Good morning Boiler Fans! I took a post New Year's hiatus on Thursday and Friday but I'm back today to review the strong start to the New Year for our football and men's hoops programs:
1. In The Sun Bowl, Da Boilers got behind 17-0 in the first quarter to Washington as special teams and our offense quickly gave UW 14 pts. As they've done all year the kids did not quit and stormed back to a 34-24 victory. Highlights included: 1) a strong effort by Antwaun Rogers at CB as he repeatedly challenged the arrogant Reggie Williams and won the battles, 2) Kyle Orton ran the offense to perfection after the 1st quarter, showcasing his laser like arm and some decent mobility and scrambling at key moments, 3) Standeford and Stubbs were the dynamic duo at WR as JS outplayed the more touted Reggie Williams with 10 catches for over 100 yds and 1 TD while Taylor had a 7 catches, including a few huge 3rd down conversions over the middle, 4) Joey Harris and Brandon Jones were a solid 1-2 punch at RB as Harris broke a couple big runs and Jones had some key receptions, 5) STU had 9 solo tackles, 6) Shaun Phillips had a sack and some knockdowns, 7) Chambers had a 51 yd kickoff return, 8) The O-line was solid all day, 9) Niko got another pick, and 10) Gilbert Gardner made the play of the game with a strip of Cody Pickett and TD return to give us a 2 TD lead in the 3rd quarter. I got to high five his parents after the play as they were sitting 2 rows behind me. They were so proud of their son!
2. Equally as encouraging was a strong Boiler crowd of over 8,000 in my estimation - rest assured, The Sun Bowl folks consider us their favorite visitors! You should have seen their committee folks grinning ear to ear and exchanging hugs and high fives with Purdue administrators and coaches.
3. BIG PLAY RAY Edwards, a 4-star STUD DE from Ohio chose Purdue over Tennessee last Wednesday! 3-star LB Shaun Richardson from Missouri committed to us last Monday and 2-star OL Ryan Noblet from IN, de-committed from Kentucky, and will now be a Boiler (he goes 6-6, 275 lbs). Keep your vigils going for QB Bill Foran from TX, RB Jerome Jackson from MICH, DE/OT Mike Macellari from IN, and perhaps a few others. Note below that I had a chance to meet 2-star QB/ATH Grant Walker on the trip to El Paso, great kid and family!
4. The men's hoops team blew out Colorado St. and Montana to improve to 8-3 heading into Big 10 Play. Next up in NW at home this coming Saturday and then Mich St. next Tuesday at Mackey Arena.
-Barclay
________________________PURDUE MENS BASKETBALL:
Purdue vs Montana Recap
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Purdue 84 Montana 66
Date: 1/04/2003
Author: Waggs06
© Waggs06
http://oldgoldfreepress.com/columnist/Waggs06/columns/118.shtml
This is the last game I will not be able to at least watch on TV, so all I am going to say is my favorite quote from Clisby during the game. It came after Buckley hit a 3, to make it 11 straight purdue points scored by him. Clisby said, "Melvin Buckley for 3...GOOD! MELVIN BUCKLEY GET OUT OF HERE!!!" Clisby couldn't believe what he had just seen, great job by Buckley. Good team effort, 16 assists and 14 turnovers, glad to see assists greater then turnovers once again. We scored our highest Keady Ball score of the season today with a 95.
Sortable Game Statistics (Excel format)
+/- Player Stats (Excel format)
Total Keady Ball Points: 95
1. Opponent shooting percentage 37.9% - 16 points
2. Opponent points 66 - 15 points
3. Rebounds 36-38 (-2) - 14 points
4. Shooting percentage 46.4% - 13 points
5. Free throws attempted 32 - 16 points
6. Turnovers 14 - 16 points
Leadership point (LEA)
Floorburn point (FLO)
Stopper point (STP)
Survivor point (SUR)
Elimination point (ELI)
Link to Keady Ball points system: Keady Ball
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Purdue men defeat Montana, 84-66
By The Associated Press
http://www.boilerstation.com/hoops/stories/200301040purdue_hoops1041716439.shtml
"WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Willie Deane and Chris Booker scored 14 points apiece as Purdue beat Montana 84-66 on Saturday for its third consecutive victory. Montana missed eight straight shots to open the game as Purdue claimed an 8-0 lead. The Boilermakers led by 18 points at halftime, 45-27.
