Takeaways and Wrap Video: Marshall

Our post-game analysis following third-ranked Purdue’s 80-45 win over Marshall.

PDF: Purdue-Marshall stats

THIS LINEUP WAS INEVITABLE

The starting five Purdue rolled out Saturday — really the only notable development from a procedural 80-45 win — was the group considered most likely months back following the conclusion of last season. It just made sense to put your five best and five of your most experienced players out there together considering the five of them comprise a logical lineup.

But Matt Painter wanted to give traditional size a shot, in the interest of rebounding, rim protection, screening, physicality and whatever else. But center then became your most unproven position, and once Daniel Jacobsen got hurt, costing Purdue the possibility he’d really come of age with experience and start cashing in his immense up-side now, this Trey Kaufman-Renn seemed bound for center primarily and Camden Heide the 4.

It just makes sense. Size had to be paying dividends and it was not to the extent it exceeded the offensive bump small ball might provide. This lineup had been used this season already but now Purdue seems two feet in and poised to maybe build more into it at both ends of the floor. There are going to be pluses and minuses and it’s up to coaches to leverage the former and ease the latter.

And it’s up to the players to rebound, the single biggest question that will come. Marshall was not equipped to really test Purdue and still got seven first-half offensive rebounds.

Purdue will have to be laser-focused on defensive rebounding and offset lack of ample size with effort and energy. This is a lineup shift, but there may have to be some philosophical shifts baked into it. These offense-centric lineups are going to have to get their hands dirty.

MYLES COLVIN MAKES THIS WORK

Gicarri Harris earned the starting job to open the season for a few reasons. 1) He was very good in the summer and fall. 2) He’s a defender. And 3) his point guard-compatible skills made for a capable third ball-handler on the floor.

He was not demoted as much as Myles Colvin was promoted. He is not really a guard-type as a ball-handler, but he has defended and rebounded at a level no one seems to have seen coming. His growth into a real two-way player has been one of the best developments for Purdue this season.

And the offensive component is still there.

That 3 man is generally the backside that would be helped off by teams who want to hang a second defender behind a post scorer. That’s how Lance Jones got a lot of great looks last season.

And it’s where Marquette conceded some things, cheating off Harris at times to crowd Trey Kaufman-Renn.

Harris got good looks from three, but couldn’t connect. He will likely be a consistent shooter in time, but freshmen almost never are.

Colvin has shown what he can do as a shooter and opponents would have to think long and hard about allowing him to do so.

November is always a chess match in that sense.

Colvin, by becoming a more complete player, has made himself into a pivotal piece.

CAMDEN HEIDE SETTLING IN

Heide is not just better at the 4. He is a 4.

He’s big and strong like you expect power forwards to be but also athletic and switchable on defense.

Those threes he’s making, they are the prototypical Purdue 4-man threes, moving to the top or wing away from the direction of the ball. He looks comfortable moving into shots as required.

He has to rebound, and has been.

If his effort and energy on the glass become constants, why can’t he be like Mason Gillis?