Two advantages we might have. Our style is a little quirky, and we have some non-typical players. Rogers Woods and Mareik Isom are prime examples. Might give Purdue a few minutes to figure them out.

http://www.si.com/college-basketball/pur...tournament

http://www.si.com/college-basketball/ark...tournament

Two places were we might match up well with them. They do not force many turnovers and we do not make many. We do not allow many steals, and they do not get many steals. They do not get to the FT line very often, which might mean our defense can apply pressure.

One correction to the Purdue preview piece. They do not start two seven footers. Hammons at (7') is the starter and plays about 75% of the minutes. Haas (7'2") backs him up for the rest of the minutes. If both centers get into foul trouble, Swanigan is slid from the 4 to the 5 spot.

I'm looking forward to this game and the contrast in styles. In March, you never know. In 2011, Purdue was a victim of VCUs run to the final four.

(03-16-2016 02:05 PM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote:  http://www.si.com/college-basketball/pur...tournament

http://www.si.com/college-basketball/ark...tournament

Wonder what defense we will use, since they have size and shooters.

Most teams have tried man against Purdue. Most would double down on the post when it goes to Hammons or Haas. I would think this is what LR will do. Hammons and Haas are almost automatic down low. The making of 3s, as with most teams is a little more variable.

(03-16-2016 03:27 PM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote:  Wonder what defense we will use, since they have size and shooters.

Well, we have two starters shooting 42%-plus from the arc and another at 37%. We'll have to hope they all have career nights.

I meant Purdue's 3s are variable. They had been shooting the ball from 3 very well up until the BigTen final. If they had shot what they had the 3 or 4 prior games, Sparty would not have been cutting down the nets.

I would think LR will try to deny the post and let Purdue try to beat them outside. At the same time LR will have to be hitting from 3. I don't think they will get much inside against the Purdue post men. Even on dribble penetration, Hammons has cleaned up a lot of defensive mistakes from his teammates. Haas is not as good at helping and can at times get in foul trouble trying to stop it.

(03-16-2016 03:51 PM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote:  Well, we have two starters shooting 42%-plus from the arc and another at 37%. We'll have to hope they all have career nights.

(03-16-2016 04:00 PM)Boiler_81 Wrote:  Haas is not as good at helping and can at times get in foul trouble trying to stop it.

Maybe we need to cut Woods loose when Haas is in the game.

By the way, Purdue fans, we have enjoyed the discussion leading up to the game. But, if you had just happened to be the University of Purdue at Fayetteville, this board would absolutely explode. No love whatsoever lost there. You cannot possibly imagine how exhilarating it is for us to be going to the Dance in a year when Fayetteville is going no where. We are PROUD to be Arkansas' team in the Dance.

(03-16-2016 06:26 PM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote:  By the way, Purdue fans, we have enjoyed the discussion leading up to the game. But, if you had just happened to be the University of Purdue at Fayetteville, this board would absolutely explode. No love whatsoever lost there. You cannot possibly imagine how exhilarating it is for us to be going to the Dance in a year when Fayetteville is going no where. We are PROUD to be Arkansas' team in the Dance.

Also enjoyed sharing a little about this year's Boilers as well. A Purdue fan's two favorite teams are 1) Purdue and 2) Whoever is playing IU so we understand about intra-state rivals.

Defensively, the spot that worries me is the 2. At the 5, 4 and 1 we are about the same height. At the 3 we are three inches shorter, but probably stronger. But Marcus is going to be giving up 7 inches at the 2.

(03-17-2016 08:13 AM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote:  Defensively, the spot that worries me is the 2. At the 5, 4 and 1 we are about the same height. At the 3 we are three inches shorter, but probably stronger. But Marcus is going to be giving up 7 inches at the 2.

Davis, Purdue's "2", doesn't always look to score but will when the opportunity presents itself. His main value is on the defensive side as he'll take on the opponents best 1 to 4 position player. Purdue tries to keep him off a point guard for an entire game but, if needed, will match him up in the 2nd half. While Hammons was B10 Defensive POY this season, he edged out Davis, who took home that honor last season.

I've posted a couple of videos about Purdue's centers to provide some insight but what most teams have trouble with isn't necessarily their height, it's their girth. Neither is thin which makes it doubly difficult to keep them from getting post position. It's tough for opposing centers who, while tall, weigh 210-230lbs to keep them from posting up. At best, they tire from trying to root out 250-290 lb players all game. At worst, they tend to foul and tire. Until you see him in person, Haas is almost impossible to describe. Unlike a lot of players close to 300lbs, he is well proportioned and relatively quick on his feet.

I'd guess the match ups to start from Purdue's perspective would be:
Johnson - Thompson (5'11 188lbs)
Hagins - Davis. (6'6" 217lbs)
Woods - Swanigan (6'9" 250lbs)
Isom - Edwards (6'8" 225lbs)
Shoshi - Hammons (7'0" 250lbs)

(03-17-2016 09:37 AM)CalBoiler1 Wrote:  

(03-17-2016 08:13 AM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote:  Defensively, the spot that worries me is the 2. At the 5, 4 and 1 we are about the same height. At the 3 we are three inches shorter, but probably stronger. But Marcus is going to be giving up 7 inches at the 2.

Davis, Purdue's "2", doesn't always look to score but will when the opportunity presents itself. His main value is on the defensive side as he'll take on the opponents best 1 to 4 position player. Purdue tries to keep him off a point guard for an entire game but, if needed, will match him up in the 2nd half. While Hammons was B10 Defensive POY this season, he edged out Davis, who took home that honor last season.

I've posted a couple of videos about Purdue's centers to provide some insight but what most teams have trouble with isn't necessarily their height, it's their girth. Neither is thin which makes it doubly difficult to keep them from getting post position. It's tough for opposing centers who, while tall, weigh 210-230lbs to keep them from posting up. At best, they tire from trying to root out 250-290 lb players all game. At worst, they tend to foul and tire. Until you see him in person, Haas is almost impossible to describe. Unlike a lot of players close to 300lbs, he is well proportioned and relatively quick on his feet.

I'd guess the match ups to start from Purdue's perspective would be:
Johnson - Thompson (5'11 188lbs)
Hagins - Davis. (6'6" 217lbs)
Woods - Swanigan (6'9" 250lbs)
Isom - Edwards (6'8" 225lbs)
Shoshi - Hammons (7'0" 250lbs)

Rationally, I don't see anyway we can match-up and stay in this game. Luckily, my thinking is not always rational with regard to my favorite team.

It's all about the game plan. We faced a team with 3 7 footers and a couple of NBA guys the other night and didn't allow their size to beat us. I'm not familiar with your teams as much as I'd like to be, but the right plan and execution can take away, or limit, their size advantage inside. I'm not sure how well Purdue shoots from outside as I don't spend much time on the Big Ten, but if they're average or worse, I can see a lot of digging and double teams and force them to shoot more jump shots. Make life hell for the big guys and see what happens.

Play your game. Take it to them. See you in the Sweet 16

I want to win. I think we can win. But above all I want to show that we belong. We got here, we got a decent seed, now let's prove it.

(03-15-2016 11:28 AM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote:  CBS has Purdue by 9.

It keeps shrinking. It went to 8.5, and now is down to 8.

Game start around 330?

Correct.

http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_...to-advance

Looks like they are saying we have one chance out of five to win today.