Painter: Fear and Production Matter More
After a 78-72 loss to Gonzaga, the Purdue coach explains why he values consistent habits over raw skill in recruiting.
By Takeshi Davidson ·
Purdue head coach Matt Painter said he needs his players to feel a sense of competitive fear before the season gets underway. He made the comment during a phone interview with JMV on The Ride with JMV on the Andy Mohr Automotive Group hotline. The conversation took place before the Boilermakers played their season opener against Gonzaga in Las Vegas.
Painter admitted that the team is not fully ready for top-tier competition yet. He cited a recent preseason exhibition at UConn where Purdue lost. He noted the team went 2-for-25 from three-point range in that game. He also said Purdue lost the possession war on the glass and in turnovers. Painter described the gap between his starters and his bench as a clear problem against a top-10 opponent.
He argued that losing to a team that outperforms you in every phase of the game is useful. “When somebody manhandles you and somebody just flat out beats you in every phase of the game, it’s really hard to hide behind anything,” he said. He explained that these games make a team a little bit callous. They also reveal where the real problems are. Purdue has not won those exhibitions in four years, but Painter believes they are necessary to get ready for the next test.
Painter told his young roster that they must be aware of their opponents. “If you don’t have any competitive fear, you’re getting ready to get beat,” he said. He wants his players to be unafraid of anyone, but he also wants them to know that “if you’re not right, they could smack you.” This mindset is central to his approach for the upcoming season.
The coach also explained why he prefers production over raw talent when recruiting. He said coaches often get distracted by players with too much talent who have not produced consistent results. He would rather study 35 games of data to see if a player rebounds, takes care of the ball, and makes free throws. He added that “your eyes also have a bias.”
On Monday night, No. 15 Gonzaga defeated Purdue 78-72 at T-Mobile Arena. Daniel Jacobsen led the Boilermakers with 22 points. According to Purdue Athletics, Gonzaga made 26 of 34 free throws while Purdue made 15 of 21. The Boilermakers will play their home opener against Valparaiso at Mackey Arena on Friday.
