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Buckeye Matchups

hamcoboiler

Redshirt Freshman
Mar 29, 2013
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Buckeyes shoot it well (not from 3), their guards rebound really well and they are very athletic. I assume matchups will be as follows:

Hammons on Lee
Edwards on Thompson
Davis on Russell
Mathias on Scott
Octeus on Tate

Mathias on Scott might make everyone nervous, but what Mathias lacks in athleticism on defense he makes up for it in smarts. Scott is struggling to shoot 3's (25%) so long as Dakota takes away the rhythm 3, he doesn't need to pick him up at the 3 point line. He will want to give space to take away the driving lanes.

The reason you can't put Octeus on Scott is for rebounding. Octeus has to take away Tate on the glass. Of OSU's starters, Tate is their second leading rebounder and leading offensive rebounder and Octeus is Purdue's 3rd best rebounder. I think Tate would be too much for Mathias on the glass. Tate can't shoot worth a lick from 3 (11%) so Octeus should use his length to help on dribble penetration.

Davis on Russell is probably the easiest call. This will be Davis' biggest challenge (more than Newbill). Russell is OSU's leading scorer and rebounder and second in assists. Nearly everything runs through him. Davis will probably deny him the ball everywhere in the halfcourt and on the catch guard beyond the 3 point line. I think Davis can frustrate the freshman with his stickiness. Davis has to avoid early fouls.

Edwards guarding Thompson is an interesting matchup. Thompson is a freak of an athlete. Edwards will need to keep a body on him in the paint, and be in help side on the drive because Thompson isn't much of a 3 point threat either (21%).

Hammons guarding Lee is somewhat similar to Hammons guarding Troy Williams. Lee isn't the same player, but similar in that there is no outside threat at all. Hammons likely keep one foot in the paint at all times on defense.

Loving has been coming off the bench and is hitting 3's at a 53% rate this season. Purdue will have to adjust defensively when he enters the game. He and Russell are the only to players Purdue should guard passed 17'.
Off the ball defenders have to be locked in this game. Ball screen defense (especially on Russell) is critical. If the ball screen is at 19 feet Davis has to chase he can't go under which means Hammons and the other weak side defender have to be ready to take away his other options. If you have watched Virginia's pack line defense Purdue might have a similar look. In a nut shell, the offensive player sees the man in front of him as well as two other defenders flank the on ball defender already in help side.
 
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