Gold and Black is a multi-platform media company that covers Purdue athletics like no one else.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/744300
32 GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED ple times, even as a fan. (Coaches) had to get them there and we didn't get them there. They are physically capable, and it was something that they had problems with. It's something we hadn't had a lot of trouble with in the past. It wasn't schematic, it was just them being confident in different scenarios. It's just playing the game. "I can't really describe here in an interview in terms of every solitary basketball move. But that's where I didn't do a good job. We didn't have that sense of urgency, and I felt like some guys kind of hid from that re- sponsibility. But that's your job as a coach. And as coaches, we weren't able to get them to do those things." Gold and Black: How do you fix it? Painter: "It means just prac- ticing and watching film to make sure they get it. I think they did understand it, but when they got into those situations, they either couldn't do it, or they got into those late-game modes where maybe they didn't want the basketball." Gold and Black: Considering the way two very good seasons just ended the past two years, is it imperative this season that your program win in the postseason? Painter: "It's imperative every year. If you go back and watch the two games we lost in overtime in the NCAA Tournament, it's the simple things we didn't do right. We missed some free throws, had some put- backs at the rim, broke down, didn't get a rebound, or didn't cut against a press one time. It's about being stronger and smarter to make the play. People give it a theory like, 'Oh, Purdue couldn't finish that off.' But what does that mean? As if someone wanted to miss the free throw or someone wanted to mess up. "But it's also about being able to function at those times. We weren't able to do some basic things when we had leads late in the game that could have closed the game out. We have to be better, but we have to get there. We have to put ourselves in that position again and get in the NCAA Tournament. Getting a great seed doesn't mean anything. No matter who you played, they earned their way in there, too. Our guys put themselves in a place to finish the game and win, but they didn't do that. They got to the tournament the last two years and made some strides in that area, but we simply have to play better. "I told those guys after the game that I have to be better, to help them be better, but some of the issues in the game against Little Rock were reoccurring themes. We worked on them in the season, and we sur- vived three of those five times, but the other two times we didn't. That was the Iowa game here, and the Little Rock game, but it was some- thing we continued to work on and put time into, yet we didn't really make strides in that area. "That's going to be telltale for our guards more than anything this season. One thing is that we were in those situations because we were up on some really good teams. So we are doing some good things and putting ourselves in position. Sometimes when you let in the noise from around you, it will clutter your thoughts and won't give you much clarity. You're putting yourself in the position to win against some top 10-15 teams in the country, but now you have to remain fundamentally sound and make plays. Our guys are definitely capable of doing that. "From a personnel standpoint, we might have some issues defensively from our departures, but the addi- tions can help us with the press and some of the things we are talking about. I think it could ultimately make us a better team." Gold and Black: You're going to have to play Da- kota Mathias and Ryan Cline together more often this season. How does that affect things? Painter: "I think when you stick those two guys on the court and have some big guys inside and have "I think this team has a chance to be a better offensive team in cer- tain areas, the areas of concern that we have worked on a lot where we've struggled handling certain scenarios. I think that we will be a more skilled offensive team even after we averaged 79 points last season." — Matt Painter