There may be one case the place Purdue’s Huge Ten Match standings are easy: if Purdue beats Illinois, it can get a double-bye within the Huge Ten Match.
Purdue is one in every of three present Huge Ten groups with six losses within the convention. Michigan provides one other potential staff because it has 5 losses within the convention and a last recreation at Michigan State to complete the season. Meaning on the finish of the weekend, 4 Huge Ten groups might be left with six losses. Not one of the groups beneath Michigan State vying for a double-bye play one another. So all may win, all may lose, or any mixture of the 2.
Illinois has much less to battle for within the Huge Ten Match. It might probably transfer up or down a spot or two, however it’ll be in line for a single recreation bye win or lose.
However Illinois has lots to play for with its seeding. After a good begin to the season, Illinois has been plagued with accidents, sicknesses, and inconsistent play. Illinois received again on monitor in its final recreation by beating Michigan on the street, 93-73, however it tasks across the 8-9 seed at the moment which implies a second spherical recreation, most probably, towards a one seed.
A win towards Purdue might be value half a seed, and thrown in with a optimistic run within the Huge Ten Match, and Illinois may discover itself bettering its inventory within the last two weeks of the season.
Even when there weren’t a bunch of post-season implications, this can be a fascinating matchup of types. Illinois is among the nation’s greatest offensive rebounding groups. Purdue’s struggled on the glass at occasions this 12 months. Illinois can also be one of many worst three-point capturing groups within the nation.
Purdue will carry the #1 offense within the Huge Ten to Champaign the place it gained ultimately 12 months in dramatic style.
Matt Painter was watching Illinois take it to Michigan on Sunday. Illinois dominated the glass, grabbing 19 offensive rebounds on the way in which to throttling the Wolverines 93-73 on the street.
Painter mentioned you all the time pay a bit extra consideration to what the staff did in its final recreation, and meaning for Purdue, it has to essentially think about the rebounding battle with among the best rebounding groups within the nation. Illinois is not simply large inside, it makes use of its benefits all around the roster to assault the glass.
“In lieu of every little thing,” Painter mentioned about the way in which Illinois dominates the glass. “Their quickness received a variety of rebounds, however their physicalness in any respect positions. A variety of occasions you do not see that throughout the board… however they’ve actually good positional measurement, energy, and quickness throughout the board. Their guards get on the boards, their forwards, clearly their facilities.”
Purdue’s lack of measurement and inside presence has been an issue for many the season. Not solely on the glass, however with Purdue’s major large males, Calebu Furst and Trey Kaufman-Renn, getting too caught up in scrums going for rebounds and getting in foul hassle. Kaufman-Renn has a powerful historical past towards Illinois, together with a season-high 23 level efficiency towards them final season, however he is been foul inclined in Huge Ten play for Purdue.
Illinois is grabbing 36.1% of their misses, a quantity that is inflated by the truth that Illinois is among the most prolific three-point capturing groups within the nation whereas additionally being one of many least environment friendly groups at capturing threes.
That can make for an interesting matchup for each groups. Purdue would love if Illinois stays on the perimeter. Purdue is permitting groups to shoot simply 30.5% from three – simply .3% beneath what Illinois shoots as a staff. That is the twenty sixth greatest mark within the nation for Purdue’s protection. That is the 323rd greatest capturing proportion within the nation for Illinois.
However Purdue has been one of many worst groups at defending contained in the arc, one thing Illinois does very properly. Illinois is making 57.4% from two (14th greatest mark) and Purdue is giving up 56% from contained in the arc (337th greatest mark).
However execution has not been Illinois’ strengths this season and Purdue has had flashes of efficient protection that often options turning groups over, one thing Illinois with its quick tempo is susceptible to do.
This might be an necessary recreation for Purdue’s particular person efforts. With Braden Smith and Wisconsin’s John Tonje locked right into a forwards and backwards participant of the 12 months race – it is in all probability nonetheless Smith’s to win although Purdue’s 4 recreation shedding streak that noticed a two recreation battle for Smith introduced Tonje again into the combo.
Tonje and his Badgers will get a last recreation towards Penn State at residence on Saturday.
Tonje goes into the sport averaging 19.1 factors, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists on 47.1% subject purpose proportion and 38.2% from three.
Braden Smith is at 16.3 factors a recreation, 4.5 rebounds, 8.7 assists, and a pair of.4 steals a recreation on 44.6% subject purpose capturing and 40.6% from three.
There’s in all probability a stronger than been mentioned argument that Trey Kaufman-Renn is nearer within the participant of the 12 months award than admitted as a result of he shares the identical staff because the pre-season decide. TKR is main the Huge Ten in scoring 19.4 factors per recreation, 6.1 rebounds, and a pair of.3 assists on 61.5% capturing from the ground.
Rule of thumb personally is that if a participant goes to complete breaking the help per recreation report in the entire Huge Ten, held by none apart from Magic Johnson, he will get my vote for participant of the 12 months. A robust recreation and win towards Illinois may take every other doubts out of play for Braden Smith.
Purdue's Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer cleared the path as Purdue drops 100 on the Scarlet Knights.
By way of the rain and chilly climate in West Lafayette, Purdue soccer kicks off spring observe.
Notable Boilermakers lacking, who took first staff reps, and extra from spring observe primary in West Lafayette.
On the heels of his first spring observe as Purdue head coach, Barry Odom meets with the media.
One of many high offensive targets for Purdue in the 2026 class set for 2 journeys to West Lafayette within the coming months.
Purdue's Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer cleared the path as Purdue drops 100 on the Scarlet Knights.
By way of the rain and chilly climate in West Lafayette, Purdue soccer kicks off spring observe.
Notable Boilermakers lacking, who took first staff reps, and extra from spring observe primary in West Lafayette.
