I had Purdue ranked third in the preseason Top 25 (and one).
Then Robbie Hummel tore his ACL.
Then I dropped the Boilermakers into the 20s. And I never returned them to the top 10 -- not even when they started 15-1, mostly because they had, at the time, zero quality wins. Also worth noting: I could never get over the loss of Hummel because I've spent a lot of time throughout the past year talking to Matt Painter about Hummel as a player and a person, and I know how much that coach values that player. Thus, I couldn't help but put a premium on Hummel, too. But in properly valuing Hummel I made the mistake of inadvertently undervaluing Painter, and that's a mistake that was highlighted with Wednesday's 70-62 win over Wisconsin and again during Sunday's 76-63 victory over Ohio State.
Consider this my mea culpa.
I was wrong about what's possible for the Boilermakers.
I was wrong because -- though I've always properly loved E'Twaun Moore -- I misjudged how good JaJuan Johnson would be this season and underestimated what Painter could do with a roster robbed of its perceived most important player. After Hummel's injury, I figured the Boilermakers would finish fifth in the Big Ten. But after Sunday's win over Ohio State, they're 22-5 overall, 11-3 in the Big Ten and second in the league standings.
Purdue couldn't finish fifth now if it lost each of its remaining games.
So, yeah, I was wrong.
The Boilermakers would've been great with Hummel.
Everybody knew that.
But what I've learned this week is that they're pretty darn good without him, too -- perhaps Final Four good.
Blog Entry
Doubt what's possible with Painter? Never again
Posted on: February 20, 2011 4:14 pm
Edited on: February 20, 2011 4:22 pm
Comments
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Since: Nov 25, 2007 |
Posted on: February 21, 2011 1:32 pm
I told you so, Gary...After the tournament in Orlando, Gary, I pointed out three things to you --that Notre Dame, Purdue and Wisconsin were all better teams than you were giving them credit for. (How could you forget about JaJuan Johnson, though; OMG, Gary!?) In the case of Wisconsin: You place them in your Top-25, to begin the season, simply because you promised that to us last year? Yet, after they lose one game, you drop them out? You really dropped the ball on that one, because your forgot about your own, underlying reason for making the statement about Bo Ryan to begin with? That is one of those gut things that you have to stick with.
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Since: Apr 24, 2008 |
Posted on: February 21, 2011 1:19 pm
Doubt what's possible with Painter? Never againYour right PITT does have 3 losses. Notre Dame, Tennessse, & St. Johns.
St. Johns is ranked now! And should have been earlier. Considering they have beaten a ton of heavily ranked teams. ND RPI=10 St. Johns RPI=12 Tenn RPI=36 Nebraska who just beat TEXAS...RPI 62! Pitt should still be in the top 5 considering the amount top 25 rpi wins (6). There in sole possesion of first place in the deepest conference in the country. To all the ACC Duke lovers out there. YOUR TEAM IS OVERRATED! St. Johns blew you out! They needed an last second out bounds layup to beat us on one of worst played games of the year. |
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Since: Apr 30, 2007 |
Posted on: February 21, 2011 12:48 pm
Doubt what's possible with Painter? Never againNews flash to you. Wisconsin is 14-0 at Kohl and Purdue is now 15-0 at Mackey. I'll take the Buckeyes on a neutral court in the tournament all day long. March is coming. Let's play..
Another news flash... if you believe OSU is going to win the National Championship....you may have not seen them play.They tend to play down to their competition...which does not bode well come tourney time. I have my reservations with regard to Matta as a coach and that will be the difference in the tourney. OSU has the talent...but not the coaching IMO.That said, they should go further than Wisconsin or Purdue, but I do not see a final four for OSU. |
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Since: Feb 21, 2011 |
Posted on: February 21, 2011 12:38 pm
Doubt what's possible with Painter? Never againlold when you had SDSU first. literally lold at ur little ranking you have there.
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Since: Oct 2, 2006 |
Posted on: February 21, 2011 11:49 am
Doubt what's possible with Painter? Never againNews flash to you. Wisconsin is 14-0 at Kohl and Purdue is now 15-0 at Mackey. I'll take the Buckeyes on a neutral court in the tournament all day long. March is coming. Let's play..
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Finland_Lenny Since: Sep 19, 2006 |
Posted on: February 21, 2011 10:51 am
This comment has been removed.
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Finland_Lenny Since: Sep 19, 2006 |
Posted on: February 21, 2011 10:48 am
This comment has been removed.
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Since: Mar 11, 2007 |
Posted on: February 21, 2011 10:45 am
Doubt what's possible with Painter? Never againSo using your LOGIC(LORD) THIS IS HOW YOU RANK TEAMS
1 SDSU 2. DUKE 3. BYU
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Since: Mar 11, 2007 |
Posted on: February 21, 2011 10:45 am
Doubt what's possible with Painter? Never againSo using your LOGIC(LORD) THIS IS HOW YOU RANK TEAMS
1 SDSU 2. DUKE 3. BYU
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Since: Mar 11, 2007 |
Posted on: February 21, 2011 10:24 am
Doubt what's possible with Painter? Never againYOU THINK PURDUE AT 15-1 was BAD
PITTSBURG SAMEO RIGGED SCHEDULE PLAYING PATTSIES YET YOU PULL PURDUE DOWN AND PITT UP LOOK AT PITTS 1ST 16 GAMES OK IT SHOULD BE NO TEAM RANKED #1 OR #2 HAS NEVER LOST 2 IN A WEEK AND STAY #1 OR #2 EXCEPT IN YOUR POLLS GARY. WHAT GIVES? WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU THINKING? OHIO STATE LOST 2 DONT MATTER WHO THEY LOST two KANSAS LOST BY 20 joke TEXAS LOST TO WHO WOW ANOTHER JOKE |
