From: sjc@cs.purdue.edu (Steve Chapin)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.college
Subject: Purdue vs. Russian National Team
Date: 22 Nov 1992 23:05:06 -0500
Organization: Department of Computer Sciences, Purdue University
Distribution: rec
NNTP-Posting-Host: bredbeddle.cs.purdue.edu


Purdue 80, Russian National Team 72

Starting lineup:  Painter, Waddell, Martin, Robinson, and Stanback.

Overall:

If Purdue plays like this, they'll finish 6th, at best, in the Big 10.
This is the worst team defense I've ever seen from a Keady team, and
they had 26 turnovers to boot (the Russians had 20).

Purdue was up by 2 with 1:10 to go.  A couple of steals in the final
minute gave the Boilers the final margin of victory.  This is the same
Russian team that beat Wisconsin.  I can see how a young team, having
a bad day, could lose to them, as they passed very well and were
extremely tall (three guys > 7 feet).

The Boilers are developing a bad case of "JJ Syndrome," as exhibited
by the Buckeyes last year.  "Hey, Glenn's the man, so we'll all stand
here and watch him play."  Unfortunately, Glenn didn't, for most of
the game.  Purdue played better in the first half with Robinson on the
bench.

The bad:

+ Glenn Robinson, for the first 30 minutes.  He was lackadaisical on
offense, committing several turnovers in the first half to balance his
9 points of first half scoring.  At least three times, the ball
slipped form his hands out of bounds when he was attempting a shot.
He also managed a few bad passes, directly to the Russians.  On
defense, he was roaming all over, often coming out to the 3 pt. line
to double team a guard, leaving his man wide open under the bucket.
More often than not, the open middle was exploited for an easy layup.

+ Team defense.  The Boilers seemed to have a limit of 2 guys playing
defense at any given time.  Stanback played some monster defense in
the middle, blocking shots and grabbing rebounds.  At times, Martin,
Jennings, and Dove played some good defense.  That's about it.

+ Free throw shooting.  I don't have the stats at hand, but the
Boilers were in the 60% range.  If they'd hit their FTs, this game
would not have been close.

+ Turnovers.  17 in the first half, 9 in the second.  The Boilers did
manage to eliminate most of the stupidity in the last 10 minutes.

The good:

+ No Airballs of Biblical Proportions from Matt Painter.  Then again,
he didn't shoot (fouled in his one attempt).  He made a yeomanlike
effort to airball his first free throw, but managed to snag a little
rim.  He hit the second.  Painter also showed a lot of life on
offense, penetrating often, and making some really snappy passes.

+ Glenn Robinson, the last 10 minutes.  He suddenly decided it was
time to play, and between dunks, beautiful shots, and defensive plays,
he was awesome.  He ended up with 31 points (22 second half).

+ The New Guys (sans Robinson).  Roberts, Dove, Jennings, and Williams
all played well when they were in.  Dove was tentative on offense, but
Williams was not.  Roberts played very well.

+ Matt Waddell.  He hit several key jumpers, and was steady on
offense.

+ Cornelius McNary did not fall down once while holding onto the ball.
Actually, he played some solid minutes.  He is looking better than he
did at any time last year.

The play of the game:  Matt Painter drives the lane, and suddenly
flings the ball straight up into the air.  "Egads," we thought, "he
lost control again!"  Suddenly, flying out of the corner, comes Glenn
Robinson, for a power slam.  "Well, Binky," I said, "I guess that was
a pass."  Binky showed his agreement with a high five.

Alternate play of the game:  Matt Painter drives the lane, and zips a
behind the back (no, I am not on drugs) pass to Linc Darner who throws
an alley oop to Robinson.  This did not make POTG because Robinson was
fouled and didn't finish the dunk.

Predictions:
+ Purdue will lose to Connecticut by 10.
+ By the middle of the season, the starting lineup will be Roberts,
  Waddell, Martin, Williams, and Robinson.
+ Purdue will finish fourth in the big 10, behind UM, IU, and one of
  (Iowa/MSU).
+ Purdue will make the sweet 16 in the NCAA's.

sjc@cs.purdue.edu               Steve Chapin           Today's Grammar Lesson:
             Hear, hear! Who's here who knows whose booze this is?

             If I don't want it in my back yard, I don't want it.