The Men's Basketball Team tips-off their season tonight, exhibition style, against California of Pennsylvania.  The game starts at 7 and can be seen on bigtennetwork.com. 

Especially in light of the football team's struggles, I, like many others, can't wait for basketball to get started.  This should be a really exciting season and interesting to see how far Purdue can go this year. 

Unfortunately, newcomer Sandi Marcius will not be available tonight or anytime soon for that matter.  Marcius broke his foot in practice this past Friday and is expected to be out the next 4-6 weeks.  This isn't a HUGE setback, but it is one, nonetheless, as Purdue was expecting him to contribute this season.  The playing time early on that he will miss would have been valuable but unfrotunately will not be able to get it.  Hopefully he can catch on quickly mid-season when they will definitely need him against the more physical Big Ten season.

I am anxious to see the rest of the new faces, plus will be looking for Keaton Grant to return to his form from 2 seasons ago and a healthy Robbie Hummel.  I am also curious to see if JaJuan Johnson will build on his development and success he had last season.  And I am still waiting for E'twaun Moore to have a huge break-out year.  Lastly, I see Chris Kramer driven to be the league's best defensive player again this year and take back his title as such.

God Bless and Boiler Up!

Please go to http://www.espnamerica.com/ and vote for the Purdue vs. Wisconsin game so all of our alumni overseas can watch the Boilers....it will also be great exposure for Purdue!  Right now the IU game is leading so we need your votes!  We can't let those stinkin' Hoosiers get the air time!   Boiler Up!

Preseason polls are out, Purdue is ranked 7th in both the coaches and AP poll.  Seems pretty fair for a team that returns the majority of last year's team plus adds a few newcomers that could contribute.  It should be a fun and exciting season this year as the Boilers make a run for what will hopefully end in a Final Four appearance here in Indy.

Here is a link to the recently released polls:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings?pollId=2

It's about that time....in fact, practices are now under way.  Yesterday, Purdue held their annual "media day"  and Indysportsnation's Jeremiah Johnson was on hand.  Here are some interviews and soundbites that JJ gathered for the Boiler Room:

         

 Special Thanks to JJ for getting all of those---I cannot wait for the season to get started.  By the way, their first exhibiton game Tuesday, Nov. 3rd against California of Pennsylvania (which I interestingly enough passed this past weekend while traveling out to visit my brother).  That game will be on BigTenNetwork.com.  The first regular season game is Friday, November 13th against Cal State Northridge in Mackey Arena--that will be on ESPN360.  Gettin' close!  God Bless and Boiler Up! 

The Purdue-Notre Dame rivalry game has been extended through the 2021 season. 

A congrats to DE Ryan Kerrigan for being named Big 10 Defensive Player of the Week and Kicker Carson Wiggs being named Special Teams Player of the Week for their efforts in the win against Ohio State. 

And how about Drew Brees and Kyle Orton?  They have led their respective NFL teams to a combined 11-0.  And if you want to count back-ups (i.e. Curtis Painter), then they are 16-0! 
Pretty awesome!  Boiler Up!

Alright, so the Boilers' season is not over yet. After getting off to a rocky start with three turnovers early on, it looked as if we were going to see the same old Boilers we had seen the past 5 weeks.  But they were able to keep it together, regain their composure, and turn the tables on Ohio State; instead forcing 5 turnovers that proved monumental in this game.  I'm sure it felt good to have the shoe on the other foot this time. Purdue's defense was once again stellar, forcing 2 fumbles and 2 INT's on Terrell Pryor.  He appeared to be rattled and frustrated all day with the Boiler D.  Valentin and Smith are proving to be studs (and reliable recievers, especially when Valentin isn't fumbling).  Bottom line, Purdue went out and proved Saturday what they have been capable of doing all season.  To recap, Purdue's first 4 losses were by a total of 18 points before their 15 point loss at Minnesota. Looking back at those first 4 losses, I have listed one play from each game that has been the difference between Purdue being 6-1 and what they really are, 2-5.

Oregon--take away the blocked/missed XP and Purdue doesn't have to go for 2 at the end of the game and perhaps this game goes into OT...who knows what happens there?  And look how good Oregon is looking right now!

Northern Illinois--if NIU doesn't convert that fake punt deep in their own territory, Purdue is in prime position to tie up the game and have the momentum going into OT.

