(#2) Re-Live It: 2011 Purdue vs #2 Ohio State
Welcome to the second iteration of our new series “Re-Live It”.
The Scene: This will be the first game in this series where it highlights what makes Mackey Arena so special. With Purdue playing arguably it’s best coming off a win against #10 Wisconsin. The Boilermakers welcomed the #2 Buckeyes who were deemed by most, the best team in America, even after suffering their first loss to that same Wisconsin team 8 days earlier. Unfortunately, I missed this game live back in 2011, but once I found a way to watch it online, it was the first on my list. How could I not watch one of the best games Purdue had played in recent history?
The Question(s): So the big questions regarding this game seemed to pretty heavily revolve around the actual play. Would Purdue be able to slow down the juggernaut that was Ohio State? Would they be able to slow down Jared Sullinger? I think everyone knew that E’twaun Moore and JaJuan Johnson would get there own, but would it be enough? And a fun question I had for myself, would the game live up to the hype? (yes, yes was the answer to this question! Every time I’ve watched it has lived up to the hype)
’The Videos: Thankfully the internet is great and we have both halves in separate videos. So we can have each half on its own.
The First Half:
Like so many big games at Mackey, as soon as the video starts you can feel the energy in the building. You can feel how every person in the crowd is so full of anticipation that they can hardly contain themselves. Purdue goes down 4-0 before E’twaun hits a runner in the lane and one of the more special performances in Purdue basketball is underway.
The raw energy and emotion in this game even just two and a half minutes in, maybe it’s the stage, maybe it’s even just a result of some less advanced broadcasting technology. But even listening to the broadcast, you can tell the announcers are having to speak up a bit just to be heard. Lewis Jackson just got to the rim for a chance at a three-point play! 17:10 left in the first half and we get an old school “Flopper!” chant! That’s not one you hear as much nowadays.
The offenses are starting slow, but Ohio State just seems to be making some tough shots to put them up 11-5 before the first of what will be many Moore 3’s goes down on a catch and shoot and Mackey erupts for the first time! Then Purdue forces a jump ball and the energy only continues throughout the crowd. It’s these moments that I love re-watching games because I know what those moments feel like as a member of the crowd, and it still gives me chills when you can feel it through the monitor. The score sticks at 11-10 Ohio State for multiple possessions before the Buckeyes put one through, immediately answered by a jumper from JaJuan Johnson. The game seems to have these short bursts of scoring and it’s keeping the crowd from really reaching the next level. One of the big factors that kept it close for Purdue was the turnovers Ohio State was committing.
At the 11:25 second of the first half, we get the Travis Carroll jumper that put the Boilers up 16-15. This was always one of my favorite moments from this game, it has been a battle for the Boilermakers up to this point and finally, they were able to get over the hump and take the lead. The next points come almost two minutes later with a tough jumper from Johnson. After another stop by Purdue, you can just feel that the crowd is waiting for another bucket, another reason to try and beat down OSU with sound. Little did they know that that run was coming soon. It’s always around this point that I’m just waiting for the run that blows the roof off of Mackey at the end of the first half. This stretch is what makes me regret not being able to see this game live in person because my goodness it was special. It would have to wait though, as the offense cools and OSU retakes the lead 21-24.
Then, with 3:52 remaining in the first half one of the most magical sequences in Mackey history begins with Ohio State leading 24-28, E’twaun decided now was the time to take over. He hits a quick 3 to awaken the fans as if he shouted “get up and get loud” just with one shot. The crowd answers in kind, the defensive energy picks up. The, 3:23 left, a steal and fast break and E’twaun hits one of the most ridiculous circus shots in history. 2:25, another deep three. an 8-0 run that was very clearly a momentum-shifting run. It was so loud that the broadcast didn’t even attempt to speak. The last three also pushes E’twaun Moore over 2000 career points. Sometimes I will pull up the video from this game just for this one and a half minute stretch. It’s one of those sequences that will give you goosebumps listening to the crowd, watching the play! 50 seconds remaining and Moore buries another triple, followed by a half ending jumper to put the Boilermakers up 37-33 going into the locker room!
Bonus thought: Every time I watch highlights from this team, I look at the court and it starts to make me miss the old train logo. It was so different and unique that it stood out. I love the motion P used now, it’s simple, get’s the point across, but at the end of the day, who wouldn’t want this at center court all the time again!
