Brunt: Purdue’s recent success no mirage
By CLIFF BRUNT
ISL Editor
I skipped covering the Boilermakers on Saturday.
See, I was busy watching my favorite 6-year-old point guard go 3-for-3 from the field in the first quarter of his YMCA game.
I’m talking about my son, Elias.
It was the final game of his season — trophy day — so I felt it appropriate that I attend. He more than earned his award in a two-minute flurry of greatness that was befitting the number six jersey he wore. It was truly a King James-like performance. The quick scouting report is he’s fast, can go either direction with the ball, is strong, has shooting range out to the free-throw line and plays defense. He’s really good. Of course, I’m biased.
So, I didn’t attend Saturday’s game, but I know what happened. The Boilermakers simply did more of what they have been doing lately in their 89-73 win over Minnesota.
I’ll note a few things as the best team in the nation with a losing record approaches the Big Ten tournament. Purdue plays Nebraska on Thursday at 5 p.m. in the first round, with the winner to play Ohio State on Friday.
A.J. Hammons is back.
The big center was effective, going 6-for-6 from the field and posting 14 points, six rebounds and three blocks against the Golden Gophers. This is the version of Hammons the Boilermakers need if they are to make noise at the Big Ten tournament. As good as Sandi “Chooch” Marcius, also known as “Macho Man Sandi Savage,” “Sandiman,” “Sand Storm,” “Super Sandi” and “The Croatian Sensation” has been (thanks, Twitter followers), Hammons is the one the Boilermakers need to be at his best going forward.
Rapheal Davis had another good game.
The thing that jumps out from the box score isn’t so much the 18 points, it’s the seven free throws, the most on the team. You don’t shoot that many free throws unless you’re confident and aggressive. That’s 33 points the past two games for him. He’s starting to show that he can do what he did against Notre Dame in December more often. The Boilermakers need his production, and it’s good the coaching staff has given him some freedom.
D.J. Byrd closed it out right.
Good to see that Byrd lit it up against Minnesota. His 18 points on 4-for-8 shooting from 3-point range is the way you want a senior to end his home career. Byrd has improved as other players have become more consistent.
The Boilers are playing unselfish basketball.
Purdue had 20 assists to eight turnovers against Minnesota. Ronnie Johnson had five assists to three turnovers, an acceptable ratio given the speed at which he plays.
Purdue is in a position to make noise now. With the blowout over Northwestern, the win at Wisconsin, the close call against Michigan and the win over Minnesota, it’s clear that the success is no mirage. This is an NCAA-tournament level team that probably won’t make it to postseason play at all because of early losses that came before the Boilermakers figured it out. But if Purdue beats Nebraska, Ohio State will face a very talented Boilermaker team that has it together now and needs a victory to have a shot at postseason play. That could be a very, very interesting situation.
Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/cliffbrunt_isl.
