the night). But those possessions sandwiched a wide-open Jahaad Proctor three that mystifyingly rimmed out (I would have bet my house on that shot going in mid-air).

Unfortunately, while Purdue was playing with a ton of energy, that miss kicked off five straight bricked field goals in the game’s final three minutes and Rutgers iced the game from the line.

Another missed opportunity full of silver linings, but Purdue is running out of games to rack up enough wins for a tournament berth.

---

I usually do a Good/Bad/Ugly thing where I talk about how great Trevion is to watch, and how happy I am that Evan Boudreaux has emerged at that PF spot, and how frustrating the bench scoring can be, and how Purdue’s shooters can’t find the rim outside Mackey, and how slow Purdue pick-and-roll rotations gifted Rutgers points, and some nonsense joke at the expense of the refs or Seth Davis’ dumb green juice scam or [points generally at Rutgers basketball history].

But things feel different as a basketball fan just two days after the tragic death of Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old baller daughter Gianna, and seven others including two other 13-year-old basketball players and their families.

Three families, just traveling together to a Sunday basketball tournament.

Sports matter because they help create memories and forge relationships.

My parents moved us to Bangalore, India in 1999 when I was in 5th grade, and I remember making friends because there were only a few of us misfits who stalked the basketball court as the other kids played soccer or cricket.

I also remember that they were all die-hard fans of Michael Jordan (of course), and were all falling fast for 21-year-old Kobe Bryant in his fourth year in the league. We were kids on a basketball court halfway around the world, them imitating Kobe and MJ as I swore Reggie Miller was every bit as good and these idiots had no idea about them Indiana Pacers.

The 2000 NBA Finals games between the Pacers and Lakers tipped off at 5am India time, and all of us basketball misfits would make sure to spend the absurdly early hours before school (or the prime-time evening replay hours) together.

Making memories and forging friendships, as our heroes played a children’s game on the other side of the globe.

(Kobe and Shaq would proceed to rip the Pacers’ hearts out, which left me unable to talk any nonsense to my friends, which was very hurtful to 11-year-old Aneesh.)

Moments as meaningful as Purdue’s Elite 8 run last year, or as regular as a random Tuesday Big Ten game at Rutgers. Sports gives us a reason to experience a thing together, talk a little nonsense, make a few jokes, and feel something together. Maybe call friends to talk about our Boilermakers once a week, record it, and post a podcast that for some reason several thousand of you listen to. (We love you very much.)

Who knows how much longer we all will be doing this? But what I do know is I’m thankful for every one of these athletes that puts on a Purdue jersey, for the Purdue staff that keeps everything running, for the fellow idiots at Boiled Sports, and thankful that we all experience these games together.

The heartbreaking thing isn’t when we sadly reminisce when things don’t go our way, like the Elite 8 loss. The crushing heartbreaker is when these 13-year-old children and their parents are just trying to make those sports memories together, and it’s all gone in the blink of an eye.

Ditch work for a game. Go to every one of your kid’s games. Cherish this little time we all get with each other, because life really is too short.