Category / Basketball

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Put On Your Dancing Shoes

The nation’s attention turns to the college hoops scene for the next few weeks as the NCAA tournament kicks off later today.  I’m not in any pools this year, so most of these selections have no ultimate bearing on my life, aside from personal pride.  With the Final Four and the Championship taking place just down the road in Indianapolis, I may have to expend a not-insignificant amount of money should a certain school from West Lafayette manage to make it that far.  So, without further ado, let’s take a look at this year’s selections.

Maybe it is personal bias, but I am expecting big things from the two Big Ten teams in this bracket, including one making their way to the Final Four.

Purdue followed up a disappointing end to the regular season with a spirited run through the Big Ten Tournament to capture the championship.  Are they fixed?  Well, I hope so since I have them coming out of this region and heading to Indy. Continue reading →

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Braden Watch

With eleven assists in yesterday’s Big Ten Tournament championship clincher over Michigan, Braden Smith now sits just one assist behind Duke’s Bobby Hurley for the NCAA’s career assists record.  Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Smith should break the record early in Purdue’s first round matchup against Queens in the NCAA Tournament.

1,076 – Bobby Hurley
1,075 – Braden Smith

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Braden Watch

Braden Smith moved closer to capturing the NCAA’s career assists record, adding another 9 in yesterday’s victory over UCLA in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament.  Smith is now just 12 assists away from tying Duke’s Bobby Hurley’s record of 1,076.  At his current pace of 9 assists per game, Smith would need Purdue to play just two more games between the Big Ten Tournament and the NCAA Tournament in order to best Hurley, and both of those games are now guaranteed.

1,076 – Bobby Hurley
1,064 – Braden Smith

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Braden Watch

Braden Smith moved closer to capturing the NCAA’s career assists record, adding 10 in yesterday’s victory over Nebraska in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament.  Smith is now just 21 assists away from tying Duke’s Bobby Hurley’s record of 1,076.  At his current pace of 9 assists per game, Smith would need Purdue to play three more games between the Big Ten Tournament and the NCAA Tournament in order to best Hurley, with two of those games now guaranteed.

1,076 – Bobby Hurley
1,055 – Braden Smith

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Braden Watch

Tying his career high with 16 assists in yesterday’s victory over Northwestern in the third round of the Big Ten Tournament, Braden Smith has surpassed both Ed Cota and Chris Corchiani and now sits in second place on the NCAA’s career assists chart.  Smith is now just 31 assists away from tying Duke’s Bobby Hurley’s record of 1,076.  At his current pace of 8.9 assists per game, Smith would need Purdue to play four more games between the Big Ten Tournament and the NCAA Tournament in order to best Hurley.  Suddenly, with two of those games guaranteed, this once again feels possible.

1,076 – Bobby Hurley
1,045 – Braden Smith

 

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Braden Watch

Braden Smith finished Big Ten Conference play with nine assists in Saturday’s loss to Wisconsin, keeping him in fourth place on the NCAA’s career assists chart.  Smith is now just one assists away from tying North Carolina’s Ed Cota for third place and 47 away from Bobby Hurley’s record of 1076 as we head into the Big Ten Tournament.  At his current pace of 8.7 assists per game, Smith would need Purdue to play at six games between the Big Ten Tournament and the NCAA Tournament in order to best Hurley.  With the way they have been playing, that does not seem likely.

1,076 – Bobby Hurley
1,038 – Chris Corchiani
1,030 – Ed Cota
1,029 – Braden Smith

Smith ends his career with 585 assists in Big Ten Conference games, extending his record by 107 assists over Cassius Winston.  Purdue makes their first appearance in the Big Ten Conference Tournament on Thursday.

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Second To None

A disappointing senior day loss to Wisconsin yesterday did have one bright spot for Fletcher Loyer.  Making six three-pointers, he surpassed Carsen Edwards to become Purdue’s all-time leader in career three-pointers made with 282.  He also became the all-time leader in career three-pointers made at Mackey Arena with 148, passing David Teague’s 146.

Finishing with 23 points, Loyer ended the game with 1,704 career points, moving him moving into fifteenth place on the Purdue’s all-time scoring list.  Loyer and Braden Smith also played in their 141st career game, tying Dakota Mathias for the most games played in Purdue history.

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Braden Watch

With nine assists in yesterday’s victory over Northwestern, Braden Smith remains in fourth place on the NCAA’s career assists chart.  With just one regular season game remaining, Smith is now ten assists away from tying North Carolina’s Ed Cota for third place and 54 away from Bobby Hurley’s record of 1076.  At his current pace of 8.7 assists per game, Smith would need over six more games to reach Hurley, meaning Purdue would need to play at least five games between the Big Ten Tournament and the NCAA Tournament.

1,076 – Bobby Hurley
1,038 – Chris Corchiani
1,030 – Ed Cota
1,020 – Braden Smith

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Braden Watch

With seven assists in yesterday’s loss to Ohio State, Braden Smith has surpassed Jason Brickman and sits in fourth place on the NCAA’s career assists chart.  With two regular season games remaining, Smith is now 19 assists away from tying North Carolina’s Ed Cota for third place and 65 away from Bobby Hurley’s record of 1076.  At his current pace of 8.7 assists per game, Smith would need a nearly seven and a half more games to reach Hurley, meaning Purdue would need to play at least five games between the Big Ten Tournament and the NCAA Tournament.

1,076 – Bobby Hurley
1,038 – Chris Corchiani
1,030 – Ed Cota
1,011 – Braden Smith

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Braden Watch

As we head into the final week of the regular season, Braden Smith sits in fifth place for the all-time NCAA assist leaderboard.  During Thursday’s loss to Michigan State, Smith notched ten assists, giving him 1004 for his career and becoming just the fifth player to surpass 1000.  With three non-tournament games remaining, Smith is five assists away from tying LIU’s Jason Brickman for fourth place and 72 away from Bobby Hurley’s record of 1076.  At his current pace of 8.8 assists per game, Smith would need a little over eight more games to reach Hurley, meaning Purdue would need at least five games between the Big Ten Tournament and the NCAA Tournament.

1,076 – Bobby Hurley
1,038 – Chris Corchiani
1,030 – Ed Cota
1,009 – Jason Brickman
1,004 – Braden Smith