Purdue head coach Barry Odom spent Monday making one thing clear ahead of the Boilermakers’ Big Ten opener against UCLA: he believes his team is built to answer the disappointment of last week.
Odom said Purdue had “a great practice last night and good meetings yesterday,” and noted that the program’s weekly rhythm has shifted this season, with Sunday night practices and Mondays off. He said the players were “hurt, devastated from the Wake Forest loss,” but also eager to absorb the lessons from it.
For Odom, that response matters as much as anything on the scoreboard. “Pressure tests your belief, commitment, leadership, and culture,” he said, adding that he thinks this group is ready to “take the next step.” He described the Boilermakers as a mature team, said he met with the captains about the plan moving forward, and expressed confidence they will handle the setback the right way.
He also stood by the staff and the approach Purdue took into the Wake Forest game. Odom said he likes his coaching staff and liked the game plan, even if the performance never fully came together. The effort, in his view, was there.
“They played as hard as they could play,” he said. “It wasn't clean.
It wasn't perfect. But, I liked the effort.”
One of the sharper edges from that game came in overtime, when Purdue considered going for two in the first extra period before choosing to kick the extra point and keep fighting. Odom said that decision came down to staying in the battle.
Penalties remain a clear frustration. Purdue was flagged for 50 yards against Wake Forest, and Odom said he will not be satisfied until that number is zero. He said the staff breaks down each penalty to determine whether it’s a fundamental issue or a technique problem.
The matchup with UCLA brings a different kind of stage. Odom said he is excited to open Big Ten play at the Rose Bowl and noted his respect for Bob Chesney and what he has done in his career. He said Chesney’s teams always show a recognizable “DNA” in every phase of the game.
The late start does not bother him. In fact, Odom said he likes that the UCLA game is set for an 11 p.m.
EST kickoff. Purdue will travel early Friday afternoon, giving the team all evening Friday and Saturday to prepare.
He also added a bit of nostalgia, saying he wishes Keith Jackson were on the broadcast Saturday. Odom said he has coached in the Rose Bowl before, back when he was at Memphis.
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