Written by BTN.com staff
Good points, Josh. He is a great player. 19/11 tonight!!!
I do. Like I said, his defense is underrated. And he’s better on offense, once you consider how often he gets to the line.
You really think Zeller is having a better year than Oladipo, Josh?
Good points, Brent on Minn/Purdue first halves.
For player of the year, I think Cody Zeller still rates ahead of Oladipo, if just barely. Burke is probably still the frontrunner. Andre Hollins deserves a look, too.
It’s only a matter of time before he becomes a quality shooter.
Yogi!
I don’t know, I think I’d go with Minnesota game. A lot of damage tonight was from free-throw line.
Was this IU first half better than their effort vs. Minnesota? I think this was a more impressive opening 20 minutes.
Burke, and I like Deshaun Thomas, too. Adreian Payne is playing out of his mind right now, too.
Got to be Trey Burke. But Oladipo has to be right there for guys after Burke.
Vic Oladipo B1G player of the year????
Good points. Time will tell. IU is very good and motivated.
Think about it this way–Michigan’s freshman class is the best we’ve seen since the Thad Five. But no one would trade Zeller, Hulls, and Watford for GR3, Stauskas, and McGary. The freshmen are good, but not that good.
I don’t know about that. IU has a couple of very good recruits for next season, but none of them will be as good as Zeller, Hulls, or Watford are now. And Oladipo, if he leaves.
Yep, and 4-5 more 5 star studs will take their spots!!!
Yep, Indiana could lose a lot of pieces that are very difficult to replace.
Ronnie, A.J., Terone, Davis might be better collection than what IU has.
IU on an almost 100 point pace. Think about that…..
Could be flipped as soon as next year, Tom.
The talent difference between these teams is frightening.
Zeller going for the first-half double-double. Maybe a board short.
Well, NU pushed IU to the wall…. Wisconsin won at IU .l… Butler beat IU … Purdue shouldn’t get crushed AT HOME by IU.
Indiana is pretty good, Tom.
Getting SMOKED…… At home…… not even halftime…..
Exactly what are the strengths of this Purdue team??????
Maybe a very poor man’s Bo Ryan would have been a better way of putting it.
I don’t disagree with that, Brent. Painter’s been very good at adjusting to his roster’s strengths.
The Baby Boilers were great players, but he consistently gets more out of less. At least, he does in my mind.
I say that because they get a lot out of little.
Bo Ryan until last game was No. 1 in Big Ten history in win percentage!!!! No WAY Painter is Bo Ryan Jr.!!!
Purdue should run EVERY time it can. I don’t see it getting anything good in the halfcourt. Dribble, pass, dribble, pass, turnover, forced shot….
High praise, Brent, but I don’t know if I’d go that far.
Matt Painter is Bo Ryan Jr.
Well, he looked great there. Fantastic hands by Hammons to catch the ball and score it so quickly.
Purdue needs more than Hammons to beat any team that is halfway decent. The lack of good shooters is absolutely stunning. And the backup big men?????
Like all frosh, Hammons is going to have his bad games. But this kid is going to be something special. Doesn’t even have to score. Like at all.
Hammons is not on his game tonight, and Purdue needs his offense.
Indiana is rolling. Watching Purdue run halfcourt offense is just brutal.
Yes, that’s very good for a college player, especially one that finishes at the rim as well as Oladipo. But that probably translates to something like a 30% 3P shooter at the NBA level. Is that good enough for a 2-guard? I think that’s really the main concern scouts might have.
But at the collegiate level, there aren’t many holes in his game.
Well, sure, he’s going to regress. But I don’t think he’ll all of the sudden not be able to make a 3. Even 35 percent range is OK.
Well, he’s not really a 55% 3P shooter. No one is. Everyone who shoots it that well almost inevitably regresses.
Another data point is his FT shooting, which is around 70%. Generally that translates into something closer to a 33-35% 3P shooter.
I don’t know if Oladipo’s shooting can be an aberration. I mean, isn’t this too long of a stretch to be a fluke?
Look at Taco, draining another jumper. Very un-Taco-like.
Taco was running at the rim as soon as he shot that. Not the most confident player.
God that Purdue crowd sounds amazing.—
Eamonn Brennan (@eamonnbrennan) January 31, 2013
To his credit, he does use screens well off the ball.
I don’t know how he gets so wide open so often, considering he can’t do much else. And it’s not like Purdue boasts some killer scorer everyone must help on, either.
Where is DJ Byrd? That’s a sentence we could use a lot this season. He’s a one-dimensional guy.
Purdue’s lone chance to hit shots. Where is DJ Byrd? Is T. Johnson gonna drive the lane?
These teams have really scouted each other well. You see IU close out hard on Byrd, because he’s not a great shooter off the bounce.
And No. 2 on Hammons. To the bench he goes.
Not a bad comparison, Brent, but Brewer is a couple inches taller.
Oladipo = Ronnie Brewer?
I don’t understand why anyone fouls Watford on the interior. He’s just such a poor finisher at the rim.
Yeah, but is he really going to stick around a year so he can lift weights? They have those in the NBA too. Another year adds to his age coming out, and that’s going to be used against him.