Darmetreis Kilgore hit a 3-pointer with 12:30 remaining in the game to extend the Boilermakers' lead to 33 points.
Kilgore and freshman Melvin Buckley finished with 11 points each for the Boilermakers (8-3), who shot 46 percent from the floor.
The two teams combined to attempt 50 three-pointers, with Purdue hitting 10 and Montana six."
for the full story click on the link above
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Buckley bids for more playing time
By Jeff Washburn, Journal and Courier
http://www.boilerstation.com/hoops/stories/200301040purdue_hoops1041741982.shtml
"Fellow freshmen David Teague and Matt Kiefer established themselves on opening night against Miami (Ohio).
Now, classmate Melvin Buckley is opening lots of eyes.
The versatile 6-foot-7 player from South Holland, Ill., entered Saturday's contest against Montana averaging 3.3 points and 2.4 rebounds in 11.6 minutes a game.
Buckley scored a career-best 11 points to go with two rebounds in 10 minutes during the Boilermakers' easy 84-66 victory, their third in a row.
"Every practice, I try to prove that I should be higher in the rotation," Buckley said. "You can't control that. You just have to go with what the coach wants to do and do something with the minutes you get."
for the full story click on the link above
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Balance, bench fuel rout
Deane, Booker lead Purdue
By Jeff Washburn, Journal and Courier
http://www.boilerstation.com/hoops/stories/200301041purdue_hoops1041741982.shtml
"They are through it now -- a not-so-magnificent seven-game, non-conference home schedule which the Purdue men's basketball team dominated. The Boilermakers placed four in double figures Saturday afternoon, built a 33-point, second half lead and coasted to an 84-66 victory over outmanned Montana.
A sparse crowd of 8,510 watched Purdue follow a familiar pattern to its third consecutive lopsided home victory.
•The Boilermakers led 45-27 at intermission, using a 26-11 spurt during the half's final 8:16 to put the Grizzlies (6-9) out of their misery.
•Purdue's bench scored 26 points, including 11 from freshman forward Melvin Buckley, in the first half."
for the full story click on the link above
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Boilers are on a roll heading to Big Ten
By Michael Pointer
michael.pointer@indystar.com
January 05, 2003
http://www.indystar.com/print/articles/9/013704-9909-041.html
"WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Purdue basketball coach Gene Keady reminded everyone what time of the season it is when he left the podium at the end of his postgame news conference.
"It's Big Ten time," Keady said after the Boilermakers defeated Montana 84-66 on Saturday.
Purdue begins its conference schedule Saturday against Northwestern at Mackey Arena. The Boilers were 8-6 going into conference play last season en route to a 5-11 league mark, the worst in Keady's 23 seasons.
This year, the Boilers (8-3) will enter conference play off of a three-game winning streak for the first time since the 1997-98 season. Keady said the team is about where he expected at this point, except for a disastrous performance in a 70-53 loss to Arizona State on Dec. 21."
for the full story click on the link above
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Adam Liddell Leads Dekalb past Snider!
Posted by: Purdue66 on January 06, 2003 at 00:17:19 - IP 205.188.208.107
http://hoopscampus.com/bb/bigten/PUR/messages/45895.shtml
Friday night the Dekald Barons beat Fort Wayne Snider 91 to 84 and Adam had a great game!
His stats were 31 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assist, and 3 blocked shots!
That is not a bad night!
Go Boilers!
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PURDUE MENS BASKETBALL RECRUITING:
Ije Nwankwo named MVP of Detroit holiday tournament
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Detroit Country Day is off to a 5-1 start.