Notre Dame--Purdue was 1 stop away from winning this game....ONE stop!  If they defend/deflect Jimmy Claussen's 4th down attempt that was caught for the game-winning TD, Purdue wins this one.

Northwestern--it's easy to point out multiple mistakes in this game, especially the 6 turnovers!  But, all it took was for Elliott to plant his foot and lob the ball to Valentin in the back of the end zone where he stood wide open, and Purdue escapes that game with a victory. 

You could argue one play changed the Minnesota game too--Elliott's INT that was nearly returned for a TD, then was subsequently run in by the offense.  That play shifted the momentum and totally deflated Purdue.

But--none of that really matters, b/c at the end of the day, Purdue still lost those games.  The great news is, now with the upset over OSU on Saturday, Purdue certainly has some confidence, swag, and momentum heading into the latter half of the season with a small shot at still making a bowl game.  The chances are slim, but there is still a chance.  Purdue has Illinois this Saturday which is very winnable.  Then after that comes the biggest challenge--Purdue will need to win at least one of their 2 road games at Wisconsin or at Michigan.  If they can pull that off, then they have a home game against a very beatable and flawed Michigan State team, before heading down to "Glooming"ton for the Old Oaken Bucket game.  Completing that could result in a 6-6 record and a bowl game in Coach Hope's first season.  Of course, we'd love to have even a couple of those early games back--then a bowl game would look very much possible.   More to come soon....

God Bless and Boiler Up!

Purdue just upset the #7 Ohio State Buckeyes!  Congrats on a hard-fought, well-deserved victory!  Purdue played a tremendous game and showed that they are a pretty good team, they've just had some bad bounces this season and have made some mistakes costing them games.  But they played well, and fought back from some early mistakes to take advantage of OSU errors and held them off in the end.  The offense took care of the ball in the second half, and the defense played absolutely amazing!  Congrats again to Coach Hope and the players!  First win versus a ranked team since 2003 when they beat #10 Iowa.  More on this game later!

The football season continues its downward spiral after losing to Minnesota this past weekend.  The chances of getting to a bowl game now look next to impossible.  Purdue again, got off to a great start in the game against the Gophers, only to begin their collapse in the second quarter, as they have in every loss this season.  The Boilers have been outscored 83-37 in the second quarter on the year--( and 17 of those points for Purdue came in the Toledo game).  The third quarter isn't much better either-outscored 52-28.  Compare that to how Purdue does in the first, where they have outscored their opponents 59-16!  Purdue does pretty well in the 4th as well, scoring 47, and only allowing 32.  So, something is happening in those middle two quarters that is just killing Purdue.  Coach Hope addressed that issue yesterday in his weekly press conference

"It must be something I must be saying wrong. I say we want to start fast and finish strong. I should say stick something in the middle to help us out. We have been a team that ever since we got back together in camp; we wanted to practice to a certain premium in camp but we don't practice as long as some people do. We practice long enough but fast and hard, and we wanted a certain break in the practice. And we always want to start off practice hard and or start off practice fast and we want finishes, we want to emphasize finishing strong in practice, and we've done that in the games. We've had a series of events that have really killed our football team, and it's cost us the win, and it's happened in the second or third quarter. I don't think it has anything to do with time. I think it's timing, maybe, I don't think it has anything to do with time, I don't think it's the sand falling in the hourglass and we make mistakes or it's predetermined. I think we include some things at times that impacted the football game."

Well, whatever it is, it needs to get fixed.  The team has to stay 'up' and focused for a full 60 minutes.  Turnovers continue to plague this team, as well as mental breakdowns.  Coach Hop also made this comment relating to that:

"The decision making is about playmakers. That's critical now. When we sit down and look at this stuff, I'm not big at the computer desk. I can do mine on the yellow pad. I can do a check or a minus sign and put down the result and figure it out. We need better decision making by our playmakers and that's quarterbacks and receivers, kick return guys, the guys that have the ball in their hands. People who have a drop, you don't get beat by incomplete passes. That's not what beats you. Backs can beat you and turnovers can beat you and you have some drops, improve some of that, our goal is 60 percent, we have to be more efficient with our playmakers and we can really step up as a football team, no question about it. Our offense, I look at what's there, pretty good on offense now. It's a learning process and they see the same thing, too, going, holy smokes, we get a couple of these things right here; so we are optimistic."

