ISC Purdue

3/24/2024 Boilermaker Water Cooler Chat: Sweet Sixteen Edition

Rants, ravings, and somewhat sensical opinions following the wild, wacky, and wide-wide world of Purdue sports.

There are certain “flash in the pan” style fads that get their fifteen minutes of fame. They come into your life fiercely, but breeze out nearly as quickly. Think about things like, The Macarena, Pogs, the “What Does the Fox Say” song, Hawk Tuah… you catch my drift. Things that are ubiquitous to the culture, for a brief amount of time, but have very little consequence in the grand scheme.

The NCAA tournament has had their share of these types. Sister Jean. Wally Szczerbiak and somebody named Jimmer. The crying Northwestern kid. Somehow Purdue has found a way to run into a handful of them (or in some cases created ’em). Whether it be the darling trendy upset pick in High Point, or a boom-box carrying student manager with an NIL deal, our Boilers were involved. Oh, what about that 400lb center? What about those Peacocks? Remember FDU? VCU? Pepperidge Farms remembers.

The Boilers, this season and last, have taken the first and second round as business trips. Distractions and gimmicks be damned.

The Games:

#13 High Point 63, #4 Purdue 75:

Every talking head you could think of picked High Point to upset Purdue. In fact, on Selection Sunday, supposed genius, Seth Davis took approximately 30 seconds to call for Purdue’s upset. Fanta, too. Really the entire Field of 68 crew. Everyone on CBS, TNT, entire sports books… High Point was the hot and heavy upset pick!

This game was close for about 10 minutes, then Purdue took over. They got up double digits, and essentially kept it there (minus a quick blip in the second half). Trey Kaufman-Renn scored a game high 21 points, adding 8 rebounds. Braden Smith scored 20, and dished out 6 assists. Camden Heide came off the bench to score 11 while hitting 2 threes in the process, and inhaling 10 rebounds for the double-double. The Boilermakers defense shut down the supposed ultra-high-powered (too powerful for Purdue) offense sending home the national media darling home first day.

#12 McNeese 62, #4 Purdue 76:

Well, if High Point couldn’t knock out Purdue, then the Media has to support McNeese. The narrative requires confirmation bias. Second game in a row, Purdue played the media-darling. Also, all week, CBS and the Turner Networks, took a boom-box toting, NIL owning, student manager, and insufferably shoved it down everyone’s throat. So, Purdue took the basketball and shoved it…

… In the hoop, over and over and over again. This game was not nearly as close as the final score indicated. Purdue jumped out to a 26 point lead, and took their foot off of the gas in garbage time. TKR again led the way with 22 points, hauling in 15 rebounds. Fletcher Loyer, CJ Cox, and Braden Smith, all scored in double digits. Boilers roll.

Break It Down:

Oh look, Purdue is in the Sweet 16 for the 6th time in the last 8 years. I am not going to spike the football here, as Purdue absolutely should win these games, in the fashion in which they won. The narrative that Purdue always loses to bad teams in March is tired and played out. Yes, Purdue lost to FDU. That was bad. Yes, Purdue lost to North Texas several years ago. The rest of the time, Purdue is marching to Sweet 16s. Oh by the way, 6 of 8 is the best rate in the NCAA.

They did it by returning to fierce defense that spurred them in the right direction in January and early February. Shutting down lesser talented (but better overall, according to talking heads) opponents is what Purdue was lacking in their late season slump. Now, with a return to form, Purdue seems to have shaken off the malaise of the last few weeks.

What Went Well:

• Defense Lives Here: Opponents averaged only 62.5 points. This is against a supposed high powered offense in High Point. Holding any NCAA tournament team in the low 60s, is a recipe for success.
• Clean the Glass: Purdue out rebounded their opponents by an average of 19 this week. You read that correctly.
• 42.3%: Shooting from 3 against a tough defensive opponent in McNeese. Hopefully the Boilermakers are catching their stride.
• Second Gear: Myles Colvin and Camden Heide have picked up their production this week, and have been invaluable in Purdue’s balance. Also, the back-to-back rebound dunks against High Point were incredible, and certainly a high point of the season.

Big Man on Campus:

Trey Kaufman-Renn averaged 21.5 pts and 12 rbs for the week. He was simply a force to be reckoned with, destroying the upset minded opponents.