Date: 1/04/2003
Author: Bob_Richards
© Bob_Richards
http://oldgoldfreepress.com/columnist/Bob_Richards/columns/287.shtml
Detroit Country Day is out to a 5-1 start.
Purdue signee Ije Nwankwo led Country Day (1-0) with 21 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks in their season opener.
Ije followed with a double-double in a 73-62 win at Birmingham Seaholm. He scored 13 points and added 12 rebounds.
Ije was injured in an overtime loss to Orchard Lake St. Mary's (3-0), when he collided with St. Mary's guard Andre Ratliff. Ratliff's head contacted Ije's mouth, causing significant bleeding which forced him to leave the game with one minute remaining. DCD would lose the overtime game 64-56. Nwankwo led DCD with 18 points.
The next big test for DCD was the annual Motor City Roundball Classic holiday basketball tournament. Four straight years of tournament failures preceeded last years title by DCD. Returning as the defending tournament champions, DCD would again take the championship by fighting through two Canadian teams and one from Ohio.
The tournament began with a blow out of Windsor (Ontario) Herman (11-2), 74-33. Ije had 12 points as part of a very balanced scoring evening by DCD. Gerome Hunter led DCD with 14 points, followed by Mark Coury with 13, Ije, and Billy Nelson's 11.
The next evening brought Ohio Cincinnati Hughes. Nwankwo had 18 points and 11 rebounds for DCD (4-1) in the 54-48 victory.
The two wins set up a final game against Canadian-based Father Henry Carr. Henry Carr is led by arguably Canada's top post prospect, junior Theo Davis. However, Davis could not stop Ije or DCD as they posted a 76-47 victory. Davis left the game in the third quarter with an ankle sprain with his team already down 10 points. That DCD lead would grow to 16 by the end of the third quarter, and expand to the final 29-point margin.
Ije finished with his best overall game of the season with 22 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots. Theo Davis had 10 points and nine rebounds before leaving the game in the third. Junior guard Billy Nelson, who finished with 17 points and five boards, and Ije both made the all-tournament team, with Ije winning the tournament MVP award.
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Purdue's Sun Bowl win a reciprocation
With memories of Pasadena behind them, Boilermakers turn 34-24 in their favor
By Tom Kubat, Journal and Courier
http://www.boilerstation.com/football/stories/200301010purdue_football1041397360.shtml
EL PASO, Texas -- As far as Purdue coach Joe Tiller is concerned, turnabout is fair play.
"I figured if it was 34-24 in Pasadena, it ought to be 34-24 in El Paso," he said.
Two years ago, that was the final score of Washington's victory over Purdue in the Rose Bowl. The Boilermakers gained a measure of revenge Tuesday by beating the Huskies 34-24 in the 69th annual Sun Bowl.
But by scoring 34 unanswered points to erase a 17-0 Washington first-quarter lead, this 2002 Purdue football team did a lot more than just pay back the Huskies.
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Few who picked Purdue in Sun Bowl also foresee promising '03
By Ken Thompson, Journal and Courier
http://www.boilerstation.com/football/columns/200301060purdue_football1041829919.shtml
While the majority of media predicted a Washington victory over Purdue in the Sun Bowl, three Internet writers bucked the trend and chose the 6-6 Boilermakers.
One was not a big surprise: Purdue graduate Tom Dienhart of The Sporting News, who had the Boilermakers in his preseason Top 25.
The others were Jason Farmer of www.againsttheline.com and Andy Gamm of www.thefinalscore.net, each of whom also foresee a promising 2003 season for the Boilermakers.
Farmer wasted little time in his Sun Bowl preview stating the expectations for 2003.
"Save this article for one year and you'll be surprised to see how well it works for next year's Rose Bowl preview. ... With the loads of talent these two teams return next season and the great coaches roaming their sidelines, Washington will win the Pac 10 in 2003 and Purdue will win the Big Ten for another Purdue-Washington Rose Bowl."
for the full story click on the link above
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Boilers thinking big in '03
All but four starters returning to Sun Bowl champions
By Tom Kubat, Journal and Courier
http://www.boilerstation.com/football/stories/200301020purdue_football1041483843.shtml
"EL PASO, Texas -- A few days after Purdue played in the Rose Bowl two years ago, coach Joe Tiller said he was worried about the next season.
