1/27/2025 Water Cooler Chat: Split Decision Edition
Rants, ravings, and somewhat sensical opinions following the wild, wacky, and wide-wide world of Purdue sports.
Nobody goes undefeated, anymore. The last time something like that happened it was back in the stone age. 50-ish years later, with a much better talent field, losses happen. What is strange is that there are people who are, still, pulling the “Chicken Little” claiming that the sky is falling when any little bump in the Purdue road appears.
Remember folks, it’s not the 1970s – 80s anymore, losses happen.
If you can indulge me, for a sentence or two, I look like this past week in Boilermaker Basketball like Purdue was a heavyweight boxer. You’re going to get punched in the face. You’re going to get knocked down. Sometimes you’re going to get knocked out. Sometimes you need to have the towel thrown in. Rocky Balboa lost to Apollo Creed. Iron Mike Tyson lost to a YouTuber. Happy Gilmore lost to Bob Barker. Sometimes you’re going to get your ass handed to you. How do you pick yourself up from the canvas? That determines what kind of team you are.
“You don’t lose if you get knocked down; you lose if you stay down.”
Muhammad Ali
The Games:
Ohio State 73, #11 Purdue 70
An impressive Boilermaker first half gave way to dead legs, improbable shooting, and questionable officiating in the second, as Purdue loses in Mackey Arena for the first time in several years.
Trey Kaufman-Renn led the game with 26 points, Fletcher Loyer had 15, and Braden Smith had 12. No other Boilermaker reached double digits.
It became very apparent in the second half that Purdue was still feeling the affects of a harsh travel schedule, returning from the western road trip. Ohio State brought the intensity in the second half, Purdue didn’t have the juice to keep up!
Purdue – Ohio State Gallery: https://iscpurdue.com/purdue-mens-basketball-vs-ohio-state-1-21-25/
#21 Michigan 64, #11 Purdue 91
Unenviable (/ˌənˈenvēəb(ə)l/): Adjective: Playing a pissed off Purdue basketball team coming off of a frustrating home loss, on a weekend, at Mackey Arena.
Purdue led for 40 minutes. Michigan was never in it, as you could see their guards collectively whimper in the first few moments of the harsh Mackey atmosphere. This game was over in the first 30 seconds, just what the doctor ordered for a blood thirsty basketball program. Not bad considering that there were several talking heads saying that Michigan was clearly the “most talented team” on the floor on Friday, during their prognostication, while universally picking the Wolverines to win.
Braden Smith became the first player in the last century put up the stat line of 24 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds, and 4 steals… all while only giving up 1 turnover in the process. When the words “this century” is being used in descriptive qualifiers about your performance, you know you’re doing something right.
Fletcher Loyer had 18 points, TKR had 15, and CJ Cox had 11.
Purdue – Michigan Gallery: https://iscpurdue.com/purdue-mens-basketball-vs-michigan-1-24-25/
Break it Down:
I am still irked by Purdue’s loss to Ohio State. When Purdue wins, clearly I’m in a good mood. When Purdue loses and it is a general “the opponent is better on this day” then, I’m ok. Unfortunately Purdue has a tendency to lose what I call “random circus bullshit” types of games, that defy logic and reason. Those games are the one that turn me into a cranky grump-ass man. When Ohio State decided to start bombing 3s, including 4 buzzer beating 3s in the second half (one by a player who hadn’t hit a 3 all season), clearly Purdue’s legs were gone from the tough stretch of games, and Jeffrey Anderson was high-stepping his way to his 4th blown call in the first 3 minutes of the second half… Yeah. Imma be grump-ass.
That’s why Friday night’s performance was so important. Purdue is already 2 games back in the loss column in the Big 10. Seeing how they responded against a confident and rested Michigan team (by stomping a mud-hole in them and walking it dry), it showed that Purdue has some nastiness in them. Purdue picked themselves up, dusted themselves off, and delivered multiple haymakers to one of the best teams in the conference. That is what championship level teams do. Purdue is now top 10 in the NET. Has a top 20 defense. Has a top 20 offense.
Folks, do your research on teams with that resume, regardless of the Ohio State loss.
What Went Well:
- Flirting: Braden Smith continues to flirt with a triple double, and would’ve gotten one against Michigan had he not been pulled early. While he is continually the groomsman in a triple double marriage, eventually he will get there, but coming close puts Purdue in position to win.
- 10 pts: CJ Cox averaged 10 ppg this week. He is becoming the steady force that we Boilermakers thought he would at the beginning of the season. His development from the beginning of this season to now is really impressive to this point.
- 29.5: Purdue’s average this week of points of turnovers.
Opportunities for Improvement:
- When You’re Going Through Hell: Keep going, Purdue. Clearly in the second half against Ohio State, Purdue was gassed. Ohio State had all of the momentum, was hitting “random circus bullshit” shots, and a ref-show was materializing. Sometimes it is not your day, but you have to fight, scrape, and claw your way out of a circumstance where EVERYTHING is going against you.
- DJ Carstensen, Larry Scirotto, Jeffrey Anderson: If the public knows the names of the referees, then its probably not a good thing.
- Jalen Rose: Prior to the Ohio State game, Peacock aired an insightful interview with Matt Painter and Robbie Hummel about how Purdue has build their program the traditional way, and they keep winning without going into the portal. The whole culture and attitude thing. Boilermaker guys, types. The ones who want to be here… you get my point. Following that segment, Jalen Rose immediately says that Purdue needs to “graduate” as a program, and has to reach into their pockets to get the best talent in the Big 10. You know, because being multi-year running Big 10 champions, A Final 4 Run, National Runners Up, and in the hunt for another Big 10 championship… isn’t good enough for Jalen Rose. He goes on to mention Rutgers’ Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper… a pair of well compensated freshmen that lost to Purdue by 18 on their home floor. While his comments were particularly tone deaf about the segment that aired immediately prior, who am I to argue? Jalen Rose is clearly an expert on the paying college basketball players (for some reason).
Big Man on Campus:
Braden Smith played poorly against Ohio State. He wiped the blood from his mouth, he stood up, dusted himself off. He then played like a psychopathic killer against Michigan. 24 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds, 4 steals, and 1 turnover. Hot damn!
A Look Ahead:
Well, my friends, it is hate week. The (as of this writing) #11 Purdue Boilermakers play 1 game this week, and it is against the Indiana Hoosiers. This Friday primetime tip will be the 220th (Purdue leads the series 127-92) meeting in the rivalry. While Purdue has a huge lead in the all time series, Indiana tends to treat this game as their Superbowl, as evidenced by them storming the floor against Purdue just two seasons ago. We will see if the Hoosiers’ mastery of the “off season championship” will lead them to a “Superbowl” victory in Mackey Arena.
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