dgambill

TKR and Jones will continue to be key players for Purdue. They are guys that will have opportunities tonight and it will come down to how they perform. UConn really doesn’t have a good matchup for TKR so I could see him doing some work against Karaban and it seems that Jones has been the guy left alone to shoot and he will get looks tonight. Those are my keys…of course outside whatever happens with the two bigs.

Issue with Ballo is then you have to players in your starting 5 that can not switch off and help on the perimeter. He and Reneau have no lateral ability…imo a super athletic rim runner/rim protector that can step out and hit jumpers and move a bit on the perimeter is the best case scenario to pair with Reneau. It’s just so tough to play a guy like Reneau at the 4…a traditional low post big who can’t rebound and can’t defend….thats just a tough player to build a team around.

Both teams went to analytics and overhauled how they play and how they practice. Painter brought in coaches from Baylor to help their 3pt shooting with new drills. Adapt or become extinct. Like the T-Woody.

We will see if they let them play tonight with the bigs inside. Hopefully we get a good game.

More importantly they just went over my win total for them this year. a nice little payout for what I put down before the season. They made me wonder with some horrible losses this year. With the Knicks hurt that would be the ideal matchup in rd 1 if they can get up to the 3 seed and they fall back…great matchup with Haliburton vs Brunson. Very tight race so be interesting to see how it plays out. Just stay out of the Celtics side of the bracket.

I’m not sure we should be celebrating too soon. UK with a good coach will be dangerous. Cal and his charity program to get poor kids into the nba was the best thing for us.

Not when he got the contact they didn’t want to be rid of him. Why sign him at all if that was the case. It was one sided contract….thats malpractice.

That was a truly awful contract that he drew up for Cal then. Should be fired for that alone.

Because it’s protection from someone stealing him and gives you compensation to go after his replacement.

Wow…what was Barnhart thinking…like 10 million a year and huge buyout to be rid of him but no protections for UK? Wow

I’m sure there is language that says if he leaves for another job that he has to pay UK. If not then that’s a horrible contract. It’s pretty standard the buyout goes both ways.

No…Arkansas has to pay to buy out Cal from Kentucky. Meaning UK is flush with cash to go after who they want.

I’d watch for Billy Donavon to UK. They won’t mess around.

That’s nothing if Arkansas just bought Cal out. That’s only 2 years of Johns salary.

No…we will do it like the Bears and trade it to a horrible team like Arizona or the Giants and get the #1 pick the following year…plus a wr…Marvin Harrison Jr….and who do we draft….Arch Manning! See…all fixed..even Ballard can’t mess that up!

Not that I’m aware. He likes being part of something bigger. I’d be shocked if he leaves. He will likely get more playing time next year. The culture built up there is something special. People can make fun of them all they want but it’s only out of jealousy.

They already have their QB…and if he isn’t the right guy…they will do that without even trying…like the Bears.

Just out played by TKR and Edey has been playing extended minutes lately.

A big difference this year is the addition of Jones and the growth of TKR. I think Those two will have a big impact on the game tomorrow.

Purdue and UConn have been the two best teams all year…probably could throw Houston in there too. It doesn’t happen often where you get a matchup of top teams for the championship. Both very deserving teams.

Colts have a lot of young players that played meaningful minutes last year. I think this year they will be put in position to test their mettle and see who rises to the occasion. We are in position where we can select the BPA. I like the WRs that should be there in Rd 2 so I think whomever we identify as the best player we can take them. Should still be an elite top tier talent there at 15 due to run on qbs and tackles. We don’t have an obvious need. A team that was good enough to make the playoffs (with just better qb play) is basically back and more seasoned. A lot of ways the draft could shake out and it’s nice for change to not be stressed for a particular position group to have to slide to us.

Wasn’t for Purdue.

Butler didn’t have a the 2x National player of the year…surrounded by 36%+ 3pt shooters. Purdue plays like today they get blown out…but they play a really good game and they can win. UConn could just as easily lay an egg and miss everything like NCST did.

Congrats to Matt Painter and the Purdue faithful…they’ve endured a lot and put in the work to get here. They run a respectable program and represent Indiana basketball the right way.

It was like a B1G game…like playing Penn St or something. Played right into their hands.