When you are a Purdue fan, you know how this stuff works.  Your team does well through the season, and then at some point, we forget how to score a basket and watch the season fall away.

Up 17 points against Penn State with 6 minutes to go, Coach Matt Painter took the foot off the gas.  I don’t know if he was trying to make sure that Zach Edey doesn’t get hurt in a blowout.  I don’t know if he was trying to guard the three point line with a smaller lineup.  But Penn State decided if Edey wasn’t in the center, they were going to drive to the basket.  The Nittany Lions rallied and outscored the Boilers 22-7, Purdue starts struggling against the press (although to be fair, part of that is because you have to maim someone in the Big 10 in order to get a foul), and freshman guard Fletcher Loyer (an 81.3% FT shooter) missed 3 of 4 from the line leaving one chance left with 3 seconds to play.

And the Lunatic is now left nervously screaming helplessly at the TV hoping that we can hang on.  Fortunately, Painter put his star back into the game.  Edey looked like he actually tipped the in-bounce making it hard for Penn State, and Camren Wynter travelled trying to control the ball and get a shot off before the buzzer.  Purdue hangs on for a 2 point victory and Big 10 Tournament Championship, and the Lunatic sighs, breathing heavily, with his blood pressure probably rising to a dangerous level realizing that this is how March is going to be.

When Purdue is playing their normal game, they might be the best team in college basketball.  Their ball movement and offensive sets are really well done and team oriented in an era when you see so much isolation 1-on-1 type basketball.  They certainly have the talent to cut down the nets in Houston.  They also have the ability to blow a 17 point lead (fortunately, Saint Peter’s didn’t make the tournament so it will have to be some other unexpected Cinderella story) and break the Lunatic’s heart.

It Must Be March!  The Selection Show is now on!!!!  Let the games begin!