The Last Word: Looking back at Purdue's loss to No. 3 Iowa

The Boilermakers' 10-game home-court winning streak was snapped by a barrage of 3-pointers from the Hawkeyes and Caitlin Clark's triple double

Putting the final touches on Wednesday’s 96-71 loss to No. 3 Iowa:

—Katie Gearlds’ message about finishing the game wasn’t directed at the veterans as much as the underclassmen. In turning this program around – and it’s still going to take time – playing hard for 36 minutes against high-level competition isn’t good enough. Granted, the Boilermakers weren’t going to win but reaching the finish line the same way you started is an important element to instill into the younger players. The veterans needed to hear it as well if Purdue is going to make a run to the postseason but knowing where the bar is going to be set for the future has to be communicated. The Boilermakers maintained their intensity longer against the Hawkeyes compared to UCLA and Notre Dame but they’re not there yet. Can they get there this season?

Iowa’s Caitlin Clark vs. Purdue (Dave Wegiel Photography)

—Iowa has too many shooters who can hit consistently from 3-point range. Lisa Bluder’s teams have always been about offense and shooting from beyond the arc. This is what happens when six different players hit at least one 3-pointer. Did Purdue suffer breakdowns defensively? Yes. But the ball also moved faster than the Boilermakers, leaving Caitlin Clark and company plenty of open looks. And Purdue couldn’t keep up, hitting only five 3-pointers compared to 15 by the Hawkeyes. Getting outscored by 30 on the 3-point line isn’t enjoyable. It’s hard for the Boilermakers to match that production with the current roster.

—No need to hype up Clark. Another triple-double (26 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists). She’s the real deal and it’s no surprise after watching her career unfold. She can do things other players haven’t come close to achieving. She’ll go down as the best player in Big Ten history and she’ll have the numbers to be considered the best of all time.

—Is there a Clark-type player on Purdue’s recruiting radar?

—Positive thought: Jayla Smith seems more confident on the offensive end. Very little hesitation when looking for shots. She ran the floor hard, was active on defense and contributed eight points on 4 of 9 shooting. This version of Smith can help the Boilermakers for the remainder of the season.

Purdue’s Jayla Smith against Iowa (Chad Krockover Photography)

—Abbey Ellis has become the leader of the energy bus. Her enthusiasm and ability to turn nothing plays into points continue to shine. She usually starts fast, either by hitting a 3-pointer or getting to the rim. Ellis had a solid line of 15 points, six assists and five steals. She needs to continue helping the Boilermakers in several areas.

—Another low turnover game with 11. The Hawkeyes aren’t known for their pressure defense but that usually doesn’t matter for the Boilermakers, who are good for a handful of unforced turnovers. That’s three straight games of 12 or fewer turnovers. It helped Purdue attempt 62 shots, but it only hit 25. The Hawkeyes also attempted 62 field goals but made 33 shots.

—The 25-point loss does factor into the NCAA’s NET ranking, which seems a bit unfair. Losing by 15 would’ve looked better in the eyes of the selection committee. These factors go into the margin of victory/defeat, and using across-the-board criteria can lead to the wrong conclusions.  

—Poor transition defense led to a handful of easy baskets for the Hawkeyes. They were credited with nine fastbreak points and Purdue had zero. Iowa is well-coached to push the ball and it helps when Clark is leading the charge.

—Jeanae Terry continues to develop into a scoring threat. Iowa wasn’t going to guard her and she stepped up and made 5 of 9 shots. They were all good shots. If Terry goes 5 of 9 every game, the balance will force opponents to adjust.

Purdue’s Jeanae Terry against Iowa (Chad Krockover Photography)

—Rashunda Jones has put together some terrific stretches this season, but this wasn’t one of the freshman’s top games. The ball didn’t move after Jones touched it. She was open but the offense stopped when it reached her. Her missed shots were equal to turnovers because they were quick and didn’t come within the framework of the offense. Most of her attempts are ones you don’t take early in the shot clock. Jones has become a valuable asset off the bench but she must understand what’s needed and when.

—This was never a make-or-break game for the Boilermakers. It was an opportunity, nothing more. Plenty of things to like. Plenty of things to fix. Plenty of season remains, but Purdue needs to show it is learning lessons from these defeats. The Boilermakers showed some maturity in that regard, but more is needed. We’ll see what happens Sunday at Maryland.

—One parting number: In two games on back-to-back nights, Purdue’s men’s and women’s teams watched opponents bury a combined 29 3-pointers. Nebraska hit the Boilermakers with 14 3-pointers on Tuesday and Iowa bombarded Gearlds’ team with 15 on Wednesday.

—Purdue needed the Arctic Blast to arrive Wednesday, maybe cooling off the Hawkeyes from beyond the arc. Instead, we wait for it to overwhelm us this weekend.