This past Thursday, March 9th, was the 20th anniversary of the death of hip-hop legend Notorious B.I.G. or “Biggie Smalls.” His murder remains unsolved to this day, adding to the aura that surrounds the man who recorded the 1994 hit “Big Poppa.”
On that day, the top Twitter trending terms were dominated by phrases related to Biggie like #RIPBIG #BiggieSmallz #RIPNotorious and more. It was blast from the past that reminded us how hot ’90s nostalgia really is these days. The next morning, Biggie Swanigan and the top seeded Purdue Boilermakers opened their B1G Tournament, having earned a double bye.
It did not go well for Caleb “Biggie” Swanigan and company as they couldn’t get out of their own way in the closing minutes and snatched a regulation stalemate from the jaws of victory. In overtime, they fell to #8 seed Michigan, as the Wolverines were well on their way to winning the conference tournament, their backstory an ESPN Films 30 for 30 in the making.
MIchigan looking like a team of destiny. As @PaulMBanks said, it is hard for us to win when a 30for30 is being filmed.
— Hammer and Rails (@HammerAndRails) March 12, 2017
For the second time in a week, Purdue was America’s villain, only this time they lost. Biggie Swanigan had only an average game, nothing special, especially so by the standards set forth for a national player of the year candidate.
Obviously, it was not all his fault as the Boilermakers’ inability to hit a crunch time three-pointer sealed their fate. It was all a very disappointing one-and-done showing, and a poignant reminder of the Boilers’ choking their way out of the tournament last March.
Boilers everywhere echoed the “well, let’s hope they got it out of their system here, and better here than in the real tournament” sentiments.
Last March the Boilermakers went all the way to the B1G tournament title game, where they fell to Michigan State in the finale.
Perhaps this year will be the polar opposite, as Purdue opens their NCAA Tournament on Thursday in Milwaukee as the #4 seed in Milwaukee against the #13 seed Vermont.
The Catamounts come in at 29-5, and champions of the America East conference. Their celebrity fans include Ben & Jerry of the ice cream empire and the band Phish. Thus, the Boilers may go on a Wavy Gravy, Cherry Garcia and Phish Food boycott until this game is over.
Vermont is not a match-up to be taken lightly, as they have done damage in the NCAA Tournament before. In 2005, the Catamounts upset #4 seed Syracuse as a #13, so beware. If Purdue wins, they get the victor of the infamous #12 vs #5 match-up in Milwaukee, with Iowa State the favorite, and Nevada the underdog.
Either way, it would be a big challenge, and should Purdue survive to the second weekend, #1 seed Kansas likely awaits.
Now is the time for Biggie Swanigan to take his game up yet another notch and power this team through to the sweet 16.
The National Player of the Year candidate is 1-of-5 finalists for the Karl Malone Award. Given to the nation’s top power forward, Swanigan is joined on the list by Arizona’s Lauri Markkanen, Baylor’s Johnathan Motley, Notre Dame’s Bonzie Colson and UCLA’s T.J. Leaf. The Purdue four man is the favorite to win the award.
Everybody’s All-American is averaging 18.7 points, 12.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in leading Purdue to its 23rd Big Ten championship, the most of any school.
Caleb Swanigan needs to be Biggie Swanigan, the reigning B1G Player of the Year, and alpha dog for the B1G regular season champs, and lead this team to the promised land of the Midwest regional in Kansas City. The NCAA Tournament can do wonders for your NBA Draft stock, especially if you’re making a very deep run and showcasing your skills on the brightest stage.
He can’t do it alone, he needs those unsung heroes in the back court and on the wings to help him.
However, if you want to make a guess as to how far Purdue advances this March Madness, just ask yourself this question: “how you living Biggie Smalls?”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times and NBC Chicago.com, contributes to Chicago Tribune.com, Bold, WGN CLTV and KOZN.
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