Over the last two years, Rutgers has been a thorn in the side of the Purdue men’s basketball team.
There was Ron Harper Jr.’s halfcourt buzzer beat to knock off the top ranked Boilermakers in 2021. Last season, it was a bucket from Cam Spencer to give the Scarlet Knights their fifth win in seven meetings against
Purdue.
What happens this year, as Purdue travels to Jersey Mike’s Arena today for a 1 p.m. tip, is anyone’s guess. The Boilermakers have not won at Rutgers since 2018.
“They have been good. We haven’t shot the ball well and a lot of that has to do with their defense,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said of the Scarlet Knights.
Painter said what sets Rutgers apart is their physicality and defense.
“They are a very good defensive team. Cliff (Omorayi) causes problems in the middle with his ability to change shots and block shots. That’s the number one thing for us — handle that physicality,” Painter said.
Rutgers, Purdue no stranger to each other
Rutgers comes in at 10-8 overall, 2-5 in the Big Ten Conference and are 9-1 at home. The Scarlet Knights have split their last four games (wins at home against
Indiana and Nebraska and losses at
Michigan State and Illinois).
All season, Rutgers has had balanced scoring this season with Aundre Hyatt leading the way with just over 12 points, while Aundre Hyatt also adds 12 and Omoruyi averages 10.5. In addition, the Scarlet Knights have gotten scoring this season from both Mawot Mag and Derek Simpson.
Purdue, on the other hand, is 18-2, 7-2 and fresh off a 99-67 win over
Michigan. Over the last four games, the Boilermakers are averaging 91.3 points and winning by a margin of 21 points.
Leading the way for the Boilers has been senior Zach Edey, who is averaging 22.9 points and 11.4 rebounds per contest.
For Purdue, the road has been tough, as the Boilermakers are 3-2 on the road. Also, the senior class has not won at Rutgers.
“Always looking to put something in front of them for motivation. Us winning there would be a huge accomplishment for us. We have a lot of respect for Rutgers,” Painter said.
Thank you for reading Boiler Wire, the market’s new Purdue sports outlet. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Purdue athletics. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email us at sportswriterpg@gmail.com or direct message us on our social media. Boiler Up!
