** This was a game that surely was lots of fun at times, while very tough to take at others.
** This game also showed us we can be pretty good, but we still have a way to go.
** And it certainly gives as plenty to talk about, while hopefully giving Dixon some things he can learn from.
** Those sitting with me can testify that I started yelling for Dixon to go zone from about Purdue’s second trip. And as the early shortfall grew, I screamed louder and louder. I believe it was when the Boilers stretched the lead to 18-5, Dixon finally gave in.
** Hmmm … went zone with a 13 point deficit and we lost by 13. Just sayin.
** I also proclaimed that if Dixon had started the second half in man, I would have stormed onto the court to slap him upside his head. Sure glad I didn’t have to prove that one.
** I’ll get back to that zone issue in a bit, but regardless of the reason for the decficit, the reality is that we just aren’t good enough to make up that kind of ground and then surge ahead. And not against a team as good as Purdue who really can move the ball well.
** The good news however, was that to surge back like we did, we had to play some really good basketball. And it was some really good basketball, led by our often maligned point guard James Robinson.
** James was very good on both ends of the court for most of the game. It’s nice to see James shoot well, but it’s even better to see him get into the lane, and he did that effectively as well.
** Mike was good too, but he was trying a little too hard at the end. That problem is exacerbated when the rest of the Panther offense stops and watches Mike try to make moves, instead of continuing to move to give him places to pass to.
** Unfortunately, James and Mike didn’t have a good enough gun to help them. And one more gun might have been enough. Sheldon helped some, but Jamel wasn’t up to form and shots from Chris, Sterling, and especially Cam just couldn’t hit the mark when the team needed them most.
** That’s the other problem Dixon is facing now. He likes to rely on a rotation, and his depth is real. But it’s tough to know who he can call on to step in when needed.
** This is especially true at the five spot, and Dixon scrambled to find the right guy all night. And although his numbers don’t especially show it, Rafel Maia was that guy. It was his play in the zone midway through the first half that really sparked the team.
** Another spark to the zone was Mike playing the back wing, where he was able to cover the post, the wing and the corner with his wingspan. Cam Johnson had the same impact in his short stretches on the other back wing.
** Unfortunately, Sheldon and Jamel struggled with the same positional art. And in a game with so much talented size on both teams, Sheldon and Jamel allowed a 3-star freshman guard recruit (ranked around #150) to be the game changer by repeatedly living him open in the corner after floating too much in the paint.
** For stretches, our zone was pretty awesome, but not so much in the last 10 minutes of the game when we needed it most.
** Generally speaking however, I do think it’s time that Dixon fully embraces that zone needs to be the way this team plays this year. We can’t start games by getting killed in man, letting teams get their confidence flowing like the Boilers did today.
** Back to the other end, our guys also need to start executing by driving into the lane, or getting the ball into Mike in the post. For the first ten minutes or so, it was almost a total reliance on jump shots. That type of offense led to no baskets in the half court for the first seven minutes of the game. And of course, 17 point deficits.
** I was hopeful that the Panthers might make a big statement today, and of course I’m disappointed that didn’t happen.
** But this is clearly a better basketball team than last year, with plenty of areas where they can become even better.
** I believe “even better” actually can mean “pretty darn good.”
