Talkin Hoops with Purdue Coach and Offensive guru PJ Thompson. Final 4 Edition!!

Join Rapheal Davis a college basketball broadcaster for the Big Ten Network and former Purdue University standout, as he brings you exclusive insights and interviews from the world of college basketball. In this episode, we sit down with Purdue Coach PJ Thompson to discuss the recent success of the Boilermakers, including their first Final Four appearance in 44 years. PJ, known for his offensive prowess and leadership on the court, shares valuable insights on the team's performance, generational players like Zach Edey, the coaching style of Coach Matt Painter, and his special bond with Point Guard Braden Smith. Don't miss this in-depth conversation that takes you behind the scenes of one of college basketball's most exciting teams.
Tune in to get the inside scoop on all things college basketball, only on Rapheal's podcast. #BoilerUp #ncaa #bigtenbasketball #basketball #collegebasketball

[@3generboiler]

Really enjoyed it. Many of us who are approaching retirement age know we will see PJ eventually lead our program.. and it’s good knowing we will have 3 great coaches and people in a row .. how blessed can we be!

[@jeffparks9110]

Great great show. Both of youall just keep doing what you're doing!! Boiler up!!

[@charlespork23]

Love it!! Love how PJ is working closely with Braden, and love how he is learning and climbing the coaching ladder. Can't wait to see him getting more success!

[@wendellgray3859]

2 of my favorite Boilers of all time!!

[@MetaTaco317]

Two of my favorite Boilermakers of all time. Every season I think "if this team only had Raph Davis".

[@matthewpoehler6955]

Great interview. Our future is bright with one of the best head coaches and apparently young assistant coaches in the game with PJ!

[@russdunton2103]

Great podcast! Thanks! Keep these coming.

[@AxeRocker88]

AWESOME interview, guys! Thank you!

[@irahartoch1075]

I met PJ in Maui in 2014 when he was a freshman. The poise and maturity he had in November of his freshman year blew me away (I'm talking off the court, not just as a player). It was obvious he was destined to be a great coach even back then. Then a couple of years later I met his parents at the Cancun challenge and understood where that came from. I would be thrilled if he becomes to Paint what Bruce Weber was to Keady except that he then succeeds Paint when he retires.

[@whosjohnny54]

You two are Purdue. You two are generational. Raph why dont you get involved with coaching? I think Purdue needs to keep getting athletes like JI. Catchings is going to be amazing on both ends. We have seen what Heide brings. Hopefully Myles takes a big step. Fletch needs to get stronger and hopefully quicker and improves on taking dudes off the dribble.

[@MetaTaco317]

Love to see Loyer gain some weight. He came back better his sophomore year but didn't look any bigger.

[@whosjohnny54]

@@MetaTaco317 he improved with confidence, not sure how much with his skill set. He needs to learn to be more than just a catch and shoot guy.

[@SLKBoiler]

Thanks! Loved it.

[@aquickst5]

Loved it! Purdue is in good hands. Thanks for highlighting it. #BoilerUp

[@tkamel18]

Call me crazy, but I’m excited to see this team next season without Edey. We got a lot incoming and guards win in March. Balance is key moving forward 🚂⬆️ also the man drop defense vs UConn wore us out in the title game and we had no chance with that defensive scheme…was hoping we’d go zone and either win or lose even bigger. Edey couldn’t guard the post with their personnel in a man drop…and it wore the team out (which affected our offensive energy) by the second half. The offense is only one part of the game. Defense wins championships and they wore us out on that end with our defensive scheme vs a matchup like UConn…that boy Hurley can coach.

[@gregmitchell4475]

Painter is a genius and surrounding himself with top quality people. In a world of flash and lies and hype, I think Purdue CAN be different. Sure we'll lose guys from time to time, but just like this year, you don't see the portal loaded with Purdue guys, they're sticking because they feel the genuine love of the fans and the sincerity and real caring of the Purdue staff, starting at the top. Boiler up! Great show!

[@boilerbonz]

PJ is great but he hasn't earned "guru" status when he had no answers for UConn successfully shutting down Purdue with the exact defensive strategy everyone knew UConn would bring.

[@ab-nz2mm]

100%

[@ab-nz2mm]

Hurley made us look like a joke

[@edalbanese6310]

Totally agree. We either did not think of the strategy or we did but did not have the personnel to counter it. One 3 is really really bad! Imagine we were only four 3s away from a win.

[@ab-nz2mm]

@@edalbanese6310 we were a whole coaching staff away from a win LOL

[@aliciamiddlesworth9778]

Loved this episode. True boilermakers. 🖤🚂

[@rmiller8832]

This is great topic… what’s next? This landscape of NCAA will prevent generation program builds, like we have seen this year. This was a Purdue team we saw grow… which was so engaging. Now what happens… can we see that approach work when we face 5th year portal teams? Honestly… will our ‘Family’ approach work?