Losing to St Peter’s hurt but let’s put things into perspective.

We made the Sweet 16 - more than 300 college basketball teams did not. And we have made it there more times since 2017 than all but two other schools. We are at a pinnacle of not just Purdue performance but for NCAA basketball team performance. And to leave this season without thanking this entire team would be rude and quite frankly a little Dickinsonish.

First, Coach Matt Painter. While I hold no ill will to those who want to demand better I simply can’t agree. This man - this Boilermaker alumn who played for our team took a group of guys who literally weren’t that great and turned them into a top 16 team. Of the guys who played 15 minutes or more you had kids who ranked 150, 154, 374, 211, 220, 440 and 89 coming out of high school and that kid who ranked 89th was ranked 215 the day he committed. He turned guys who ranked 154, 215 and 440 into potential NBA players - one who will be a lottery pick. This level of performance is quite frankly amazing and not any where near hot seat material so sit down and appreciate the good things you have. Complaining about Matt Painter is like me complaining about not getting the first class upgrade - a very first world problem.

The Seniors: Thanks you and best wishes to Sasha, Tre and Eric. Very strong careers for the Boilers and guys whom gave us their best and sometimes struggled but great young men and true Boilermakers everyday. I don’t personally know these guys ( a fact my wife likes to remind me of) but if I did I would beg Eric to stay. His role for 2022/2023 is wide open and he could truly have an impact as a leader. But either way thanks guys - hope to see you at Harry’s one day and your drinks are on me.

Jaden: Immensely talented with a gear I don’t see anywhere and I am just not talking at Purdue. While he is not the same type of player as Giannis his gear is similar. I truly believe he will be a great pro athlete - a better pro than he was a college player.

Edey: What a beast - my wife is still waiting to catch a smile on his face. The performance from a #440 recruit, for a former hockey and baseball player is world class. I do not believe he is done as I truly do not believe his skill set translates to the NBA of today but some have him getting drafted. I think he is the best in a long line of big men - but his true potential has not been reached- if he stays this could be your national player of the year in 2022/2023.

The rest of the team

in 2022/2023 I see the following line up assuming no additions and Hunter not staying.

1. Morton/ Thompson

2. Newman/Thompson

3. Gillis/Loyer

4. TKR/Furst

5. Edey/ Furst

That’s probably your eight man rotation

Smith, Waddle, Berg play

Heide with the injury red shirts

Going back to earlier - only three of our top seven minutes guys return and yes they still ranked 440, 220 and 211 out of high school. The five new top eight guys will have ranked 65, 44, 103, 84 and 126. From a pure talent stand point we will be stepping forward not backwards. And NONE of these five will be Seniors. The following year you will add guys at 121, 71 and 76. If CMP can make the same jump with these guys that he did with our last group then the future is bright.

thanks to the Boilermaker team and our fans for keeping it interesting and successful. Here are my three predictions provided Edey stays

1. we make the Sweet 16 in 2022/2023.

2. We go further than that in 2023/2024

3. Despite all this success - someone wants to fire Painter :-)

I fell like and old Cubs/ Red Sox fan - wait till next year!