I’m not terribly worried about the metrics. Purdue hasn’t dealt with a single injury. Same starting 5 all 25 games. The top 3 off the bench have played all 25 games. The ninth guy missed one game in November, but he averages 1 ppg.
Xavier was really the first time we had our starting 5 in place and no minutes restrictions. Then Karaban went down first half against PC. We've had to adapt on the fly, and fall behind schedule, particularly with Castle’s development. Clingan also is relatively inexperienced in his current role and learning how to be a focal point of the offense and avoid fouls.
The metrics won’t show that we were running at 75 percent capacity, but the eyeball test should reveal how strong we are at 100 percent. Computers don’t have eyeballs.
All that said, we will face a few tests on the road in Omaha and Milwaukee, and PC will give us their best shot. Hostile environments. Maybe we’ll take a step back, but if it makes us take a few more steps forward in the tourney, its all good.