MINNEAPOLIS – Media days ceaselessly carry a dozen of professor discuss. Everyone loves their staff this date of yr. It’s the season of optimism. However on Tuesday morning at Obese Ten males’s basketball media date within the Goal Heart in Minneapolis, there used to be a one-of-a-kind vibe order the staff picked to complete first within the league. 

By no means has a staff picked to win a convention as robust because the Obese Ten been at the receiving finish of the questions Purdue used to be being requested. That’s as a result of everyone sought after to learn about the item that came about utmost March, when the Boilermakers fell in superior model to Deny. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson. The ones questions have been anticipated, however what stood out is how Nineteenth-year head professor Matt Painter and his avid gamers treated them. There used to be negative sense of deflection from the Boilermakers when requested what came about on that chilly Saint Patrick’s Future night time in opposition to the Knights, who have been school basketball’s smallest staff through peak going up in opposition to probably the most dominant pressure within the nation, 7-foot-4, 300-pound heart Zach Edey. 

“I don’t think it will stay with me through the year. I think it will stay with me forever,” Painter stated of that loss. “I wish it didn’t. But that’s part of being competitive and coaching. You don’t sit around wiping your trophies. You sit around thinking about why you didn’t beat someone.” 

That loss resulted in refer to query: Do the Boilermakers have to modify what they’re doing? Within the utmost 3 seasons, Purdue has been eradicated within the NCAA Event through no longer handiest FDU, however Saint Peter’s and North Texas as neatly. Painter sees it very another way. 

“I’m not going to change things that have been great for us. You’re not going to convince me to steal my own car,” Painter stated. “If you live and die by every shot, you’re going to be dead a lot. You can make great decisions and get a bad result. We had the No. 1 offense in the country against top-100 teams last year. I don’t think we need to change our offense. I just think we need to play better. If I’m questioning myself too much, then I’m going to walk away like the riddler.” 

As for Edey, who would be the Preseason Nationwide Participant of the Future around the nation for all intents and functions, the Purdue celebrity sat in a grey swimsuit on Tuesday, clinching a baseball as though he used to be the usage of it as a rigidity ball when requested about that loss to the Knights. You should sense the incentive for redemption oozing out of him. 

“Not a lot of words were said on that bus ride home,” Edey stated of what adopted the loss to FDU. “It was a s—ty feeling for things to end that way after all we did.” 

As Painter alluded to on Tuesday, nearly all of the struggle for Purdue is the psychological facet. The Boilermakers go back 86.6% in their scoring manufacturing from utmost yr, and everyone is a yr used. For Edey specifically even though, his case is exclusive in terms of the psychological facet as a result of that is handiest his 7th yr of arranged basketball. Edey didn’t get started enjoying on a staff till his sophomore season at Leaside Top College in Toronto.

“There’s just a different learning curve for Zach,” Painter stated. “Two years ago, he was nonexistent as a rim protector. Last year, he racked up blocks. His ball-screen defense was good, and his motor was even better. His next step: How can’t you believe in yourself when you’re the consensus National Player of the Year? He didn’t have experiences when he was 8, 9 or 10 years old, where he would have been the best player. 

“I imagine he’s an NBA participant. He’s very useful in what he does. He has an unbelievable skill to cross. He conceptualizes what’s going down at the court docket. A dozen of society equate that his good fortune must be perimeter photographs and the sport is other. He’s gotta end up that and knock indisposed the ones photographs, however I imagine he’ll be an NBA participant.” 

Painter acknowledged that the pushback he and the program have gotten is true and took accountability, something that’s refreshing for a guy who is 413-198 on his career. The biggest key for the Boilers, though, isn’t Edey. It’s improving on a 32% clip from 3-point territory. 

For now, what’s impressive is the way the Boilermakers handled the questions of that historic loss. They aren’t shying away from it, and by fully acknowledging it, it could help them play more loose come next March because you’ve now seen the worst possible outcome under the spotlight. 

Five other takeaways from Big Ten media day:

Michigan State senior guard A.J. Hoggard is taking things personally and wasn’t afraid to speak his mind on Tuesday. A year after the Spartans were picked fourth in the Big Ten preseason poll and were flying under the radar, I asked Hoggard how he’s approaching this season, in which Michigan State has been selected second in the poll and will be a preseason top-10 team. 

“Oh, I’ve nonetheless were given the chip on my shoulder,” Hoggard stated. 

When requested the place he will get that from, he used to be lovely candid: “Neatly, a few of you guys. A few of you guys that don’t assume I’m what I’m. I remove it with a grain of salt. I remove my notes and take a seat again and observe, and observe it each date. Everyone who’s writing me off, and the way you recall to mind level guards within the nation, I see the entirety. I’m taking my very own notes.”

Anybody doubting Michigan State heading into this season would be an outlier. Tom Izzo has over 80% of his scoring back and as deep a backcourt as any in college basketball. Izzo was very complimentary of four-star guard Jeremy Fears, stating that he’s been an exceptional leader in practices.

“There are just a couple of learners I will say that about in my training profession, and you’ll say it about him.” 

