Boilermakers Get Full Value From Columbus Visit, Check Out With 76-75 Win
If you subscribe to the theory that road wins in a tough conference like the Big Ten are a beautiful thing, then tonight was gorgeous from any angle. I’m sure the cynics [*looks around*] will find things to complain about, but this was a good, workmanlike win. Purdue didn’t do everything right and it wasn’t always pretty, but we talk about Purdue and Matt Painter-coached squads learning how to win close games, particularly away from Mackey, and this was an example of them finding a way.
Sure, a missed free throw meant OSU had the ball and a chance to win with a two. But thankfully, Thad Matta must have spent the time out with 5 seconds left going over bunt cake recipes, because OSU looked like they really didn’t know what to do and wound up settling for a desperation three point heave at the buzzer which was actually uncomfortably close to going in. And honestly, that would have hurt worse and I would have kicked in either my TV or my dog’s teeth so let’s be happy I’m not buying myself a new TV or a new dog. Plus dogs require housebreaking and training and I don’t have the energy to do that, my kids are 7 and 19 months so basically fully grown. Wait, what was I saying?
Aneesh got his wish and Vincent was in the starting lineup while Big Ike started the night on the bench and spent a lot of time there, winding up with only 20 minutes. But let me mention real quick that for those who are concerned with what we’re seeing from Haas, he had 6 points and 10 rebounds. He shot 2/5 from the floor and 2/5 from the line. He makes another bucket or two or hits his FTs and suddenly we’re noting that he had a double-double in only 20 minutes of action. Perspective is a funny thing.
Oh, hi, Boogie.
Carsen continues his rapid growth as a freshman (seriously, I get giddy every time I think about three more years of Carsen Edwards) and wound up with 12 points and five rebounds. I just love how he moves out there with the ball -- there’s a Steph element to his fluidity and confidence. No, no, I’m not saying he’s Steph or tossing nutty shots up that seem destined to go in, just saying that there’s something there that resembles some of Steph’s smooth game.
As usual, Caleb Swanigan was in the thick of it, but he toned it down from his usual two dozen rebounds to a 16 point, 11 rebound performance. Biggie shot only 33% from the floor, but he went 7/9 from the line and also defied the laws of physics:
Remember how everyone was in awe of his wingspan when he came to the Boilers? There’s what you can do with a 19 foot* wingspan.
(*May not be precise)
If you’re looking for other things to be happy about (aside from a win, which, isn’t that enough?), how about the distribution? Purdue had four guys in double figures scoring -- aforementioned Boogie and Biggie, along with Vincent at 16 points and Dakota with 14. PJ went 2/4 from the field, all from long range and hit two beauties. One was a first half rainbow and the other was with about 90 seconds to go and was a dagger. OSU managed to tie it back up but obviously Purdue doesn’t win without that clutch bomb. Oh, PJ. A guy who everyone wanted so badly to put out there are a liability is one of Purdue’s most big-time shot-hitters.
In the end, the Boilermakers won for only the second time ever at Discount Den Arena and for the first time in seven years. As I said, road wins are beautiful and should be appreciated for their gorgeousness. Now Purdue heads back to the friendly confines of Mackey Arena to host the Badgers on Sunday. Without a trip to Madtown this year, this one looms large as a game they absolutely have to have if they want to truly compete for the conference. Naturally, if they lose, many of you awesomeheads on Twitter will tell others to relax because it’s “only January 8,” as though the losses don’t count as much or something. But I’m getting off topic.
The moral for tonight is wins are great, wins over good programs are even better, road wins over perennially successful programs are super wonderful and putting OSU in an 0-2 hole is neat-o. And, I mean, just beating the Buckeyes at anything feels like a public service.
