After Maryland Win, Purdue to the Rest of the B1G & NCAA: “It’s Different This Year!”
“It’s Different This Year!”
Most of you know me! I am a Purdue Boilermaker fan, live and die with my fandom on my sleeve, and I don’t apologize for it! There are some things I noticed this week. They’re making a statement, since March 17, 2023, in Columbus, OH… “Purdue to the Rest of the B1G & NCAA: ‘It’s Different This Year!'”
What Happened Last Year?
Last season, the Purdue Boilermakers took the B1G Conference by storm. After being predicted to finish no higher than fifth in the conference, Zach Edey, and company, went through the pre-season undefeated, and up to No. 1 in the country for the second straight year. The Boilermakers won the B1G regular-season title and Matt Painter’s second B1G Tournament title.
We know how the season ended for Purdue.
For only the second time in NCAA Tournament history, a number-one seed lost to a 16-seed (63-58 first-round loss to FDU in Columbus, OH).
So many condemned Matt Painter and even grumblings surfaced that Purdue, to have a shot at an NCAA title, would need to “Fire Matt Painter.”
Painter took the loss to heart but also stated it did not define the team’s success.
“You win the league, you win the tournament… it stings… when you’re the ones who invested in it, you take it to heart, learn from it, and ultimately you’re the ones who have to sit in it.”
Running It Back in 2024!
Fast forward to late November/early December (2023).
Zach Edey, fresh off the National Player of the Year, decided to run it back and return to West Lafayette. The Boilermakers were already going to have PLENTY in the cupboard, but with Edey back, Purdue is putting its best foot forward to “make up” for the first-round departure in March!
Most preseason predictions had a combination of Purdue & Michigan St. atop the conference, and not many argued with EITHER order you put the Boilers and Spartans.
After a slow start for Michigan St., many thought the conference was going to be WIDE-OPEN, because if MSU was going to struggle, then OF COURSE so was Purdue.
Loaded Maui Tournament & Road Games In the B1G
Purdue’s pre-conference season schedule was brutal, and nobody expected what happened!
Purdue beat Xavier on November 13th, before flying to Hawaii to play in the most loaded Maui Invitational in the tournament’s history. Four of the top 7 and five of the top 11 teams were there (Purdue, Kansas, Marquette, Tennessee, and Gonzaga)!
Purdue ran through that, taking the title, and they took the No. 1 ranking for the third straight season!
Traveling to certain schools, during the B1G season often will make for bad match-ups, even for the best teams (Piscataway, anyone).
The Boilers going to Evanston to take on Northwestern is one Purdue has to watch out for every season, and this year, yet again, it bit the Boilermakers.
Boo Buie and the Wildcats played a spectacular game, while Edey and Purdue struggled. Northwestern handed Purdue their first loss of the season, 92-88 in OT, on December 1st. Many KNEW this season was going to be like last year!
Since that loss in Evanston, the Boilers have won six in a row, including one over, then ranked, No. 1 Arizona. It STILL didn’t feel like it was convincing enough to say this year felt different.
Going to College Park
The Boilermakers traveled to the Xfinity Center (College Park), a venue where none of the players on the Purdue roster had come away with a win.
Maryland had won 19-straight at home, including a win, last year, over a third-ranked Purdue, going into Tuesday night!
It was different on Tuesday. From the tip, Purdue was in charge of the game.
Maryland had no answer for any facet of the Purdue game.
Zach Edey was a force in the blocks with 23 pts & 12 rebs.
Braden Smith contributed 14 pts, 7 rebs & 6 assists at the point.
Lance Jones continues to make his strong presence known. He provides Purdue with an added athlete who can spell Smith or Loyer in the backcourt. He’s not just filling the position, but he’s being EXTREMELY productive. This is something Purdue didn’t have last season, and that is in NO WAY a knock on Brandon Newman. Jones is just a bigger body and a better athlete.
Purdue went into an environment they had not been successful in the past. They told the Terps how things were going to go. They are built differently this year. The season is young, but it just looks like, “It’s Different This Year!”
Going Forward
Purdue plays host to the #9 Illinois Fighting Illini, on Friday night (Jan. 5th).
Although the Illini are coming off a 30-point win over Northwestern, they are still in unknown territory with the absence of Terrence Shannon Jr.
It will be interesting to see how the Illini match up with the Boilers.
Purdue’s backcourt is showing more and more that they have moved on from being accident-prone freshmen. Now, they are solid sophomores who could develop into All-B1G potential guards!
Fletcher Loyer, who had extended streaks of poor shooting last year, has shown a good shooting touch, so far!
Braden Smith is looking like he could be All-B1G already. He’s making better decisions, and is showing his shooting has also improved.
Trey Kaufman-Renn has worked his way into the starting lineup! He has been said to be the most athletic on the roster, and that includes Lance Jones and Myles Colvin.
Accepting Your Role
Three bench players, this season, are some familiar names: Caleb Furst, Mason Gillis, & Ethan Morton. All three were starters last season.
Not to say it won’t happen, but there haven’t been any grumblings about playing time… yet.
Each player seems to have bought into their role for this season. Is everyone going to be 100% with how they’re utilized? Not a chance! However, Purdue appears they will put a serious run at ending the conference drought of 24 years without a title!
Am I biased? For sure, I am! I’ve picked Purdue to win the National Championship the past two seasons, but like I said earlier… “It’s Different This Year!”
https://asapsportsnetwork.com/so-long-big-ten-were-b1g-time-now/
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap/_/gameId/401600308
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