Brunt: Purdue beats Wisconsin. Now what?
By CLIFF BRUNT
ISL Editor
Whenever a team pulls off a major upset, more can often be learned from how it handles the next game than from the unexpected win.
We’ll learn a lot about Purdue on Wednesday.
The Boilermakers pulled off one of the biggest shockers of the college basketball season with their 69-56 win over then-No. 17 Wisconsin on Sunday. Because we’ve seen so much up-and-down play from the Boilermakers this season and the Wolverines are one of the nation’s most talented teams, it might be too much to expect a win over Michigan. The Wolverines lost to Penn State last week, so you can bet they will be in tune against a team that is perceived to be inferior this time. That doesn’t mean Purdue can’t progress on Wednesday night or possibly win, but the Boilermakers aren’t going to catch the Wolverines off guard.
There are five things I think will be important to monitor against the Wolverines.
1. Can Terone Johnson continue his strong play?
Johnson has been Purdue’s most consistent player in the past six games. He disappeared in the Iowa game, but in the other five games, he scored 87 points, or 17.4 per game. His play on both ends of the floor set the tone against Northwestern, and his aggressive drives helped free up D.J. Byrd for 3-pointers against Wisconsin. He led the Boilermakers with 14 points last time Purdue played Michigan. He has taken charge as a team leader, and he needs to keep growing in that area for the greater good of the program. Part of that is being that steady rock his teammates can lean on.
2. Can Ronnie Johnson continue to thrive as a floor general?
Eight assists to two turnovers — those are the kinds of numbers Purdue has sought from its talented but inconsistent point guard, and that’s what the Boilermakers got out of him against Wisconsin. He has figured out the pass first thing — he has 14 assists combined in his past two games. Now, can he put back-to-back efficient performances together? Can he go two straight games against top competition without turnovers and ill-advised shots?
3. Can D.J. Byrd have another big game?
It’s possible, but it depends somewhat on factors beyond his control. Byrd lit up Nik Stauskas for 11 points in the first half of the last matchup with Michigan, then Glenn Robinson shut him out in the second half. So hos Michigan chooses to guard him will play a role.
Byrd has been up and down this season, but he has found his rhythm recently, averaging 15.3 points the past three games while making 11 of 24 3-pointers. The Boilermakers need him to make the Wolverines pay if they overcommit to the Johnsons on the drive.
4. Can A.J. Hammons get back on track?
Hammons had a very good stretch earlier this season, starting with the Indiana game in West Lafayette. His 30-point night against the Hoosiers put him on the national radar.
His four games since have been shaky. He has averaged 7.5 points and shot 13-for-32 from the field. Worse yet, the Boilermakers looked better when Sandi Marcius was in the game against Wisconsin. Hammons is still one of the most awesome physical forces in the Big Ten. The Boilermakers need their best talent to play its best against Michigan to have a chance because they have few advantages against the Wolverines. I’m also interested to see how he handles getting outplayed by Marcius last week. It’s not just about the results either — Hammons’ effort and body language when he’s on the floor and when he’s on the bench will tell a great deal about his maturity.
5. Has the Painter Way truly set in?
We saw the Painter Way in full effect against Northwestern and Wisconsin, but there was a shaky performance against Iowa in between. The most important element to watch on Wednesday night is Purdue’s effort and willingness to play as a team. If the Boilermakers do those things, for the first time this season, there will be some positive consistency in the way the team is performing.
Remember, there is something on the line for Purdue. The Boilermakers still have a shot at a winning record and some level of postseason play. There is no reason to expect anything less than maximum effort. A lazy performance is something the team, and Painter, can’t afford as Purdue tries to salvage something this season and lay a foundation for the future.
Also: Brunt on Purdue’s stunner against Wisconsin
Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/cliffbrunt_isl.