With the loss of quarterback Drew Brees and the offensive line that protected him, Tiller referred to the 2001 season as "hump year." He said if his team could survive 2001, his program would be ready to take off.
It didn't quite work out that way, with the Boilermakers slumping to 6-6 in 2001 and to 7-6 this season. But with Tuesday's 34-24 comeback victory over Washington in the Sun Bowl and 18 of 22 starters returning next season, 2003 certainly is filled with potential for Tiller's program.
"I'll stick by my original statement, in that I thought 2001 was the hump year," Tiller said. "I just thought we lost so much talent on offense. I thought 2001 would be the ultimate test, to see if we could make it to a bowl."
for the full story click on the link above
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Boilermaker onslaught gives Huskies sunburn
Orton, defense spark 34-0 run as Purdue overcomes 17-0 deficit
By Tom Kubat, Journal and Courier
http://www.boilerstation.com/football/stories/200301010purdue_football1041399146.shtml
EL PASO, Texas -- A fumbled punt snap. Washington touchdown. A fumbled snap out of the shotgun formation. Washington touchdown.
Before you could say, "Does this remind you of the beginning of the season?" Purdue was trailing the Huskies 17-0. And the first quarter of the Sun Bowl wasn't even over.
No problem.
The Boilermakers had dealt with so much adversity during the 2002 season, they never even flinched.
"It's kind of like what we've been doing all year, in a sense," Purdue coach Joe Tiller said. "So I would have been surprised if we hadn't come back."
for the full story click on the link above
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Boilers' character passes toughest test of season
By Jeff Washburn, Journal and Courier
http://www.boilerstation.com/football/columns/200301011purdue_football1041399146.shtml
"EL PASO, Texas -- Given a second chance to make a first impression, the Purdue football team proved Tuesday what it believed throughout an excruciating regular season.
The Boilermakers spotted Pacific-10 Conference nemesis Washington a 17-0, first quarter Sun Bowl lead, then dominated the final three periods for a most satisfying 34-24 victory.
Some bristled at Purdue's selection as a postseason participant. Does a 6-6 team with a victory against a Division I-AA opponent deserve a bowl invitation?
The Boilermakers countered that their schedule included bowl participants Notre Dame, Wake Forest, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan and Ohio State."
for the full story click on the link above
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Orton, Standeford steal spotlight from Washington counterparts
By Tom Kubat, Journal and Courier
http://www.boilerstation.com/football/stories/200301012purdue_football1041399146.shtml
"EL PASO, Texas -- Kyle Orton put a nice finishing touch on a very frustrating season, while John Standeford put an exclamation point on an outstanding one.
In the process, they both one-upped their Washington counterparts in Purdue's 34-24 New Year's Eve Sun Bowl victory over the Huskies.
Standeford caught 10 passes for 105 yards, both game highs, including a 7-yard touchdown grab.
When the day was done, Standeford finished the season with 75 receptions for 1,307 yards and 13 TDs. He broke Chris Daniels record of 1,236 receiving yards set in 1999 and he tied Vinny Sutherland's record of 13 TD catches set in 2000."
for the full story click on the link above
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Purdue defense muzzles Huskies
By Jeff Washburn, Journal and Courier
http://www.boilerstation.com/football/stories/200301013purdue_football1041399146.shtml
"EL PASO, Texas -- In the moments before Tuesday's Sun Bowl game, Purdue defensive coordinator Brock Spack called his players together in front of a locker room chalkboard.
"Character" was the word Spack etched for all to see.
How profound when the Boilermakers fell behind 17-0, 14 points as the result of a botched punt and a Kyle Orton fumble.
