GBI Express

Gold and Black Express, Vol 25, Ex 16

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GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 16 • 1 BY BRIAN NEUBERT BNeubert@GoldandBlack.com F or Purdue to get where it wants to go this season, it needs wins, lots of them from here on out, but also good wins. With that in mind, last week was a pivotal oppor- tunity, one that came and went with the Boilermakers having left empty-handed. Purdue played the two highest-ranked teams in the Big Ten — at Wisconsin and at home against 11th- ranked Maryland — and fell 62-55 in Madison and 69- 60 in West Lafayette. Either game would have represented the Boiler- makers' best quality-quotient win of the year to date, and opportunities for redemption could be few and far between the rest of the way. Purdue will not play the Badgers or Terrapins again during the regular season and the Big Ten's mud- died power structure after those two teams may leave the Boilermakers with few games left against ranked teams, let alone top-10 teams. Purdue had opportunities in both games. The Boilermakers were within four in the final minutes against the Terps after being tied at halftime. "We simply had too many breakdowns defensively and then simply didn't take care of the basketball," Coach Matt Painter said. "We just have to play better. We had some guys not finish plays, whether it was shots or around the rim, and that's going to happen, but you have to limit your break - downs and you have to give yourself a chance." An issue from earlier in the season, turn- overs, resurfaced against Maryland and un- dercut the Boilermakers, many of their give- aways being of the slop variety, including a few offensive fouls that got big men Isaac Haas and A.J. Hammons in second-half foul trouble. "Having 16 turnovers, no matter where you're playing in the Big Ten, you're just not going to win," Painter said. "You'd better just shoot lights-out if you're going to do that. We simply weren't good enough to win that game." Purdue fared OK defending star point guard Melo Trimble, holding him to 1-of-7 shooting, but couldn't keep Maryland off the foul line. Including some intentional fouls in the game's final minute, Maryland scored 27 points at the free throw line, after Wisconsin scored 25. Tom Campbell The Boilermakers fought hard against two ranked opponents, but couldn't find their way to a victory against two ranked foes. They play the next three of five games away from Mackey Arena. 6 Jon Octeus' current streak of double- figures scoring games, dating back to the Notre Dame game on Dec. 20. 7 Consecutive games in which oppo- nents have hit more three-pointers than Purdue. The Boilermakers have been outscored 56-25 from deep during that span. 7 Consecutive double-doubles for Whit- ney Bays, extending her own Purdue record. 18 Points per game the Boilermak- ers were outscored from the free throw line in losses to Wisconsin and Maryland. THE NUMBERS VOLUME 25, EX 16 • JAN. 12, 2015 Inside | Purdue falls to Badgers, Terps 6-8 Hammons feature 9–10 | Notes 12–14 Women's Basketball news, notes 17-20 Two Opportunities Come And Go

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