With Oladipo, the question I have is what position does he play? Can he shoot well enough for the 2? He’s shooting very well this year, but is that an aberration?
And there’s foul No. 1 on Hammons.
Different people, different players, but both would benefit from being bigger, stronger.
Maybe his brother’s lack of success in the NBA this year will keep him one more year.
The question I have is whether Oladipo tests the waters.
Iu Purdue enough said—
Tre Roberson (@tre_roberson5) January 31, 2013
Yes, Josh. Zeller probably gonna bolt after this season.
Definitely. All of which makes me think this is his last year on campus. But who knows?
And he’s improved as a rebounder, too.
He’s much, much improved over last season.
Zeller is actually a really underrated defender now. Only 5 fewer steals than Oladipo in conference play, he’s also got 11 blocks and just one fewer defensive rebound than Watford.
I just see Zeller getting Hammons in early foul trouble and having a big game.
I don’t see an upset happening here tonight. Purdue just doesn’t have the offense to hang with Indiana. Yeah, I know, neither does Wisconsin.
Back in March 1992, unranked Purdue topped No. 4 IU in Mackey. Could it happen again?
Hammons, no question. Zeller fouls less, and draws more.
Who gets in four trouble first? Zeller or Hammons?
The question I have on Michigan is whether they will beat the 2005 Illinois team’s PPP mark (1.21 in conference play). Coming into tonight, UM was at 1.19.
I’m not sure Mitch McGary wouldn’t give him fits. Only reason he comes off bench is for effort spark, much like Craft as a frosh.
Who knows with sprained ankles.
Will Jordan Morgan play at IU? May need him vs. Zeller et al.
So much for Michigan looking ahead to the Hoosiers. The Wolverines looked very good in going to 20-1 for first time in school annals.
We’ll learn a lot more about the Wolverines – I think they’ll still be REALLY good – after that stretch.
Yes, Michigan’s upcoming sked is brutal:
at Indiana
OSU
at Wisc.
at MSU
Man, it looked like Northwestern was going to make this a real game, but Sobo’s three missed FTs really changed it all.
I wonder who will go pro for Michigan. GR3? Burke? Hardaway?
Man, Michigan is putting the pedal to the metal.
But with both back next season, in addition to Sobo and Olah (who should be pretty good), this could be a surprise team.
They’d be a lot better, and dare I say, tourney worthy?
How good would NU be if Crawford and Cobb were playing?
Here’s something to keep you interested during commercial breaks:
Michigan looking a bit sleepy coming out in the second half. Burke needs to provide a spark. I’m guessing motivation is an issue.
Halftime recap:
Trey Burke has 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting to lead No. 1 Michigan to a 36-21 lead over Northwestern at the end of the first half. The Wolverines shot 61 percent (14-of-23), including 63 percent from downtown (5-of-8), and recorded 10 assists on their 14 field goals.
Nik Stauskas added night points and Glenn Robinson III chipped in eight for the Wolverines.
Dave Sobolewski, Reggie Hearn and Alex Marcotullio all scored five points apiece to pace Northwestern.
For as loaded as Michigan is on offense, its defense is every bit as impressive.
Nik Stauskas drains 3, says, “I’m baaack.” Love it!
So much motor.
He’s John Simon on a basketball court.
How athletic is McGary?! Guy is gonna be really good.
Glenn Robinson III’s first dunk of the night:
That’s what they need to do.
NU takes “milking the clock” to new levels!!!
Alex Marcotullio is the microwave!!!
He is cheesy! And he knows it.
What did Bacari Alexander tell these guys!? LOL
Michigan has 19 points in first seven minutes, and Tim Hardaway Jr. hasn’t taken a shot. #Deep.
Annddddd Bill Carmody starts the timeout parade — lightning fast 7-0 run by Michigan, he looks disgusted.—
Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) January 30, 2013
For announcers, I have to imagine these are the games you live for. Such fun last names on NU: Sobolewski, Olah, Swopshire, Marcotullio.—
Chantel Jennings (@ChantelJennings) January 30, 2013
I think they have a “shot.” But it’s going to take off nights from Stauskas, GR3 and Hardaway – like at Ohio State.
Something to consider: Northwestern’s Reggie Hearn vs. ranked foes – 51 percent, 16.5 ppg; vs. unranked foes – 29 percent, 8.7 ppg.
I have a feeling this will be a 40-minute celebration of Michigan being No. 1.
Does NU have a shot?
One thing I know about this game: Northwestern will play at a much slower pace than it did in the Big Ten opener. Michigan won’t flirt with 90 points tonight.
Jon Horford will make his first start of the season tonight in place of Jordan Morgan.—
Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) January 30, 2013
This should be a fun Super Wednesday doubleheader. The No. 1 team up first, then No. 3 at its heated rival. I’m pumped.
Michigan keys victory – bring great energy. That's it!—
Tim McCormick (@TMcCormickESPN) January 30, 2013
#Michigan has never lost a home game as the No. 1 team in the country. Adds up to a 13-0 record, all coming in 1964-65 or 1976-77.—
Stephen J. Nesbitt (@stephenjnesbitt) January 30, 2013
37-point win. Wow! Very impressive. IU heads into its big showdown playing well.