The Second Half:
As the second half began there was only one question floating around, “Can Purdue continue to play this way and hold on for the win?” Purdue starts the half with the ball and Lewis Jackson scores easily as the defense parts around him. The game feels a little more frantic, whether that’s because it’s fresh out of the half, or maybe OSU is feeling the pressure to catch up as they should? Jared Sullinger seems to be the only Buckeye capable of getting to a comfortable spot getting to the line. Then boom, E’twaun flushes another three and the crowd is alive again! He takes another on the next possession and is just short. Looking at the box score though….. at this point in the game E’twaun is 5/8 from three, and he finishes the game 7-10. So from the 17-minute mark to the end of the game, both three attempts find the bottom! That’s exciting to remember going forward!
So with 16 minutes to play, OSU has pulled back to within 2 and the score sitting 44-42 Boilers when Kelsey Barlow receives a slick pass from DJ Byrd and the lead is back to 4! Then Moore shows his defensive skills with a nifty steal and behind the back pass to Terone Johnson for an easy layup! Mackey erupts! Feeling like a pattern is developing here…. The lead swells to 8 and the crowd are doing all it can to push Purdue even further ahead! We’ve all experienced this moment when watching a game. The moment where you can your team on the edge of breaking the game wide open. OSU isn’t just any team though, they get every team’s best effort every time they step on the floor. They respond with some physical defense that throws Purdue out of rhythm offensively. The momentum is waning and the Boilers need a bucket badly to keep pushing. Who else but E’twaun Moore to provide that spark! A reviewed shot by Moore gives the students a moment to bring the energy up as the lead grows to 10. Unfortunately, Sullinger gets a physical bucket inside to try and take the lid off for Ohio State.
After the U12 timeout, the Buckeyes forget about the smallest man on the court as Lewis Jackson strolls down the lane for a very easy layup! These are the moments you look for to show that a team is confused on defense. It shows that their eyes are elsewhere, worried about something else and that meant the guy with the ball(!) gets to walk to the basket for 2. With 10 minutes remaining, Aaron Craft drives the lane before stepping on the baseline for OSU’s eleventh turnover of the game giving the fans another chance to give some appreciation for the defensive effort of Purdue.
Even knowing how this game ends, I feel I’ve been conditioned to expect the run from Ohio State. The inevitable run that would pull OSU back into the game causing all fans to get a little nervous as to whether or not this effort would be enough in the end. When that happens every mistake by Purdue always feels like the trigger, the moment that it would all come crumbling down. I believe that every fan in Mackey this day was feeling that as well. You can hear it every time something happens against Purdue, you can hear the complaints raining down around the officials in a wave of incredulous noise. With 7:15 remaining in the game the Boilermakers still hold a 6 point lead but with OSU going to line to try and complete a 3 point play (he does). 7 mins remaining and the lead is down to 5. The Boilers immediately turn it over. You can feel the tension in the gym even through the screen. But a post turnaround by Moore gets the lead back to 7. He has 26 points up to this point.
Another side note I always marvel at is just how physical teams were allowed to be back in the early 2010s. I would love to see a game like this officiated today. I’m sure it would look very different!
As we near 6 minutes to play, another highlight play all of us have seen. An almost over-and-back turned highlight 3 by E’twaun. Then a turnover by OSU and a foul 35 feet from the basket by Aaron Craft gets a roar out of the crowd and Purdue fans are on their feet again! It’s those moments that get the crowd roaring that I watch these games again for. For the moments where you feel the energy, you feel the intensity. The under 4 media timeout comes and Purdue has pushed the lead back to 8! E’twaun sits with 31 points and is carrying the load for Purdue doing seemingly everything. 3 minutes remaining, 6 point lead. A Sullinger breakaway dunk brings the lead down to 4. Then, another Moore moment, after bobbling a dribble handoff Moore gathers and steps back to take a very contested three that finds the bottom of the net. An improbable shot that makes opposing fans throw their hands up in frustration.
Lewis Jackson scores again to push the lead to 9, a defensive stop gets the crowd at it’s loudest! With 48.5 seconds left they can feel it! E’twaun Moore goes to the line for 2 shots and caps off his 38 point special….. Then that’s when the real dagger comes. An errant pass leads to a breakaway reverse jam by JaJuan Johnson to seal the victory and puts the icing on top!
