If I were Purdue this game would scare the hell out of me.
That's my sense on today's Nebraska game.
Nebraska can't score, but will try to turn this game into mud-wrestling.
If they can bog down the inside and make Purdue win on the perimeter, and the Boilermakers pull one of their trademark 4-of-25s, then look out.
And if Purdue turns the ball over too much, negating what should be an advantage on the defensive end, look out.
Or if it falls asleep on the defensive boards and allows a mediocre rebounding team to keep afloat with second chances, look out.
Of if Purdue figures that it can just show up on its home floor and expect Nebraska to not be able to do what ranked Ohio State, Iowa and Indiana couldn't do, look out.
And watch out for Walter Pitchford. The Cornhusker big man is just a 20-percent three-point shooter, but he can change the game if he's hot.
There are real land mines here for Purdue, land mines that can blow up the season, potentially, if the Boilermakers aren't careful.
This is another résumé hand grenade, a game Purdue needs to win.
At the end of the day, it should defend at a high enough level against a very limited offensive team to win, maybe easily.
We'll see, but Purdue had better be on high alert today.
We'll talk to you again after the game with our game story, Wrap Video, blog and sidebar.
Discuss the game here or wherever and follow along for in-game updates here.
That's my sense on today's Nebraska game.
Nebraska can't score, but will try to turn this game into mud-wrestling.
If they can bog down the inside and make Purdue win on the perimeter, and the Boilermakers pull one of their trademark 4-of-25s, then look out.
And if Purdue turns the ball over too much, negating what should be an advantage on the defensive end, look out.
Or if it falls asleep on the defensive boards and allows a mediocre rebounding team to keep afloat with second chances, look out.
Of if Purdue figures that it can just show up on its home floor and expect Nebraska to not be able to do what ranked Ohio State, Iowa and Indiana couldn't do, look out.
And watch out for Walter Pitchford. The Cornhusker big man is just a 20-percent three-point shooter, but he can change the game if he's hot.
There are real land mines here for Purdue, land mines that can blow up the season, potentially, if the Boilermakers aren't careful.
This is another résumé hand grenade, a game Purdue needs to win.
At the end of the day, it should defend at a high enough level against a very limited offensive team to win, maybe easily.
We'll see, but Purdue had better be on high alert today.
We'll talk to you again after the game with our game story, Wrap Video, blog and sidebar.
Discuss the game here or wherever and follow along for in-game updates here.