But by day's end, the Purdue defense had controlled the Washington offense in an eye-opening 34-24 victory."
for the full story click on the link above
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Purdue special teams overcomes miscues
By Jeff Washburn, Journal and Courier
http://www.boilerstation.com/football/stories/200301014purdue_football1041399146.shtml
"EL PASO, Texas -- The 2002 Sun Bowl began as a special teams nightmare for Purdue.
Punter Brent Slaton's mishandled snap from center produced a 23-yard loss, setting up Washington's first touchdown.
Then, Berin Lacevic missed a 32-yard field goal with the Boilermakers on the short end of a 17-0 score in the second quarter.
But Purdue's much-maligned special teams recovered, helping the Boilermakers secure a 34-24 victory."
for the full story click on the link above
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Fans not in El Paso do the next best thing
By Marc B. Geller, Journal and Courier
http://www.boilerstation.com/football/stories/200301011purdue_football1041397360.shtml
"While scores of Purdue University football fans downed beers and cheered on the Boilermakers at Chumley's sports bar in downtown Lafayette, Purdue senior Erich Emerson followed Tuesday's Sun Bowl action during his shift at BoilerCopyMaker.
It could have been worse. By halftime, Emerson was just half an hour away from finishing his shift and joining his friends to watch the rest of the game -- and the Boilermakers had recovered from a scoreless first quarter to trail the Huskies just 17-14. Besides, not everyone has such easy access to a big-screen TV when they're at work.
Still, listening to the game on the radio and watching the TV across the hall in the lounge was something of a challenge, Emerson said."
for the full story click on the link above
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Next year
http://gridironcampus.com/bb/bigten/PUR/messages/42835.shtml
I think we can all agree that the key to next year is special teams and turnovers. My comment is this:
If a team can be #1 in the Big Ten in offense and defense, they OBVIOUSLY have good enough athletes to be able to field an excellent Special Teams group excluding the kicker. We didn't do it this year, so obviously there wasn't enough emphasis put on special teams by the coaches. If they put emphasis on Special Teams this off season, spring, and fall we should field a very good Special Teams group. Add to the mix a new kicker to give some competition for Berin and I think we can definitely have a turnaround similar to OSU or Iowa this year. Its all on the coaches to make sure that happens. Part of that MIGHT be hiring a new Special Teams coach for next year.
How about changing around our assistants' assignments? We have a coach that is assigned strictly to QB's, so why not do the same for RB's? Have Downing give up his duties as ST coach and have him only work with the RB's next year. Promote Olson to Special Teams Coordinator and have him work only with Special Teams. Then move the tight ends to Gilmore and have them work with the WR's or possibly with the O-Line. Doing all of this means we don't have to fire anyone, but Special Teams and RB's get their own coach and those two areas were the main reason for a mediocre season (RB's with their fumbles and ST's with... well, everything).
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Met Verbal QB/ATH, Grant Walker, his dad, and his HS Soph bro yesterday!
Posted by: TexasBoiler on January 01, 2003 at 17:28:14 - IP 24.28.71.120
http://www.gridironcampus.com/bb/bigten/PUR2/messages/2147.shtml
I told them to stop by this site sometime so maybe they will in the future. Anyways, they were some of the nicest folks I've ever met. Mr. Walker and I chatted for a bit on the plane to El Paso from Austin and I'd be willing to bet my house that we won't see Grant back out on his verbal for Texas AM (though TAMU offered and he won their fastest man at camp award this past summer). Mr. Walker said the family loves Coach Chaney and Purdue's offense!
Only got to meet Grant for a few minutes at The El Paso Airport but he is at least 6-1 probably 6-2 and has a decent frame to build upon. He reminded me a bit of Jake Cunningham, very humble and VERY excited about Purdue. Grant's younger brother, Todd, will be the QB for Plugerville HS this year (he was Grant's backup and also played CB this year as a soph). Real nice young man who seems to have taken a liking to Purdue also. Todd says he does not run a 4.4 forty like his brother YET but he's at 4.55 and working on it!
Finally, I saw The Walkers from a distance in passing after the HUGE comeback win and they were smiling ear to ear shouting how bout dem Boilers!
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