Reviewing the defensive performances Purdue basketball put on film this preseason, Vincent Edwards admitted it's been a mix of screen gems and widely panned clunkers.
The early portion of the Boilermaker schedule will be about doing some re-writes, trimming out the bad takes and crafting a defense that can stand up against the best in the Big Ten Conference.
However, that development must comes via the toughest nonconference schedule the program has faced in years. That begins Monday when, for only the third time in program history, the defending national champion comes to Mackey Arena.
Villanova, returning three starters from its thrilling NCAA championship victory over North Carolina, visits as part of the Gavitt Games, which pair Big Ten and Big East opponents.
Purdue coach Matt Painter said recently he didn't believe his team was ready to go beat somebody good. He said they were "too finesse." Villanova is the Boilermakers' chance to prove they have the edge to beat one of the nation's best teams ? or at least the potential to get there.
"It's going to be important that we really grow and work towards being a team that?s stingy ? that will fight you," Painter said. "Right now we're not that team. It's important each guy lose himself to the team and play harder and play smarter, but also be tougher."
It's no secret Purdue has to rediscover itself a bit defensively this season. Two Big Ten Defensive Players of the Year ? center A.J. Hammons and guard Rapheal Davis ? moved on after last season. The Boilermakers depended on them for rim protection and lock-down perimeter duty, respectively.
Expect Purdue to pack it in more during a season in which team defensive concepts take on even greater importance.
"We can do a better job of talking and communicating," point guard P.J. Thompson said. "The more we're talking and communicating, we're alert and we have each other's backs."
Junior center Isaac Haas blocked three shots in the season opener against McNeese State. However, he doesn't have Hammons' ability to get caught out of position and recover with his athleticism, or leave his feet to block a shot and bounce back on the same play.
Yet at 7-foot-2, 290 pounds, Haas can provide an expansive, intimidating physical presence in the paint. There are even ways he can enhance Purdue's defense compared to Hammons.
"I know there's going to be a lot of ball-screen action, and that's where I'm going to have to talk and let everybody know what's going on ? kind of be like the catcher almost of basketball," Haas said. "They're vocal. You have to do that as the big guy, because the big guys are in the back. They see everything that's going on.
"You have to let them all know what's going on and they have to rely on your voice. If you can't give them that then how can they trust you in other areas of the game?"
Caleb Swanigan will continue to play both power forward and center. That could at times mean matchups with bigger guards such as Villanova's Kris Jenkins. Swanigan's comfort level should grow after a year of experience and his offseason workouts with various NBA teams who project him as a '4.'
Purdue forward Basil Smotherman also returns from suspension to face Villanova, and the 6-6 junior's energy and physicality should help with those matchups.
Vincent Edwards also adjusted to a new spot a year ago when Swanigan's arrival pushed him from the 4 to the 3. His primary matchup Monday is a similarly versatile player: Villanova guard Josh Hart. Painter said the Wildcats will also play Hart at the 4 in their small lineup looks, something Purdue also does with Edwards.
Edwards, who also spent part of his summer in NBA workouts, said he put more time into his defense in the offseason than he ever remembers doing before.
Purdue's perimeter defense outside of Davis lagged at times last season. Dakota Mathias' preparation to assume a larger role began in the offseason, when he ramped up his film study.
It's an approach he said he learned from Davis. Mathias has tried to show coaches and teammates his basketball IQ and familiarity with the system make him a reliable defensive option.
"Tendencies of people, knowing where they're going to be, using your head," Mathias said of the benefits of film study. "You might be limited athletically. Somebody might be quicker, taller, whatever the case might be. If you're smarter than them and know what they're going to do, you can stay in front of them."
Painter doesn't know if he has a shutdown defender on his perimeter. Davis himself didn't emerge until his junior season after being a self-described liability there early in his career.
One thing hasn't changed: those who play the best defense will play the most.
"Maybe we don?t have that type of guy, but we need to have that type of team," Painter said. "It's important people grow and get a defensive identity. Everybody has that challenge.
"We have a lot of greedy type guys who want to play all the time. I think it?s a positive greed. If you can establish yourself as a primary defender on the perimeter, you'll put yourself ahead of a lot of guys on our team."
The early portion of the Boilermaker schedule will be about doing some re-writes, trimming out the bad takes and crafting a defense that can stand up against the best in the Big Ten Conference.
