Okay, so I lied. No more about the Michigan game, since Purdue proceeded to get
beat up in the second half in Columbus last Wednesday, then
lose at Northwestern on Saturday afternoon.
I was at the debacle in Evanston; it was a beautiful February day on the North Shore, and I comfortably walked to the game from my car in a T-shirt and jeans (the same outfit I sat outside in at Mustard's Last Stand after the game). For most of the game, however, I wondered why I even bothered to make the trip. The Boilers fell behind 11-0, and were not much closer than 4 or 5 in the first half, which ended 32-18. Northwestern went nuts again to start the half, opening up a 20-point lead at 44-24 (and being helped by the officials, who called the first seven fouls in the second half on Purdue -- enough so, that when they called the first foul on Northwestern, a huge Bronx cheer erupted from the Purdue half of the stands). At that point, as I was vocally expressing my indignation at having driven all the way up there, the weirdest thing happened -- Purdue went on a huge run, cutting the deficit to 4 points once more with about 4 minutes left. Unfortunately, there was a point soon after that with Purdue down either 4 or 5 (forgive me for not being able to remember the exact time or situation), when two Purdue players both went for the same rebound on the defensive end, collided, and the ball squirted into the backcourt where it was grabbed by a Northwestern player -- and of course, Purdue committed a foul, the Northwestern shooter made both free throws, and that pretty much was the turning point down the stretch.
Tonight, the Boilers look to
get out of last place in the Big Ten against Penn State. There's still enough games left to salvage a little dignity out of this season (even though they're mathematically eliminated from any postseason play, save winning the Big Ten tournament), so tonight would be a great time to start.
