What is the story about?
It was the Keaton Wegler show in Mackey Arena.
This is one that stings because Purdue’s defense was completely out of sorts, but the Boilers were still in control up 4 at the final media timeout. For the second straight game an individual player completely disrupted anything Purdue tried to do defensveily and he either scored or dished off at key moments into wide open threes. The consecutive threes from Tomislav Ivisic, Jake Davis, and David Mirkovic quickly erased the lead Purdue had and proved
to be the difference in the end.
Some thoughts before postgame video.
- Keaton Wegler absolutely dogwalked Purdue.
- Just atrocious defense all day. All the switches were off and Illinois was shooting practice threes because there was zero effort to deny Wegler the ball if he had it. Purdue could not defend him straight up with anyone and by the end they were so scared of him Illinois was able to get whatever it wanted on switches.
- Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn are officially slumping. There is no doubt about it. TKR had just two rebounds today and Loyer is so shaken offensivel yhe has become a true liability.
- Good minutes for Omer Mayer today. I like what I saw off the bench from him.
- 33-19 on rebounds. At home in Mackey. Second chance points were 18-2. Yuck.
- It is very concerning that this was the second straight game where Purdue tightened up and lacked that killer instinct when it mattered most.
- I’ll say it: The season is in danger of slipping away. Purdue will make the tourney, but the Nebraska, Michigan, and Michigan State games are basically must wins now and we need some help. We also have to go into the lion’s den of Assembly Hall on Tuesday while they celebrate their football title. The Big Ten isn’t lost yet, but the vibes are WAY off.
- Braden was Braden, but he is getting no help right now. We start three All-Americans, but Loyer and TKR are shadows of themslves.
- That said, slumps happen. Iowa State is really, really good and htey dropped two in a row. There is time to right things and the weapons are there, but they have got to figure it out. That’s what Painter gets paid a lot of money for.
- I don’t have much else to say. We were never going undefeated in the league and the top 5 teams are so good that getting through all four unscathed was unlikely, but this was the first of those four and at home. With 11 games left you’re looking at probably 9-2 down the stretch to win the Big Ten and get a 1 Seed. Right now we’re probably a three. I’d rather have our slump now than in six weeks, but Purdue has to play better. We know it can.
Oscar Cluff, Braden Smith, & Trey Kaufman-Renn
Matt Painter
