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PUmatty
Joined: 10 Nov 2004
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 Posted: 01/12/06 11:02 am ::: Purdue v Minnesota |
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Very important B11 game tonight for sole possession of first place in a league Michigan State and Ohio State were supposed to dominate.
If Purdue wins, they are in the driver's seat for the title, IMO. They have a win over Ohio State already, and do not play at Michigan State. That leaves them no worse than 1-1 against both UMinn and OSU, and good chance to finish 1-0 against MSU. If they win tonight, they have a very good chance of going 15-1 in the coference, assuming a loss at OSU.
If Minnesota wins, the top of the conference gets more muddled. All of the top teams would have a loss except Minnesota, but Minnesota would not have played any of the tough road games yet.
Pretty tough game to call. If it was at Mackey, I would give a good edge to Purdue, given Minnesota's road problems. In Minneapolis it is much closer. The X factor will be Aya Traore, IMO. The Gophers don't have anyone that can match her combination of size and speed. No one in the conference does. Is she plays like she has recently, it will be tough for Minnesota to win. On the other hand, if she doesn't Purdue's offense takes a big hit and it could be tough for them to score much. Without a penetrator, they become a lot easier to guard.
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Capri
Joined: 18 Oct 2005
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| Posted: 01/12/06 11:09 am ::: |
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| The game is doubly hard to predict because Purdue's play has been all over the place. This is a game that Minnesota "should" win, but Purdue could easily steal it with good defense and a hot scorerer or two.
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ClayK
Joined: 11 Oct 2005
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| Posted: 01/12/06 11:12 am ::: |
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Purdue has shown more heart than any other Big 10 team, I think. The Boilers stumbled early but manage to make plays when they need to -- and George Washington's win over Temple makes an even stronger case for Purdue.
That said, the Boilermakers don't seem completely solid to me, and they will have to play close to their maximum pretty much every time out to keep winning. Teams like Tennessee and Duke can afford to have an off night because they have so much raw talent ...
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pilight
Joined: 23 Sep 2004
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| Posted: 01/12/06 11:35 am ::: |
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I predict a Gopher win.
The Boilers barely escaped the first two games of this road swing against far lesser teams. I haven't seen anything to suggest they can beat ranked teams away from Mackey.
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IndyPurduefan
Joined: 25 Oct 2005
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| Posted: 01/12/06 11:48 am ::: |
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| pilight wrote: |
I predict a Gopher win.
The Boilers barely escaped the first two games of this road swing against far lesser teams. I haven't seen anything to suggest they can beat ranked teams away from Mackey. |
This is a tough one to call. Purdue's problem is that it plays to the level of its competition (for some unknown reason).
There's always the chance of being blownout tonight, but I do feel Purdue will step it up and it will be a battle the entire way through.
Purdue also needs to be more consistent. They have trouble with that a lot, and they need to start putting complete games together.
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dtsnms
Joined: 23 Sep 2004
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| Posted: 01/12/06 11:53 am ::: |
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| I'm going to predict Purdue by at least 8.
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PUmatty
Joined: 10 Nov 2004
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| Posted: 01/12/06 12:02 pm ::: |
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According to story in the local paper, the players seem real pumped with memories of recent blowouts at Minnesota. I am never sure how to take that, since it seems to me you would be motivated for every game, but hopefully that will help.
I am not sure what to expect. It is put-up or shut-up time for Purdue it seems. Are you going to be a Top 10 team this season with a shot at a good tournament run. Or are you going to be a Top 20 team that expects to make it to -- and not past -- the Sweet 16. How do in this game will help to answer that.
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desafiada6
Joined: 31 Jan 2005
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| Posted: 01/12/06 12:09 pm ::: |
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| dtsnms wrote: |
| I'm going to predict Purdue by at least 8. |
I like that prediction DT. The players seem ready to go. Can't wait to watch tonight!!
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IndyPurduefan
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| Posted: 01/12/06 12:13 pm ::: |
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| PUmatty wrote: |
According to story in the local paper, the players seem real pumped with memories of recent blowouts at Minnesota. I am never sure how to take that, since it seems to me you would be motivated for every game, but hopefully that will help.
I am not sure what to expect. It is put-up or shut-up time for Purdue it seems. Are you going to be a Top 10 team this season with a shot at a good tournament run. Or are you going to be a Top 20 team that expects to make it to -- and not past -- the Sweet 16. How do in this game will help to answer that. |
I don't know if it's put up or shut up time......it's not like Purdue has been getting any press, so no one has any expectations. What I think this is is a statement game for them. Yeah, they beat OSU, but can they do it on the road.
This game won't make or break our Big Ten season, but it would go a long way in cementing us as the clear leaders to this point.
I just want high-level consistent basketball, which is something that Curry obviously wants too since she's constantly lamenting the lack of it.
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gopher5
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dtsnms
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PUmatty
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desafiada6
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IndyPurduefan
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IndyPurduefan
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desafiada6
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| Posted: 01/12/06 1:56 pm ::: |
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Keep the train chugging!!
I like it!!!
and if I had ANY kind of writing skills I might try one myself, but I'll leave that to more capable hands.
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boilerjay
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ILuvCatch
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| Posted: 01/12/06 2:07 pm ::: |
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| June, Bob and Terry.....Purdue loses.
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dtsnms
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IndyPurduefan
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dtsnms
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IndyPurduefan
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bballfan2005
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bballfan2005
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No poems for Purdue necessary DT, thanks!!
