Boilers Hammer Down Huskers and Cancer; Win 81-62
(Photo Credit: Purdue Basketball)
I just finished watching the likable Tim Miles comment about tonight’s loss to our Boilers…and I felt a bit of sympathy. Nebraska is in the midst, once again, of a disappointing season, in spite of a promising start. This time, an injury to a starter changed the trajectory of the Huskers season. With the loss in God’s Country, Nebraska slipped to 13-11, while the white-hot Boilers won their ninth-straight and improved to an unlikely 17-6.
These Boilers like playing with each other, and it’s apparent…and each game, we get to see something new and unexpected.
Tonight, Grady Eifert notched his first double-digit point output in 85 games as a Boilermaker. THAT in itself is a Boilermaker-type-of-thing…grinding…gritty…Grady Eifert. Career high, 16 points and a well-rounded 7 rebounds and 4 steals. Eifert was perfect from three (2-2), perfect from the field (4-4) and finally, perfect from the FT line (6-6). Coach Miles called Eifert the real difference in the game…they thought Edwards would get his points…and they were also right about that.
Boogie finished with yet another workmanlike, nearly-30 point game. Ho hum, Carsen scored 27 points, in spite of not shooting the ball well from deep. He still hit 50% of his shots…but made the biggest difference on the freebees as he went 9-9 from the FT line.
His pal Jelly had himself a game as well…Eastern looked like a force yet again on offense. 12 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and a couple of steals isn’t bad work, if you’re into that sort of thing. He also was a monster on defense…as we’ve come to expect.
This was efficient basketball. Purdue turned the ball over just 8 times, but had 8 steals, 7 blocks and 12 assists. At the same time, these Boilers out-rebounded their opponent by 15 (39 total rebounds). They also hit 90% of their FTs as a team and over 50% of their field goals. Rock solid effort, yo.
This Matters More
Purdue wore black/light gray/Bright green jerseys as they raised money for cancer research. They honored Tyler (a consummate winner) with a victory, and a member of J Money’s Family was honored on King’s warm-up. Cancer has a name…it’s people you know, people you love…Tyler, Nino, Donna. Good on Purdue Basketball for continuing to creatively raise funds to fight bac
Edwards blocked a Nebraska big man’s shot, Eifert scored a bunch of points, and Matty’s Boilers won their ninth-straight game. Painter has simply been masterful in 2019. His Boilers are not only winning, they’re developing depth. The first official NCAA tournament prognostication came out from the committee earlier today. These Boilers are the highest three seed as of Saturday afternoon. Who’d a thought that was possible waaaaaaaaaay back in December.
Not me. I was wrong…and I love it.
Next up, Purdue has it’s most formidable contest of the remaining season- A roadie in the state of Maryland versus a ranked foe…who they beat when they weren’t good. These Boilers might struggle in the next contest; it’s tough to win on the road in the B1G, afterall. But hell, this team is nothing-but-fun. Here’s to another solid effort on early Tuesday evening.
