This has been a tough basketball season, my friends. Rumors of future attrition, attitude problems, ugly 30 point losses...it's had them all. It's quite a contrast to what Purdue fans have become accustomed to in the last six years.
Hard work, toughness, chemistry, great defense...all seemed to be optional for most of the team for much of this season...that didn't seem right...and the results showed that it wasn't. Purdue fans talked about how far Painter would let the team fall...how he was trying to break them by allowing them to lose, lose and lose again; I don't really agree with that premise- I really believe he was as befuddled as those of us in the stands as to why nothing was clicking. But after a week of assessment, rest and re-grouping at the hands of IU in Ass. Hall, things changed, as J detailed yesterday.
We had some people ask why we haven't made any predictions about the tourney...I'll be honest- I've never been one to make predictions about the B1G tourney. Another honest moment- I don't like conference tournaments too much. Sure, they're fun to watch, especially as teams, horrible teams, like Liberty punch their ticket and others knock you on your arse with unexpected outcomes...but for Purdue fans, the tournament that starts this Thursday hasn't been a ton of fun for us as fans. The championship of 2010 was fun, but that team was supposed to do big things...then lived up to their billing in the BT tourney. The committee shortly after gave the 27-5 Boilers a four seed. So forgive me if I don't care too much for the whole conference tourney thing.
This tournament is a different animal than what we've seen the last few seasons...Purdue is expected to win just one game...expectations are low...the pressure is off. Hopefully, fans and the league in general are all sleeping on one of Matty's worst teams (on paper); but I doubt it. If they've checked the RPI recently, they might literally miss Purdue...they're waaaaaaaay down the list at 114.
But a few media outlets like the Boilers as a darkhorse; so do I. So let's dream for a moment...
Purdue plays Nebraska in the first game. The Cornhuskers' biggest win of the season, by far, was that over the enigmatic, Senior-laden Golden Gophers...But that game seemed like a force of nature more than a game, and Goldy just happened to be in the way of a special night. Minnesota has struggled mightily in the second half of the season while Nebraska has fought to get better...so on Senior night, and in the final game in Nebraska's old arena, the Cornhuskers got the W. Sadly for the 'Huskers, the Devaney Center won't travel with them to Chicago...nor will many of their fans. All of their decent wins came in front of a friendly crowd. A half-empty NBA arena won't be as welcoming, nor will the Boilers. Without anyone to guard him but a rotund Brazilian, Hammons gets silly and TJohn stays hot.
#7 Purdue 74
#10 Nebraska 59
Next up, the white hottttttt, well-rested Bucknuts play the Boilers.
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| Byrdy Dancing? |
The last time these two met, Ohio State seemed to toy with Purdue...kinda like a bigger kid on the playground, they just wouldn't let Purdue get closer than seven points. Purdue couldn't stop Thomas' quick release jumper, and let him get comfortable way too often...and Aaron Craft's blush was just right that night as the carrying machine batted RonJohn's hand away and scored 15. I think both of those guys will still be a tough match-up...and Matta has them dialed in, but they're due for an unexpected loss...and Purdue believes things will be different this time because they are a different team. RayDay matches Thomas' output, Hammons gets a double double and adds 5 blocks all while Byrd makes it rain in the United Center.
#7 Purdue 69
#2 aOSU 66
The unlikable combo of thuggy size (not quite sure what that is) and a whiny politician of a coach lead Sparty into the semis to play the Boilers next. Hot shooting Gary Harris helped the Spartans slide past Iowa...and Izzo has dominated Purdue of late, both on the court and on the recruiting trail. The streak ends in Chicago. TJohn plays his best defensive game of the year, cools down Harris while Marcius beats MSU at their own game and muscles Purdue to the next round...TJohn and RonJon seal it with FTs down the stretch (it's my dream, I can write it however I'd like).
#7 Purdue 71
#3 MSU 67
At four wins, Purdue is on their longest winning streak of the season...I guess it's not really hard to believe when you look at the record, but Purdue, at this point in the dream sequence would be in unchartered water and feeling pretty confident. But ahead lies the big, ugly forehead gorilla of the conference, IU.
IU was either #1 in the nation or in the top-5 for the whole dang year. Not one, but two all-conference/National POY finalist players led IU as the supporting cast was also damned good. Purdue barely showed a pulse versus IU as we all know too well; if it wasn't for Hammons 30 point game in the first "contest", it'd be tough to remember if any Purdue players even laced them up to play their rivals.
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| Nobody puts Rayby in the corner. |
The stats and not-too-distant past would tell us this one is a cakewalk for IU...but in the ethereal land where I sleep, things have changed since mid-February.
Byrd/TJohn combine for a masterpiece from long distance as Purdue knocks IU out of the number 1 overall seed for the dance...Sheehey's dunk to win clanks off of the back of the rim as time expires.
#7 Purdue 77
#1 IU 76
If this dream scenario was to play out, Purdue would probably be a 12 seed playing in the so-called first round (play-in round), playing a team like Iona or Virginia. They'd be 19-16, and miraculously would have salvaged a season made for the junk heap into one that would be remembered and savored for a legendary run.
If this dream scenario was to play out, Purdue would probably be a 12 seed playing in the so-called first round (play-in round), playing a team like Iona or Virginia. They'd be 19-16, and miraculously would have salvaged a season made for the junk heap into one that would be remembered and savored for a legendary run.
Purdue has an improbable road ahead of them starting Thursday at 6:30pm...just to get to the NIT. To get above .500, Purdue must beat the tenth-best team in the nation.
To go to the dance, they'll have to beat #8 and #3 (or possibly #5) as well. They'll have to best three of the nation's best players along with two of the conference's best Freshman...they'll have to beat three top-10 teams in a four day period, two of the conference's best coaches in March, an up-and comer and a fraud cheerleader great motivator.
It's not impossible...but it's damned close. It truly would be something that I'd have a hard time believing was anything but a dream following a nightmarish season (at times).
By finishing the regular season the way they did, Purdue gave fans, and more importantly, themselves, a reason to hope for what's on the horizon...if they could even make some noise in the tournament, it might help me enjoy the big dance a bit more than I feel like I will at this point. I love this time of year, but as much as I love it, I hate Purdue not being a real part of it.
There's typically a surprise story that grabs the attention of the nation during the conference tourneys...The 20 loss Liberty Flames might be the worst team to ever enter the NCAA tournament, but much of the nation doesn't care about this team that will probably be knocked out before 3/21 even arrives. But if Purdue waltzed through this tournament to earn its way to the ball, our Boilers might be the most-unlikely entrant in a long, long time.
Has a switch truly been flipped from mediocre-also-ran to world-beater? One can dream.