Purdue gets the season started this evening when they will take on Howard University at 5pm. My prediction for this one is 77-52 good guys. I believe we will start JJ and EM obviously and then Lew Jack, Bade and Barlow to start the season. Eventually, you may see Terone Johnson get a chance to start depending on how the offense is doing. Beyond Howard, we have Alcorn State, Oakland, Austin Peay and Southern Illinois coming up. There is no reason to believe we will lose any of these games and the Boilers will be 5-0 before they face the winner of Richmond vs Wright State. It doesn't matter who wins, the Boilers take care of business at the Chicago Invitational and we move to 6-0.
Next up is the Big Ten/ACC challenge. This will obviously be our first real test of the season. Many games will probably depend on JJ and if he can stay out of foul trouble. I think VT will get JaJuan into some early foul trouble and we will have to play much of the first half without him. As a result, we get behind early but much like Alabama last season, we find a way to win. Purdue 62 Virginia Tech 59.
Purdue will be a perfect 7-0 heading into a home game vs a well coached Alabama team looking for some revenge from last year. Check back for updates.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptJKszfWWpU
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Purdue's season took an unlucky turn a couple of weeks ago when Robbie Hummel tore his right ACL for the second time in less than 8 months. He is out for the year and will have surgery in November. After taking several days to come back to reality and lower my expectations for the 2010-11 season, I have renewed optimism.
I think Purdue still has a good chance for the final four. While most "experts" have written us off this year, I believe some of the stars will begin to line up and good karma will start to make it's way back to Mackey Arena.
In 2007, Purdue got beat by the defending and eventual back to back champion Flordia Gators. The following year, we made the second round and got beat by a more experienced and more athletic Xavier team. The Musketeers made the Elite 8 getting beat by UCLA in that round. In 2009, the Boilers were out manned by Hassem Thabeet and another great Connecticut team that made the final four. 2010 followed with as much promise I had ever seen around this program until that fateful day in Februry when Rob tore his ACL for the first time. Of course, the team regrouped and won it's league leading twenty second Big Ten Title. Purdue ended up losing to Duke who would be the eventual champion.
My point here is in Florida, Xavier, Connecticut and Duke, we have been roughed up by experienced teams. Two of which went on to win the national title. In the regard, we are due for some luck and I believe we will get it in the 2011 NCAA Tournament. You have to be lucky and good to win the NCAA Tournament. Any coach will tell you that. For example when IU played Kent State in 2002 to get to the Final Four in Atlanta.
I am not necessarily predicting a Final Four as I was before Hummel's injury but I am not canceling the flight I have going to Houston on March 31 and coming back April 5.
More to come before the season tips off.
I think Purdue still has a good chance for the final four. While most "experts" have written us off this year, I believe some of the stars will begin to line up and good karma will start to make it's way back to Mackey Arena.
In 2007, Purdue got beat by the defending and eventual back to back champion Flordia Gators. The following year, we made the second round and got beat by a more experienced and more athletic Xavier team. The Musketeers made the Elite 8 getting beat by UCLA in that round. In 2009, the Boilers were out manned by Hassem Thabeet and another great Connecticut team that made the final four. 2010 followed with as much promise I had ever seen around this program until that fateful day in Februry when Rob tore his ACL for the first time. Of course, the team regrouped and won it's league leading twenty second Big Ten Title. Purdue ended up losing to Duke who would be the eventual champion.
My point here is in Florida, Xavier, Connecticut and Duke, we have been roughed up by experienced teams. Two of which went on to win the national title. In the regard, we are due for some luck and I believe we will get it in the 2011 NCAA Tournament. You have to be lucky and good to win the NCAA Tournament. Any coach will tell you that. For example when IU played Kent State in 2002 to get to the Final Four in Atlanta.
I am not necessarily predicting a Final Four as I was before Hummel's injury but I am not canceling the flight I have going to Houston on March 31 and coming back April 5.
More to come before the season tips off.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Dog Days of Summer
While awaiting the release of the 2010-11 Purdue Men's Basketball schedule, I decided to start blogging about the upcoming season and what I think will prove to be the best year in the programs history.
During the course of the next 8 months, I will be posting my thoughts, pictures and first hand experiences of the season as it unfolds. Last season, I had the unfourtnate distinction of being in attendance for each of Purdue losses except Duke. This year, I plan on making as many road trips around the Big Ten as possible.
"THIS IS OUR YEAR"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8QY88-ib2A
During the course of the next 8 months, I will be posting my thoughts, pictures and first hand experiences of the season as it unfolds. Last season, I had the unfourtnate distinction of being in attendance for each of Purdue losses except Duke. This year, I plan on making as many road trips around the Big Ten as possible.
"THIS IS OUR YEAR"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8QY88-ib2A
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