At 27-3 overall, 16-3 Big Ten Conference, the Purdue basketball team has already locked up the Big Ten regular season title, but there is still plenty for the Boilermakers to play for Sunday when it hosts Wisconsin.
For starters, it is senior night for a class that features Zach Edey and Co. In addition, the Boilermakers have a chance to go 16-0 at home. And, there is the chance to pick up a season sweep against the Badgers at 12:30 p.m. on Fox.
“Obviously, the position they’ve put themselves in to have the undefeated record at home and best record in the Big Ten as a class, you want to do everything you can to help them finish on a positive note. It will be hard going against Wisconsin. Just proud of them. Lot of adversity there being able to fight through, but a lot more success than failure. They’ve all sacrificed to help us win a lot of games,” Purdue basketball coach Matt Painter said of his seniors.
Leading the way for Purdue basketball is center Zach Edey, who is averaging just over 24 points and 11.7 rebounds. Sophomore point guard Braden Smith is contributing with 13.1 points and 7.1 assists per contest.
Purdue basketball held off Wisconsin in first meeting
Last month third ranked Purdue knocked off then sixth ranked Wisconsin, 75-69, in Madison. It marked the sixth consecutive game between the two programs to be decided by six points or less. In that game, Smith and Edey led the Boilermakers offensively. Smith scored 19 points, while Edey ended with 18 points and 13 rebounds and joined Patrick Ewing and David Robinson as the only players in NCAA history to combine 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 200 blocks while shooting at least 60 percent. Lance Jones added 20 points for Purdue.
As for the Badgers, Tyler Wahl paced Wisconsin with 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
“They’re really complete. They’ve got a lot of pieces. We have a lot of pieces but the difference maker, obviously, is Zach. You can’t replicate or simulate that,” Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said after the first meeting.
Purdue basketball outrebounded Wisconsin, 42-29, and outscored Wisconsin 221-14 in second chance points in the first meeting.
Regardless of what happened in the first meeting, Painter knows what his team is facing in Wisconsin.
“When you’re playing an opponent, especially one like Wisconsin with great tradition, coach and system, it’s proven. What they do is proven. You have to think you are going to get each individual’s best. Everything they do, they have a great system. We have to have that focus and understand we are going to get their best and execute on offense. We have to be prepared. Very skilled, understand how to play and can’t let them do whatever they want to do,” Painter said.
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