The Hall of Fame head coach, who’s entering his 29th season in East Lansing, was also asked about retirement on Tuesday. 

“Some society inform me they love departure,” Izzo said. “Others inform me ‘by no means quit.’ At the moment, I’m leaning towards the second.”

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A few occasions all over media date on Tuesday, coaches would question me the query: “Whats up, who’s that man?” 

That’s a symptom of the transfer portal and just how much rosters can change. That’s not an issue at all for Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard. He has all five starters back and nine of his top 10 players – and no, it’s not from an NCAA Tournament team. That’s what impresses Gard about the guys he has in his locker room. 

“That’s the credit score that is going to our staff,” Gard said. “Our guys selected to stick in combination, versus going their person techniques. I even go searching right here at media date, and there’s a dozen of men that I simply don’t know. There’s only a dozen of rosters with an entire dozen of pristine on them. So, to have that form of perpetuity in as of late’s global and to have the enjoy again, it’s plethora. The ones used guys know the language. They’re the most productive academics earlier than us coaches ever go into the fitness center.” 

Fifth-year senior Tyler Wahl (11.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 2.5 APG) is back in Madison and Gard revealed how their conversation went for him to return. 

“We mentioned how no person in our program’s historical past has ever received 3 Obese Ten (ordinary season) championships,” Gard said. “I instructed Tyler, ‘you’ll come again and construct historical past right here.'” 

Wahl, Chucky Hepburn and Connor Essegian will lead a strong core, while St. John’s transfer AJ Storr has entered the program and will immediately help Wisconsin on the perimeter. The big thing on Gard’s mind: late-game execution. 

“We went 13-10 in akin video games made up our minds within the ultimate 4 mins utmost yr, and in 8 of the ones losses, we had a top at one level within the ultimate mins,” Gard added. “With any other yr beneath our belts, I imagine we have now the items to show that round.” 

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There is no timetable on Juwan Howard’s return to the sidelines following his surgery in September to fix an aortic aneurysm and repair his aortic valve, Michigan assistant head coach Saddi Washington announced on Tuesday. 

“He’s an overly progressive person to get again,” Washington said. “He’s going to hear his staff of medical doctors. He’s taking to travel during the means of running thru his rehab and getting wholesome. I do know the aggressive spirit that he has. We’re simply taking to keep indisposed the citadel. We would like him again when he’s in a position.”

As for the Wolverines, who were picked 11th out of 14 in the preseason poll, there was definitely a message from the players on the approach entering this season. 

“In my view, I find it irresistible. I’ll say it rowdy and sunlit,” Alabama transfer Nimari Burnett said of Michigan being picked fourth-to-last in the conference. “We like the speculation of being counted out. We get not to handiest exceed expectancies, however scribble one thing for ourselves.”

Tennessee switch Olivier Nkamhoua echoed Burnett’s ideas.

“The whole thing occurs for a explanation why, and I do imagine that,” Nkamhoua said. “Everyone has tough years and ups and downs. I’m no longer right here to discuss what utmost yr’s staff did. However Michigan is Michigan. Everyone is aware of who we’re. The prevent M stands for one thing and has for an overly lengthy date. We’re right here to proceed that legacy and put our personal taste and spice on it.” 

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The big question in the room for Brad Underwood was clear as day on Tuesday: What’s up with the point guard situation at Illinois? 

Underwood didn’t bat an optic when requested. 

“Everyone appears to be apprehensive about it apart from me,” the seventh-year head coach said. “Considered one of my greatest errors utmost yr used to be no longer enjoying Ty Rodgers there enough quantity.” 

The 6-6, 200-pound sophomore played in 33 games last year, averaging 3.3 points and 4.0 rebounds per game in a limited role. The expectation is that he will be able to hit the ground running, and if need be, fifth-year senior Terrence Shannon Jr. can take some of the ball-handling duties. If Rodgers pans out, the Illini could be a top-20 team with someone setting up Shannon, who was named to the Preseason All-Big Ten Team after averaging 17.2 PPG last season.

With Coleman Hawkins and Dain Dainja back to anchor the interior, there is a nice blend of continuity and transfers in place for Illinois to potentially exceed initial expectations. The Illini will dance for a fourth straight year.

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Media day can always bring some fun question and answer exchanges. The highlight of the day came from the Iowa Hawkeyes trio of Patrick McCaffery, Tony Perkins and Payton Sandfort when asked if they have any superstitions. 

“Terminating yr, we watched ‘The Maury Display’ earlier than each recreation,” Sandfort said as McCaffery laughed. “Both that, or some ‘Community Feud’ with Steve Harvey.” 

Perkins elaborated at the staff’s pregame viewing.

“I’d be strolling era our reserve room earlier than the sport, and it’s getting yelled out at the TV, ‘You aren’t the daddy,” Perkins said. 

Some pregame Steve Harvey and Maury Povich have helped the Hawkeyes to four straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament. 

John Fanta is a national college basketball broadcaster and writer for FOX Sports. He covers the sport in a variety of capacities, from calling games on FS1 to serving as lead host on the BIG EAST Digital Network to providing commentary on The Field of 68 Media Network. Follow him on Twitter @John_Fanta.

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