However, that development must comes via the toughest nonconference schedule the program has faced in years. That begins Monday when, for only the third time in program history, the defending national champion comes to Mackey Arena.
Villanova, returning three starters from its thrilling NCAA championship victory over North Carolina, visits as part of the Gavitt Games, which pair Big Ten and Big East opponents.
Purdue coach Matt Painter said recently he didn't believe his team was ready to go beat somebody good. He said they were "too finesse." Villanova is the Boilermakers' chance to prove they have the edge to beat one of the nation's best teams ? or at least the potential to get there.
"It's going to be important that we really grow and work towards being a team that?s stingy ? that will fight you," Painter said. "Right now we're not that team. It's important each guy lose himself to the team and play harder and play smarter, but also be tougher."
It's no secret Purdue has to rediscover itself a bit defensively this season. Two Big Ten Defensive Players of the Year ? center A.J. Hammons and guard Rapheal Davis ? moved on after last season. The Boilermakers depended on them for rim protection and lock-down perimeter duty, respectively.
Expect Purdue to pack it in more during a season in which team defensive concepts take on even greater importance.
"We can do a better job of talking and communicating," point guard P.J. Thompson said. "The more we're talking and communicating, we're alert and we have each other's backs."
Junior center Isaac Haas blocked three shots in the season opener against McNeese State. However, he doesn't have Hammons' ability to get caught out of position and recover with his athleticism, or leave his feet to block a shot and bounce back on the same play.
Yet at 7-foot-2, 290 pounds, Haas can provide an expansive, intimidating physical presence in the paint. There are even ways he can enhance Purdue's defense compared to Hammons.
"I know there's going to be a lot of ball-screen action, and that's where I'm going to have to talk and let everybody know what's going on ? kind of be like the catcher almost of basketball," Haas said. "They're vocal. You have to do that as the big guy, because the big guys are in the back. They see everything that's going on.
"You have to let them all know what's going on and they have to rely on your voice. If you can't give them that then how can they trust you in other areas of the game?"
Caleb Swanigan will continue to play both power forward and center. That could at times mean matchups with bigger guards such as Villanova's Kris Jenkins. Swanigan's comfort level should grow after a year of experience and his offseason workouts with various NBA teams who project him as a '4.'
Purdue forward Basil Smotherman also returns from suspension to face Villanova, and the 6-6 junior's energy and physicality should help with those matchups.
Vincent Edwards also adjusted to a new spot a year ago when Swanigan's arrival pushed him from the 4 to the 3. His primary matchup Monday is a similarly versatile player: Villanova guard Josh Hart. Painter said the Wildcats will also play Hart at the 4 in their small lineup looks, something Purdue also does with Edwards.
Edwards, who also spent part of his summer in NBA workouts, said he put more time into his defense in the offseason than he ever remembers doing before.
Purdue's perimeter defense outside of Davis lagged at times last season. Dakota Mathias' preparation to assume a larger role began in the offseason, when he ramped up his film study.
It's an approach he said he learned from Davis. Mathias has tried to show coaches and teammates his basketball IQ and familiarity with the system make him a reliable defensive option.
"Tendencies of people, knowing where they're going to be, using your head," Mathias said of the benefits of film study. "You might be limited athletically. Somebody might be quicker, taller, whatever the case might be. If you're smarter than them and know what they're going to do, you can stay in front of them."
Painter doesn't know if he has a shutdown defender on his perimeter. Davis himself didn't emerge until his junior season after being a self-described liability there early in his career.
One thing hasn't changed: those who play the best defense will play the most.
"Maybe we don?t have that type of guy, but we need to have that type of team," Painter said. "It's important people grow and get a defensive identity. Everybody has that challenge.
"We have a lot of greedy type guys who want to play all the time. I think it?s a positive greed. If you can establish yourself as a primary defender on the perimeter, you'll put yourself ahead of a lot of guys on our team."
ainter said Villanova has the personnel to make another long NCAA Tournament run. Jenkins is the household name thanks to his title-winning buzzer-beater. Hart averaged a team-best 15.5 points last season. Brunson was a Purdue recruiting target with a lot of talent. Could the Wildcats be the first team to win back-to-back since Florida in 2006-07?