There may be one case the place Purdue’s Massive Ten Match standings are easy: if Purdue beats Illinois, it would get a double-bye within the Massive Ten Match.
Purdue is considered one of three present Massive Ten groups with six losses within the convention. Michigan provides one other potential staff because it has 5 losses within the convention and a remaining recreation at Michigan State to complete the season. Meaning on the finish of the weekend, 4 Massive 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 might win, all might lose, or any mixture of the 2.
Illinois has much less to battle for within the Massive Ten Match. It could actually transfer up or down a spot or two, but it surely’ll be in line for a single recreation bye win or lose.
However Illinois has loads to play for with its seeding. After an honest begin to the season, Illinois has been plagued with accidents, diseases, and inconsistent play. Illinois bought again on monitor in its final recreation by beating Michigan on the highway, 93-73, but it surely initiatives across the 8-9 seed presently which suggests a second spherical recreation, most definitely, towards a one seed.
A win towards Purdue might be value half a seed, and thrown in with a constructive run within the Massive Ten Match, and Illinois might discover itself enhancing its inventory within the remaining two weeks of the season.
Even when there weren’t a bunch of post-season implications, it is a fascinating matchup of types. Illinois is without doubt one of the nation’s greatest offensive rebounding groups. Purdue’s struggled on the glass at instances this yr. Illinois can also be one of many worst three-point capturing groups within the nation.
Purdue will convey the #1 offense within the Massive Ten to Champaign the place it gained eventually yr in dramatic vogue.
Matt Painter was watching Illinois take it to Michigan on Sunday. Illinois dominated the glass, grabbing 19 offensive rebounds on the best way to throttling the Wolverines 93-73 on the highway.
Painter stated you at all times pay a bit extra consideration to what the staff did in its final recreation, and which means for Purdue, it has to actually consider the rebounding battle with top-of-the-line rebounding groups within the nation. Illinois is not simply large inside, it makes use of its benefits everywhere in the roster to assault the glass.
“In lieu of the whole lot,” Painter stated about the best way Illinois dominates the glass. “Their quickness bought lots of rebounds, however their physicalness in any respect positions. Quite a lot of instances you do not see that throughout the board… however they’ve actually good positional measurement, power, 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 main 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 susceptible in Massive Ten play for Purdue.
Illinois is grabbing 36.1% of their misses, a quantity that is inflated by the truth that Illinois is without doubt one of the most prolific three-point capturing groups within the nation whereas additionally being one of many least environment friendly groups at capturing threes.
That may make for an enchanting 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 share 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 normally options turning groups over, one thing Illinois with its quick tempo is vulnerable 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 backwards and forwards participant of the yr race – it is in all probability nonetheless Smith’s to win although Purdue’s 4 recreation shedding streak that noticed a two recreation wrestle for Smith introduced Tonje again into the combo.
Tonje and his Badgers will get a remaining 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 objective share 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 objective 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 yr award than admitted as a result of he shares the identical staff because the pre-season choose. TKR is main the Massive 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 Massive Ten, held by none apart from Magic Johnson, he will get my vote for participant of the yr. A robust recreation and win towards Illinois may take some other doubts out of play for Braden Smith.
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Notable Boilermakers lacking, who took first staff reps, and extra from spring follow primary in West Lafayette.
