Post by 68grad on Mar 18, 2011 8:16:47 GMT -5
"When seniors JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore were winning 25 games as Purdue freshmen, their counterparts at St. Peters won only six times in 30 starts.
Tonight, Peacock senior starters Ryan Bacon, Wesley Jenkins and Nick Leon will experience their first NCAA tournament setting when No. 14 seed St. Peter's faces No. 3 seed Purdue in the United Center.
Boilermaker coach Matt Painter has shared with his team that the Peacocks stuck it out after seasons of 6-24, 11-19 and 16-14, finally breaking through with a 20-13 year in which they won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament.
Along with senior non-starter Jeron Belin (11.6 points), the Peacocks are the model of perseverence.
"What impresses me more than anything is their makeup," Painter said Thursday. "They have a lot of seniors who played as freshmen and struggled. Each year, they have made improvements. It's such a microwave society that when things don't go your way, kids leave.
"This group didn't. This group stuck together and kept fighting. Now, they are seniors, and they are a very good basketball team. They are going to come at you and play very, very hard. They are all over the place. They do a great job defensively. You have to be careful, because they are always trying to get blocks and steals."
Purdue point guard Lewis Jackson is reminded of Siena -- Purdue's first-round opponent in 2010 -- when he watched film of St. Peter's.
"They obviously are in a good league with Siena," Jackson said. "I think it's more about their story ... how they started as freshmen and struggled and how they stuck it out. Now, they are in the NCAA tournament.
"They want to prove that they can play with us. They are a veteran group. It's going to be a tough game."
Purdue center JaJuan Johnson is impressed with St. Peter's power forward Bacon, who averages 10 points and 7.5 rebounds.
"(Bacon) is really athletic," Johnson said. "He plays extremely hard. I have a couple of inches on him, but he is going to try to be really physical. He is going to be a tough matchup. He is a good player."
Bacon said the Peacocks are excited to play the Boilermakers.
"We watched their film, and they are a lot bigger and stronger than us," Bacon said. "We just know we have to play hard to win. We don't have to play a perfect game, but we have to play good."
Twelve straight
Beginning with the 1994 NCAA tournament, Purdue is 12-0 in opening-round games.
Jackson said that's not by accident.
"It has been leadership," Jackson said. "We've had guys there who know how to get first-round wins. It's about not overlooking teams. That has really helped us."
Painter said it's unusual to win 12 straight in the opening round.
"I can't put my finger on it," Painter said. "Obviously, Purdue has had a pretty good program for many years. Coach (Gene) Keady did an excellent job in his 25 years. We're just like anybody else. We try to get our teams ready and lock into our opponent while understanding the most important thing is Purdue."
Obamatology
President Barack Obama has Purdue advancing to the Elite Eight in his NCAA tournament bracket. The Boilermakers hope their President knows what he is talking about.
"It's kind of cool," Johnson said. "When the President picks you to go to the Elite Eight, it's neat. But now we have to go out there and get these wins."
Solid practices
Moore has liked the mood during practices since the Boilermakers lost to Michigan State in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals a week ago today.
"The attitude in practice has been good," Moore said. "Everyone has come to practice willing to work hard. Everyone has been fired up."
Tonight, Peacock senior starters Ryan Bacon, Wesley Jenkins and Nick Leon will experience their first NCAA tournament setting when No. 14 seed St. Peter's faces No. 3 seed Purdue in the United Center.
Boilermaker coach Matt Painter has shared with his team that the Peacocks stuck it out after seasons of 6-24, 11-19 and 16-14, finally breaking through with a 20-13 year in which they won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament.
Along with senior non-starter Jeron Belin (11.6 points), the Peacocks are the model of perseverence.
"What impresses me more than anything is their makeup," Painter said Thursday. "They have a lot of seniors who played as freshmen and struggled. Each year, they have made improvements. It's such a microwave society that when things don't go your way, kids leave.
"This group didn't. This group stuck together and kept fighting. Now, they are seniors, and they are a very good basketball team. They are going to come at you and play very, very hard. They are all over the place. They do a great job defensively. You have to be careful, because they are always trying to get blocks and steals."
Purdue point guard Lewis Jackson is reminded of Siena -- Purdue's first-round opponent in 2010 -- when he watched film of St. Peter's.
"They obviously are in a good league with Siena," Jackson said. "I think it's more about their story ... how they started as freshmen and struggled and how they stuck it out. Now, they are in the NCAA tournament.
"They want to prove that they can play with us. They are a veteran group. It's going to be a tough game."
Purdue center JaJuan Johnson is impressed with St. Peter's power forward Bacon, who averages 10 points and 7.5 rebounds.
"(Bacon) is really athletic," Johnson said. "He plays extremely hard. I have a couple of inches on him, but he is going to try to be really physical. He is going to be a tough matchup. He is a good player."
Bacon said the Peacocks are excited to play the Boilermakers.
"We watched their film, and they are a lot bigger and stronger than us," Bacon said. "We just know we have to play hard to win. We don't have to play a perfect game, but we have to play good."
Twelve straight
Beginning with the 1994 NCAA tournament, Purdue is 12-0 in opening-round games.
Jackson said that's not by accident.
"It has been leadership," Jackson said. "We've had guys there who know how to get first-round wins. It's about not overlooking teams. That has really helped us."
Painter said it's unusual to win 12 straight in the opening round.
"I can't put my finger on it," Painter said. "Obviously, Purdue has had a pretty good program for many years. Coach (Gene) Keady did an excellent job in his 25 years. We're just like anybody else. We try to get our teams ready and lock into our opponent while understanding the most important thing is Purdue."
Obamatology
President Barack Obama has Purdue advancing to the Elite Eight in his NCAA tournament bracket. The Boilermakers hope their President knows what he is talking about.
"It's kind of cool," Johnson said. "When the President picks you to go to the Elite Eight, it's neat. But now we have to go out there and get these wins."
Solid practices
Moore has liked the mood during practices since the Boilermakers lost to Michigan State in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals a week ago today.
"The attitude in practice has been good," Moore said. "Everyone has come to practice willing to work hard. Everyone has been fired up."