Purdue is a very strong and balanced team. We have an abundance of great 1’s and 2’s and a super 5. We have a tough time handling teams like Purdue and Arizona for example because of our lack of dominating 3’s and 4’s. The players desired at the next level are the dominating 3’s and 4’s. We can hang around in these games against top tier power teams but only if we are hitting our 3 pointers. Hoping that BU can start finding us those type of players so we don’t have to rely on always making an abundance of 3 pointers to win these games.
Purdue 84, Illinois 68 Postgame
I’m confident BU will find those types of players. He seems to know which types of players are NBA caliber.
Losing this sucks, but Purdue was a buzzsaw in the second half and we missed lots shots we typically hit.
For those of you old enough to remember, the Flying Illini dismantled Michigan twice in the regular season, but we all know what happened when the met in the Final Four.
For those of you old enough to remember, the Flying Illini dismantled Michigan twice in the regular season, but we all know what happened when the met in the Final Four.
Purdue just has our number this year. Doesn’t sound right but they do. However, they are beatable and it wouldn’t surprise me if we end up playing them in the BTT.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
No. 3 Purdue beats No. 13 Illini for share of Big Ten lead
Purdue (21-3, 10-3 Big Ten) has won six straight and 9 of 10. Illinois (17-6, 10-3) was led by Kofi Cockburn, who had 18 points.
By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Jaden Ivey and Eric Hunter Jr. provided the second-half muscle No. 3 Purdue on Tuesday night.
They didn’t even need much help from their big guys.
Hunter scored all nine of his points during a game-changing run to start the second half and Ivey scored 26 points, 22 coming after he got angry, to help the Boilermakers run away from No. 13 Illinois 84-68.
Scary moment
Illini guard Trent Frazier had the biggest scare of the night when he fell to the floor clutching his left knee with 8:15 to play. Replays appeared to show his knee and Ivey’s knee collided. Frazier needed help to reach the bench, though he returned a short time later and finished the game.--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The rest of the article is gobbly gook about Ivey and him getting mad about refs missing obvious calls, blahblahblah.......................
I would like to see game # 3 , say in the BTT finals or FF ..............
illini80
- Forgottonia
Not much to add to what’s been said already. For a team that’s generally speaking not a great defensive team, I thought they really bothered us inside and out. Yes we missed some open shots, but that’s also what good defense does to you. Agains most teams our guards can get to the rim occasionally. Not tonight.
It’s one I wanted, but we have plenty of games that will be more important the later we get in the season.
It’s one I wanted, but we have plenty of games that will be more important the later we get in the season.
Really good analysis.
Replying to myself - I missed the post of Robert's tweet saying this exact thing, sorry for the repeat.
I keep beating the Fighting Illini drum on this, but it's the regular/recurring inconsistency & lack of offensive production that has to be addressed, somehow, as we head toward tourney time. And I'll grant that Purdue is very good and was exceptionally good in the 2H, but our offensive woes contributed much to that.
That is what you call a good ole butt kicking, taken to the wood shed. Purdue is the best team in the BIG and maybe the country.
For sure. If Ben can improve his touch around the basket he’ll be more than serviceable for us down the line.
"We don’t have anybody like him."
Maybe we do. R.J. Melendez is a scoring machine. He can flat out put the ball in the hoop. He needs a little more meat on him though so he can take the B1G pounding and get through the screens, and he needs minutes and the green light from Coach, and maybe another year, and we'll be comparing him to, well, some of the best in the league.
A scoring machine?? Maybe next year or the years to follow, but now? I don't think so
You are correct. There are no tie breakers for conference championships. Teams tied are co-champs. The only reward for Purdue beating us head to head is they would get the higher seed for the conference tournament. I see so many people keep posting Purdue has the tie breaker and would win conference championship if we are tied at the end of the year. Just not accurate!
Plus, Bos will be in the gym.
I think this is true, but how many teams out there outside of Purdue can really guard Kofi without sending multiple guys at him? Even a team like Arizona that has size and athleticism in bunches down low with a future NBA 5 like Koloko went 1-1 with him and while he blocked a few of kofi’s attempts, he was getting backed down and it wasn’t sustainable. Just about all teams not named Purdue will be forced to pick their poison with us, but to your point, our guards still must hit open shots for it all to come together.
blackdog
- Champaign
My biggest takeaway next day is Illinois really didn't play that badly in the 2nd half. They got shots that we all be happy for them to take over and over they just didn't drop. On defense it wasn't a lot of blown coverages (maybe a few early in the half) that caused Purdue to get open looks they were simply able to make shots over or through contact. That and Ivey running pick and roll with Edey is just unfair because Edey absolutely swallows the on ball defender.
This wasn't a game like Maryland where they just lost their minds and forgot how to play basketball. I feel like if we were able to play back that half with the same shots most of the time the results would not look so lopsided.
This wasn't a game like Maryland where they just lost their minds and forgot how to play basketball. I feel like if we were able to play back that half with the same shots most of the time the results would not look so lopsided.
This is pretty much my feelings exactly. We didn't make the open shots we had, and Ivey went beast mode in the 2nd half. It was nice to see RJ get some tick and a bit of "trial by fire" guarding Ivey - I am looking forward to see his game evolve because he is very athletic. Future is still bright - every team hits a road bump or two.
Purdue did double Kofi a lot- anytime Edey isn’t on him (and sometimes when he was) they would double or crash down with Sasha- which was half the game
On the bright side Kofi did much better against Edey this time (it’s hard to practice for a guy that big), so the next time he faces him it should be even better- I like our chances when we meet again
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
Lol...saying Curbelo can keep up with him but Trent can't is the silliest thing in this thread now.
If Trent or Damonte can't stop Ivey....there's not many in the country who can. He's an NBA ready right now lottery pick. See: Ja Morant.
Trent was all over him in the first half. Go watch it again. The dude just went off in the second half. Nobody was stopping him.
Ivey really had a great 2nd half....but you almost expect that from a player of his caliber....what I thought was the real difference in this game was the Purdue bench.....between Hunter, Furst, and Morton they had 19 pts..... and they came at moments when it appeared we had stopped Ivey, Edy, Stenvoivsh (sp) but the Morton rebound and put back or Hunters 3 were back breakers.....we're a good team....Purdue tonight was just better....we need to be more consistent in several areas to become and elite final four team
Although, Kevin Warren may decide that this IS how the conference champion is determined. Sort of like using winning % rather than most wins you know.
I will go back and watch it but you do know it’s 30 minutes of basketball? He may have stopped him in the first half but what about the 2nd half? If one of them didn’t step up than who is there that can? That’s why like I said we need some bigger and athletic guards that can defend those types of players for more than 15 minutes in a game. Shut down type of players. Anyways I’m positive we will bounce back from this.
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Prisoner of the moment. Before last night, we had the better record. They've lost 3 games in conference already. They were fantastic last night, so that's all you're fixated on. I'd be stunned if they won all three of those games.
hooraybeer
- Pittsburgh, PA
after morning coffee all I can say is kudos to Purdue and Ivey. Glad to see the top level NBA talent finding its way back to the B1G. Really hope the B1G can break through and get the NCAAT championship this year.. only helps the conference as a whole