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GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 27, ISSUE 3 55 Shooting and passing stand out SIZE SKILL AND BY BRIAN NEUBERT BNeubert@GoldandBlack.com P urdue is defined by its size, has been the past two seasons. This one, when people think of the Boilermak- ers, they inevitably see towering 7-foot-2, 300-pound- er Isaac Haas and menacing 6-9, 250-pounder Caleb Swanigan. That won't change any time soon, and shouldn't. Purdue's size has been its foundation in most every game it's played since the beginning of last season. But so far this season, the Boilermakers have struck an uncommon balance. They're one of the biggest and most physical teams around the basket in college basketball, but also one of the most gifted shooting and passing teams, too. Through the first dozen or so games of the season, Purdue's ranked among national leaders in three- point shooting percentage, as the best and deepest group of shooters Matt Painter's ever assembled in West Lafayette has lived up. But "skill" comes in many forms, only one of which is shooting. Passing and offensive savvy matter, too, and all are inextricably linked. By numerous metrics, Purdue's been one of the fin- est shooting teams in the country and one of the best passing teams. They go hand in hand, because for the Boilermak- ers, they've been highly effective at making high-per- centage shots in large part because they've been high- ly effective at generating high-percentage shots. "We're good at getting great shots," guard Dakota Mathias said, "and not just good shots." Mathias is one of those who put a face on Pur- due's perimeter strength, a more empowered group of guards who've been downright masterful working the ball around the perimeter and playing the latter portion of an inside-outside game with the big men. Mathias ranks among NCAA leaders in three-point percentage, but remains Purdue's best passer, too. His ability to manipulate defenses and exploit num- bers advantages in the halfcourt or find open shooters in transition — like he did with Ryan Cline on Pur- due's go-ahead three against ranked Notre Dame in the Crossroads Classic, where Purdue came from 17 down to win — have been crucial elements to an of- fense averaging just under 84 points per game. But he's only been part of it. Point guard P.J. Thomp- son has quietly been very good for the Boilermakers this season, as both a playmaker and play finisher. His 4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio has come even as he's been much more aggressive than he was a year ago, and he's shooting 40-plus percent from three-point range, too. Since coming back from an early season suspen- sion, Cline has been outstanding. Through his first seven games of the season, he made 16 of his first 27 three-point attempts — good for 59 percent — and has shown to be an improved all-around player from a year ago. Purdue's guards, to a man, have made shots. The one with the lowest percentage is freshman Carsen Edwards — 32 percent isn't bad, but sticks out on this particular team — but he's given the Boilermakers an important dynamic, commanding attention whenever the ball's in his hands, because of his quick trigger and the speed with which he can generate a shot for himself. Twice this season, he's beaten halftime buzz- ers with triples. Edwards is Purdue's best at creating shots for him- self. Otherwise, the Boilermakers' entire offensive oper-