Well, I'm glad they're optimistic, asI am trying to be as well, but unfortunately, optimism is not winning games.  The guys need to get out there and execute and start making the big plays on offense and keep drives alive.  And on defense, prevent the big play--they have been doing a pretty solid job the last couple of weeks.  Can't blame the D for the last two losses.

Here's to hoping for a good week of practice in preparation for the Buckeyes.  More on that game to come....til then, God Bless and Boiler Up! 

Purdue at Minnesota
Noon, on ESPN2

Purdue is in desparate need of a win this weekend when they travel to Minnesota to take on the Gophers.  Minnesota is coming off a tough loss to Wisconsin at home last weekend.  Purdue is coming off a humiliating loss to Northwestern.  Minnesota has a pretty good team as their 2 losses come against the previously mentioned Badgers, and to a good Cal team a few weeks ago. 

The Gophers are led by QB Adam Weber and RB Duane Bennett.  WR Eric Decker is having a solid season as well with 43 catches, including 5 TD's.  Both teams have the ability to put up a lot of points, so this one could turn into a shoot-out very quickly.  Purdue certainly needs to take care of the ball if they want any chance to win this game. 

The defense looked pretty darn good last week, but was unfortunately put in a bad position often due to the offense's turnovers.  If the 'D' can continue to improve on last week's performance, I think Purdue has a good shot at winning this game.

Players to watch:
Minnesota's QB's--They will play both Weber and Marquies Gray(who is from Indianapolis).  Purdue struggled defending the dual QB against Notre Dame, so how will they handle it against the Gophers.
Purdue's DB's:  They showed improvement last week.  How will they handle Decker as well as the rest of the offense--especially if Gray plays and gets past the front 7.  TACKLE!

Prediction:
  So, I have been wrong the last few weeks, so this time I am picking the Gophers to win (and secretly hoping to be wrong).  Minnesota 23-Purdue 21 

God Bless and Boiler Up!

Soccer
The 12th ranked women's soccer team came away with a win and tie this past week.  It started with a 1-0 win over Illinois on Friday, followed by a 1-1 tie with #20 Michigan State on Sunday.  The Lady Boilers are now 7-2-3 on the season (2-0-2 in Big Ten play).  Keep it up ladies...
Next up:  at IU on Thursday, then back home against Minnesota on Sunday.

Volleyball
The volleyball team has had a tough couple of weeks--they have now lost their third straight match, after suffering a 3-0 loss to 8th-ranked Minnesota.  They will have a chance to redeem themselves when facing 12th ranked Illinois on Friday in Champaign.  The team is now 9-6 on the season, 1-3 in league play.

Men's Golf
The men finished 8th in the Windon Memorial Classic this past weekend in Glencoe, Ill.  Their next tournament comes in a couple of weeks when they head out to Greensboro, N.C. for the UNCG Bridgestone Collegiate on Oct. 24th and 25th.

Women's Golf
The women are ranked 6th in the nation and as of this blog, hold a 18-stroke lead going into today's final round of the Windy City Collegiate Classic tournament they are competeing in.
The team has recently been recognized by Golfweek as the team of the week as well as junior Maude-Amiee LeBlanc named player of the week.  Read that article here.
After this weekend's tourney, the ladies next head to Wilmington, N.C. for the 'Landfall Tradition' tourney.  The women have not finished worse than 2nd in a tourney this year.  Keep it up!

Men's and Women's Cross Country
The women won the Greater Louisville Classic this past weekend, while the men came in 10th.  The women have a very solid team this year while the men have struggled so far.  Next up is the Gibson Family Collegiate Invitational in Terre Haute this weekend.

Men's Tennis
The men just completed their first set of matches of the season, wrapping up the Wildcat Invitational.  The highlight of the weekend was senior P.J. Rose winning the Flight A Singles title after going 4-0.  Congrats P.J.!  Next up is the Purdue Fall Invitational this weekend in West Lafayette.

Women's Tennis
The women's tennis team just completed their second weekend of play, competeing in the Wolverine Invite up in Ann Arbor.  The ladies had three top-3 finishers, highlighted by sophomore Ann Dushkina making it all the way to the final match before falling in Sunday's final.  The women next play in the ITA Regionals in a couple of weeks in Cincinatti, OH.

BOILER UP!