Purdue did not make the NCAA Tournament tonight by any means. However, they kept their tourney hopes alive by pulling out an upset at Illinois. You know what a “play-in” game is. The NCAA has recently given the play-in games a euphemism corporatespeak name of “first four” or “first round.” Yes, because tournaments usually have a “first round” where 64 of the 68 participants get a bye to the “second round.” Anyways, this was not a play in game, but a “play out” contest; as the loser is likely done. No, it is not too early to label something as an elimination game. Look at the schedule ahead.
Purdue doesn’t have any resume wins and this might be the best they have this far as the Illini have an RPI of 34. Of course, Purdue will find that this win might severely decrease in value. As I mapped out, the Illini won’t be favored again until February 26th versus Nebraska. They could very easily suffer an 8 game midseason losing streak here. For more, I turn it over to Travis Miller at SB Nation Purdue, Hammer and Rails:
An excerpt:
This was a game where Purdue simply got better when it mattered most. It had its most success when it was able to get the ball in the lane as Hammons and Jay Simpson had big games. Stephens and RJ knocked down big threes even as the team was struggling, which opened things up for Hammons and TJ on the drive. it also helped Purdue get 16 offensive rebounds.
Purdue played some of its best team defense it has played all season in the second half as well. Tracy Abrams and Rayvonte Rice had 21 combined points in the first half. They combined for three in the second half. Purdue also benefited at the free throw line. Where it was 10 of 12 including a perfect 6 for 6 from the Johnson brothers in crunch time. Conversely, Illinois was 11 of 18 from the line at home and it really was 11 of 21 since they missed the front end of three 1-and-1’s in the second half alone. Joseph Bertrand, Jon Ekey, and Rice all missed the front end while Nanna Egwu continued to inexplicably think he was a three-point shooter by going 0 for 3 from long range and 0 for 7 from the floor.
This was a big, big win. Purdue got better when it mattered and played the style of basketball it needs to play to win.
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Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. He’s also an analyst for multiple news talk radio stations across the country; with regular weekly segments discussing: Illinois, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Bears and Bulls on NBC and Fox Sports Radio. President Barack Obama follows him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)