These aren't your grand daddy's Boilers.
Purdue moves to 2-0 on the year, trouncing Vermont(0-2) 107-79. The Boilermakers set a new school record for made 3's in one game going 18-36. Dakota Mathias lead the charge by making his first 5 three pointers, but it was an all around effort from behind the arc. Six Boilermakers knocked down a three, including two more three pointers by star freshman Caleb Swanigan who also grabbed 13 boards to go with his 14 points. The true freshman has now recorded a double-double in his first two collegiate games.
The Boilers had six players reach double figure scoring in what was a rapidly paced game when the teams weren't shooting free throws. The two teams combined to take 51 free throw attempts.
The Catamounts did not keep things close after a 7-0 run brought the game to 17-11 Purdue with less than 12 minutes in the first half. It was all offense from there from both sides. Ethan O'Day gave Caleb Swanigan trouble in the post, with a patient, throwback attack that involved a lot of nifty finishes and up and unders. O'Day finished with 15 points on 7 of 9 shooting and didn't miss a shot in the first half.
Vermont's Trae Bell-Haynes was a blur on the court, pushing the pace for the Catamounts while scoring 17 points, grabbing 7 boards, and dishing 7 assists. Ernie Duncan was the game's highest scorer with 18 points while connecting on 3 of his 6 3 pointers.
- Purdue's free throw resurgence was short-lived. They struggled from the line making 17-27.
- Purdue's perceived weakness coming into the year was outside shooting. Purdue set a new record of 3 pointers made on 50% shooting from deep.
- Biggie keeps getting the green light from deep. He shot 4 of them, hitting 2.
- While Mathias got real hot, making his first five threes, Edwards finished with a quiet 14 pts, 4 assists, and 4 rebounds. He shot 4 of 5 from three, and his penetration was the key to the game, especially early, and will continue to be a vital part to our offense. He was able to slice through the Vermont defense and find open shooters all over the court. He had ZERO turnovers.
- Haas and Swanigan continue to have a nice chemistry on the court together. The bigs have done a nice job at realizing when one of them had position down low, and the other cuts to the top of the key to receive a pass, and then deliver an entry pass over the defense. This is classic motion offense, and pulls the most obvious help defender away from the big man receiving the ball.
- P. J. Thompson did not make a field goal, but made all 6 of his free throw attempts.
- Ryan Cline went 3 from 7 from the 3 pt. line.
- Kendall Stephens was 3 of 8 from three, and only 2 of 4 from the free throw line. He made both free throws after a technical foul after an obvious travel by Haas wasn't called, but them missed both of his free throws in the second half after a nice drive after a pump fake.
- There were stretches that our offense looked a little clustered, mostly when the starting five was on the floor. This will be an issue all year if we don't find a new starting rotation. Also, the offense opened up when we had just one big on the floor, a very interesting issue to consider, especially when Hammons comes back to play.