I mean, just listen to this and tell me it doesn’t give you goosebumps every. single. time.
Yeah, that’s what I thought.
The clock hits 0.0 and the Boilers pull off one of the best wins of the year!
Final Stats:
Individual Stats:
E’twaun Moore - 38pts/4reb/5ast/2stls/ 7-10 3PT in 38 minutes
That’s it. That’s the stat line that won Purdue the game.
JaJuan Johnson - 13pts/6reb/1ast/1stl/1blk
Only other Purdue player in double figures scoring
Team Stats:
Purdue Boilermakers:
FG/FG%: 28-55/50.9%
3pt/3pt%: 7-20/35% (All E’twaun)
FT/FT%: 13-18/72.2%
Assists: 16
Ohio State Buckeyes:
FG/FG%: 18-47/38.3%
3pt/3pt%: 4-15/26.7%
FT/FT%: 23-29/79.3%
Assists: 9
The Result: This game I was supposed to put Purdue near the top of the nation. It wasn’t a massive upset in terms of national ranking, Purdue was the 11th best team in the country. Only 9 spots separated the two teams. The special thing about this game was the performance of E’twaun Moore. It’s very rare to put up a performance as he did against a team like that Ohio State team. Purdue took it at OSU for 40 minutes and, with the fans behind them, wore the Buckeyes down until it almost looked like they wanted to be anywhere but there on the floor with Purdue.
I would love to get into the mindset of the opposing players when Purdue plays in an environment like that. Having been in the crowd for some serious games during my time as a student. There have been moments where my ears were ringing for long after the final horn sounded. It is also normal for Purdue on social media to report the decibel levels at certain moments in big games. I was at many of the loudest moments in Mackey Arena history, and being there made it feel special. The thing was, no matter how loud Mackey got when I was there, no matter how badly my ears, my voice, and throat hurt after a game. None of those games would reach the top of the list, that spot was held special by this game. To sit atop that list, to be the loudest game in Mackey history must have required something special. E’twaun’s 38 Special seemed to be special enough as it seems!
In the end, many thought this win would propel Purdue to new heights, and even an outside shot at a Big Ten title if Ohio State played nice and Purdue got some help from other teams in the conference. Alas, it was not to be as OSU ran the table and took the title with only 2 losses. Purdue on the other hand, with fans looking for them to build on the momentum from this monstrous win… never really looked as though they could take it. A win @Indiana in the next game will always be celebrated and winning in the Breslin center should be lauded as well. Then a season-ending loss at a mediocre Iowa team, a first-round blowout by the hands of Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament left a bad taste in the mouth of fans. With Kelsey Barlow being suspended for the postseason seemed to throw off the chemistry of this team. That resulted in a second-round loss to VCU, who made their magical run to the Final Four.
Just like that, the season was over. But! For one night in West Lafayette, Purdue sat on top of the College Basketball world. I for one will Re-Live that every chance I can.
Why this game: I didn’t get to see this game in person, but I saw it all the same. I was a junior in High School when this game was played, and even then I knew this performance by E’twaun was special. Back then, to me, you just didn’t do stuff like that to one of the best teams in the country.
As I mentioned in the introduction, this was also one of the earlier games that I saw that showed that Mackey Arena and the Purdue fans were special. Even now after getting to experience some of Mackey’s loudest moments as a student. I could tell watching that game on TV, that it was a whole another level. And that is why I love re-watching games, re-watching moments, seeing Purdue play well, the crowd truly just overwhelm the opponent. It gives me goosebumps and only makes me want to watch more.
This is one of those games that Purdue fans can go back and watch and know that the world was watching and Purdue was putting on a show (Spoiler: this won’t be the last time a game like this ends up in this series). Moore’s 38 special against the #2 team in the country deserves to be highlighted here because my goodness it was special indeed.
How do you feel? Leave a comment below or tweet at me your thoughts on how you felt watching this game! As well as if you enjoy re-watching old games to re-live them!
What’s Next!: For the next article in this series, let’s switch the sport up a bit and head across the street to Ross-Ade Stadium. On this night, Purdue was playing for more than just a win. It was a magical season that would be remembered forever and this game might be the most memorable of any of them…
Holy Toledo.
