Purdue basketball has won seven straight games and is undefeated at Mackey Arena.
Indiana enters looking to pick up a banner victory this season and knock off the Boilermakers on their home floor.
There isn’t a whole lot to say about tonight’s matchup between the second ranked Purdue basketball team and the Hoosiers. The game tips off at 8 p.m. on Fox.
In the first game of the regular season between the two, Purdue walked out of Assembly Hall with a 87-66 win.
“The game really didn’t get out of hand until really the 8, 9 minute mark of the half. The first 10 to 11 minutes the game it was a close game. It was 2, 3 points here and there. And then we just dropped the rope right before the half. They were able to go in with a comfortable lead. Now, we got back in and cut it I think to 5 or 7 I think it was then the second half. When you build big leads and get behind like that it’s tough, especially against a top team like that to battle your way back. They had their way, man. I’m just anxious to see where we are,” Indiana coach Mike Woodson said.
Purdue basketball coach Matt Painter said a win by the Hoosiers would be their biggest win on their resume so far, if Indiana finds a way to upset the Boilermakers.
“This win would be the best win on their resume. You have to be cognizant of that and understand that. We are playing for something too. If our guys need something else to get motivated about playing your rival besides beating your rival straight up, sweeping for the year and getting one step closer to putting yourself in position for a Big Ten championship, I think we’ve got some issues. Our guys have worked really hard,” Painter said.
Boiler Wire takes a look at three keys for a Purdue road win.
Purdue Needs to Limit Turnovers
While it’s no secret that you can’t score if you don’t possess the basketball, for Purdue it definitely is the case. In Purdue’s two losses this season, the Boilermakers have turned it over 3o times (17 at Northwestern and 13 at Nebraska). That cannot happen against Indiana. If it does, they will find themselves in a position they do not want to be in against a team hungry to play the role of spoiler. Last month at Indiana, Purdue was strong with the basketball. That has to continue again tonight.
Purdue Guards Need Good Start
Look, right, wrong, indifferent, the playbook is out on how to make life tough for Purdue. That is be physical with Zach Edey on offense and then get him in foul trouble on the defensive end of the floor. Mike Woodson all but said the Hoosiers are going to come out and try to be physical this time around. To take some pressure off Edey, Purdue’s guards of Braden Smith, Lance Jones and Fletcher Loyer have to come ready to play. Smith shoots close to 50 percent from behind the arc, while Loyer is also up over 40 percent. The three need to be able to not only knock down shots, but distribute the ball and get the pick and roll game going early in the contest.
Edey has been on an absolute tear as of late, but something looked off at Wisconsin. Whether true or perception, Edey looked slow at times and struggled at others. He admitted after the game that he needed to play a lot better. There is no reason to believe Edey won’t come out and look to set the tone early. This, potentially, could be his final time taking on the Hoosiers and Edey would love nothing more than to lead Purdue to a sweep over the rival. The first time, we saw a great matchup between Edey and Mackenzie Mgbako. Look for the Hoosiers to throw a heavy dose of Mgbako, Kel’el Ware and Malik Reneau at Edey. As one of the nation’s most experienced and dominate players, Edey has to go right at Mgbako early to set the tone in this one, get some easy baskets and try to take the Indiana faithful out of the game early.
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