Well, Zach Edey of Toronto wins back to back NPOY in college ball. First time in four decades. He lead the nation in scoring on 62% shooting. Mind you, a lot of the guys from the latter half of that time span didn't spend 4 or 5 years in college.
Anyway, I posted on here last year when Purdue lost as a 1 seed to 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson about how BS professional coaching is when you're okay with your best player, who was playing well, only takes 11 shots in a close game that you should be dominating. You as the HC have to force him to get to the rim and force things, especially since he was shooting well. If not, then bench him for not being aggressive.
This year in the tournament he went:
11-17 for 30
8-11 for 23 in a total domination so he didn't need to shoot a lot
10-15 for 27
13-21 for 40
9-14 for 20
15-25 for 37 in a loss in the NC game
Oh wow, who would have thought if the best player in the country who happens to be 7'4 attacks the rim you tend to win games.
Last year was such a wasted opportunity for Purdue. Matt Painter has built a really good program at Purdue, but they were known for flopping out too much in the tournament. This year they got to the NC game but lost to the best team in the country in UConn. Last year UConn won the natty as well, but they were a 4 seed. Their opponent in the NC game was 5 seed San Deigo St, a total surprise package. Purdue was a 1 seed this year and last year. They probably had a better chance of winning the natty last year than this year, but it goes to show, dumb coaching in just one game can cost your program not only a game, but a rare chance at a championship. The Zach Edey era is over and PU's chance at winning that elusive NC just got much harder.
Purdue is not Duke, UNC, KU or UK. They are not bluebloods that reload with 4 and 5 star recruits every year and always have a chance. So it kind of pissess me off when coaches making $3m to $9m a year can't figure out the simplest of solutions when I can think of it while sitting here on my couch scratching my nuts. I have many anecdotes or connections related to Purdue so I always cheer for them in basketball and football. Not my primary team, but they are likeable with their gold and black colour scheme and awesome name of Boilermakers. I love that they're from a town nobody has heard of (West Lafayette, IN).
I really respect UConn a hell of a lot too. Don't know how they've won 6 natties since 1999 with three different coaches. They hadn't done much before that. And they are not known for bringing in loaded recruting classes. I loved it when they won in 2014 with a bunch of upper classmen over Kentucky with their 5 star one and dones.
I wanted to rock my Purdue hat for a couple of days but settled for the Uconn shirt.
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