Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/111561
b r i a n n e u b e r t any postseason a benefit four games left There���s regular season, a in the season that���ll see a bunch eliminated, then it���s a more palatable 16-17, in which case maybe the NIT might even take a look for all we know. I know no one���s going to riot in celebration if Purdue makes the CBI, nor will they care all that much if they don���t, but at least it would be something. But really, what Purdue needs coming out of this season as much as success is lessons. It needs to learn from losing. We���ll find out if this collection of players will motivated by failure or accept it. There are lessons in winning, too. Against Northwestern, Purdue played with at least some measure of cohesion and good sense on offense and won by 31 points. Hey, maybe that���s worth trying again! Look, it���s audition time now, too. Next season���s minutes ��� and roster spots, quite honestly ��� are being determined now, as well. Again, it could be a busy spring on the waiver wire. A coach told me a few years ago that he felt Matt Painter would never overtly run a player off if their grades and conduct were acceptable, and it was that coach���s theory it might catch up with the Davis��� ��� Painter said, ���and get away , from some people (for) which (basketball) isn���t their passion.��� It���ll be a fun spring. But it���s still winter. And there���s still something to be made of this season. j Neubert can be contacted at BNeubert@GoldandBlack.com GO BOILERMAKERS GO BOILERMAKERS GO BOILERMAKERS CERAMIC ��� ENGINEERED HARDWOOD LAMINATES ��� MARBLE CARPETING Specializing in ��� Homes ��� Churches ��� Businesses ��� Schools Where Contractors Buy Their Flooring Builders! Call our Contract Department and ask for our Contract Specialist 3437 State Road 26 E. 765-447-9393 800-403-6889 FAX 765-448-9978 Across from the Post Office GO BOILERMAKERS GO BOILERMAKERS GO BOILERMAKERS of streaks snapped. At this point, it would take nothing short of divine intervention for Purdue to keep its runs of consecutive 20-win seasons and NCAA appearances intact. Those have been out the window for weeks. But if the Boilermakers can make a run here ��� the Northwestern romp, for whatever it was worth, was a decent start ��� it can still make something out of this otherwise forgettable season. The postseason is still a possibility, though it would almost certainly be an opportunity tucked away in the darkest, coldest corners of the tournament season. The way this year���s gone, Purdue can���t be too proud to stick its nose up at any chance to play more basketball. If it���s the back-handed compliment of earning the distinction of being the first Big Ten team to ever play in the College Basketball Invitational ��� if you don���t believe me that that exists, Google it ��� then great. In the final analysis here, Purdue is still a team playing four freshmen alongside very few upperclassmen. The bulk of this team, at least on paper, will return next season, though it certainly stands to reason to suggest this spring will be a busy one on the waiver wire. Purdue is still technically a young team. If it can get in the postseason, that���s more needed seasoning for this group and a chance to at the very least practice a bunch more times. But the Boilermakers have to still win some games to get to a position where the postseason is even a remote possibility. The CBI would probably be interested in taking a brand name like Purdue even with a losing record. The question might be, though, how bad of a record is acceptable. Purdue has four regular-season games left and the Big Ten Tournament. If it goes 1-3, then gets ousted in Round 1, it���s 14-18. Would you want a 14-18 team in your tournament? But if it goes 2-2, then wins a game in Chicago before getting Purdue coach before long. Now might be that time. There are guys on this team Painter won���t want back, but they might not want to be back either, so we���ll see. These sorts of seasons have that effect. By complimenting one guy, Painter took a stab at others. ���We have to find more Rapheal GO BOILERMAKERS GO BOILERMAKERS GO BOILERMAKERS e d i t o r GO BOILERMAKERS GO BOILERMAKERS GO BOILERMAKERS f r o m GoldanDBlack express ��� volume 23, express 23��� ������ 4