Purdue travels to Piscataway, New Jersey to take on Rutgers this evening. Tip scheduled for 7:00 (Eastern time) with television coverage on FSI. This is another big conference road challenge for the Boilers as the 14-th ranked Scarlet Knights have an inside outside game and an imposing physical backcourt. Ron Harper Jr. is averaging 23.4 pts and 7.1 rebounds a game, and along with Jacob Young who is averaging 15.9 pts, 5.6 assists, and 2.4 steals, they will give Purdue all they can handle. Geo Baker is working back into form from the bench, but he has also given Purdue fits in the past.
Trevion Williams and Zach Edey present some issues for Rutgers frontcourt of Myles Johnson and Paul Mulcahy, and if Purdue can stay out of foul trouble - the Boilers can stay in the game and control some of the tempo. Eric Hunter, Jr., Sasha Stefanovic, Brandon Newman, and Jaden Ivey need to be efficient with scoring and run a disciplined offense tonight. On the other end, they'll need to make Harper, Young, Mathis, and Baker work for everything they get. Mason Gillis has provided another spark in the front-court over the last several games - impressive for a first-year player. Purdue will need solid production from him as well.
If they can limit the turnovers and hold their own on the glass, I think the Boilers can stay in it......but they can't afford the poor stretches that have inevitably transpired over the course of a game. To do it, the Boilers will need to play their best game of the year, and go out and take it. Can they break through?
We shall see, starting in about an hour or so.
Boiler up, my friends.
Trevion Williams and Zach Edey present some issues for Rutgers frontcourt of Myles Johnson and Paul Mulcahy, and if Purdue can stay out of foul trouble - the Boilers can stay in the game and control some of the tempo. Eric Hunter, Jr., Sasha Stefanovic, Brandon Newman, and Jaden Ivey need to be efficient with scoring and run a disciplined offense tonight. On the other end, they'll need to make Harper, Young, Mathis, and Baker work for everything they get. Mason Gillis has provided another spark in the front-court over the last several games - impressive for a first-year player. Purdue will need solid production from him as well.
If they can limit the turnovers and hold their own on the glass, I think the Boilers can stay in it......but they can't afford the poor stretches that have inevitably transpired over the course of a game. To do it, the Boilers will need to play their best game of the year, and go out and take it. Can they break through?
We shall see, starting in about an hour or so.
Boiler up, my friends.
