Purdue falls in OT to the Illini

I know the Big Ten is an improved conference, but it seemed like Painter and Weber were under the cloud of whoever loses the game has to swap places with Tom Crean for the rest of the season. The energy was unbelievable. The more than usual derisive Purdue crowd bellyached throughout the game, though why they were so upset is beyond me considering Purdue shot 14 more free throws than the Illini.

3 very young and talented big men did their thing in this contest. Purdue’s lanky JuJuan Johnson pulled down 14 boards and made 8-10 free throws. Johnson did miss the go ahead free throw with 1.9 left on the clock in regulation.

The Illini’s sophomore twin towers, 6′9 Mike Davis and 7′0 Mike Tisdale, (or should they go by Mike and Mike?) combined for 30 points and 12 rebounds. Davis swatted a couple of shots away and knocked down by my count at least 3 mid range jumpers, real feathery soft touch for a 6′9 sophomore.

When Tisdale picks up a dumbbell it will surely be for the first time. His arms remind me of the arms of former Illini 7 footer Nick Smith. The 18 points Tisdale scored allowed me to put aside his physique weaknesses for a second. He is stronger and much better than he looks.

Transfer guard Alex Legion came into the game averaging 3.3 ppg in 12 min/gm, still trying to acclimate himself to the Illini system. Well tonight it came together for the smooth shooter as he scored 12 points off the bench in 25 minutes of action.

Big Ten pre-season player of the year Robbie Hummel only took 7 shots in route to a 7 point effort. E’Twaun Moore, Purdue’s best player, kept them in it with a team high 17.

Illinois was the more poised team tonight, surprisingly. Bruce Weber coached teams usually don’t look this organized or have this much talent.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but Purdue’s 5′9 Bobby Riddell got ridiculously torn up over and over on defense. Kid has a nice stroke but the foot speed of a chair.

I could see Bruce Weber leaving a kid in the game like that, but Matt Painter, the greatest coach in the country making that mistake?

The combover can’t be impressed with his predecessor right now.