Speed kills, as do good shooters. We have always struggled against speedy point guards (who can also shoot, of course; at the P5 level, that is a given except for NU). Purdue has both of these; no weak spots. We don’t quite have great speed or great shooters this year, and we certainly have weak spots. We are typically toast if we can’t play defense. While we have other options on offense, we certainly were not likely to score as much as we did at PSU. So this was a bad matchup on a day we were more likely to have a rough outing.
Collins has two five-year guys (with him) who he’s not going to just drop quickly in favor of freshmen. He will eventually drop them as starters if things keep going as they are, but he will want to avoid this. Maybe the second half was a warning sign.
I don't agree this was a bad matchup. Loyer is not quick at all. Smith is considerably faster but not faster than several other guards in the league (though he is considerably more skilled). On top of that, they are not physical dudes, not the kind that used to bump Boo out of his lane. If we struggle to contain guards, which we do, with the Purdue backcourt, unlike let's say the Dayton backcout, there is the advantage they don't pose as many problems on the defense as others do.
I just think it was a terrible day overall. Deflated by the officiating and a second "could have definitely won" loss on the road? Getting used to life on the road? No idea, it happens. Like I said, I don't think it was necessarly lack of prep.
Crucial is to win the next one. At home, weekend, students need to be as rucous as if we were playing Purdue the last couple of years. If we lose we put a ton of pressure on every subsequent game.