One Last Thing:

What say you, Debbie Downers and Doomsday Dannys? The whole group of you, supposed Purdue “fans” who gave up on this team in February and March. What do you have to say now? I see you on the “Boiler Diehards” Facebook page. Trashing specific players. Fantasy booking the firing of Coach Painter. Pulling the Uncle Rico “if only they gave me the chance to coach this team they would win the natty.” Can you look me in the eye, and tell me that you’re happy now? Or are you keeping your aura? The Purdue keyboard warriors, Facebook, twitter, whatever… are some of the most toxic people in our fandom.

I am not saying that every Purdue fan online is bad. In fact, most aren’t. I am not talking about the fan that makes valid criticisms of the program. I am talking to a very slim, vocal minority. You know, the idiots. The online manifestation of the Dunning Kruger Effect. The ones who throw out incredible asinine opinions with upmost confidence, openly bash players by name, who abandon ship at first opportunity, who want to burn everything down due to a loss or two in February. Oh, and if you’re reading this and you’re feeling that little burning in the back of your head thinking, “Hm, I wonder if he’s talking about me?”… Yep. If for any reason your conscience is throwing up a red-flag… I probably am.

Boiler fans are a spoiled bunch. If Purdue loses a non-conference game, then its time for a panic. If Purdue loses a few in a row… its time for a firing. If Purdue doesn’t win the Big 10, its a wasted season. Come on, most programs would kill for the last 20 years of Purdue basketball.

I am passionate. I wear my heart on my sleeve. If you’re unlucky lucky enough to be texting me during games, you know that I am a rollercoaster. One thing that I never do is that I never get personal. I rarely stray from logic, and I sure as hell know a good thing when we have it. Brother, we have it. Recognize it. Respect it. I don’t have time for online toxicity.

This is essentially a rebuilding season, coming off of a National Championship appearance, in which Purdue lost one of the greatest players in NCAA history. His replacement broke his leg in the first minute of the second game of the season. Purdue’s prized recruit bolted almost immediately after stepping foot on campus. Still made the second weekend of the tournament, though. 6 out of the last 8 second weekends. That is 75% for the mathematically challenged.

For those of you who didn’t jump ship, be proud of this Purdue team! They have made another Sweet 16, playing to seed. This season is already a success, and the Boilermakers are playing with house money right now. They have All Americans and All Big Ten players. This team can beat anyone out there, and consequently, lose to anybody. The bottom line is this team has accomplished something that most programs in the nation can’t claim. They are in the Sweet 16. I hope everyone who never gave up hope, who never trashed specific players, who never threw the baby out with the bathwater, enjoy this. I am enjoying this, and you should too.

So if you’re one of the passionate diehards, one of the folks who aren’t filled with short sighted vitriol, make your way to our capitol this weekend. Our boys need all the support we can get! Turn Indianapolis Old Gold & Black!

A Look Ahead:

Purdue returns home, to play in Indianapolis. Lucas Oil Stadium will host the 2nd weekend’s games, and the Boilermakers have a doozie to kick it off, as the level of competition picks up.

#4 Purdue will take on #1 Houston. Houston is known for being highly athletic, and playing tremendous, cut throat, defense. They’re well coached, disciplined, and relentless. The exact type of team that Purdue struggles against. The battle for another Final Four starts Friday as Purdue plays the second game of the double header. Tipoff is predicted to be at approximately 10:10 pm, or effectively 1/2 hour after the conclusion of the first matchup (TBS/TruTV). As of this writing, Houston opens at an 8.5 point favorite.

If Purdue is lucky enough to advance past Houston, they will take on the winner of #3 Kentucky and #2 Tennessee. This game tips off at approximately 7:39 pm (TBS/TruTV). As of this writing, Tennessee opens up as a 4.5 point favorite.

If Purdue pulls the upset, there very well could be a rematch of last year’s Elite 8. That would be absolute cinema.

We will see what happens! We’ve seen Purdue defeat high tier programs this season. We’ve seen Purdue fall to less talented teams than Houston. Regardless, with a “home court” advantage, and a stroke of luck, you never know how things will pan out. Why not our Boilers? Screw it! Go make history! I’ll see ya’ll on Friday (and hopefully Sunday) from Press Row.

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