Purdue/Illinois overview

[nagemj02]

When: Friday, March 10th

Where: Verizon Center, Washington DC

Tip-Off: Noon (ET)

TV: ESPN


Head Coaches:

Purdue: Matt Painter (12th season)

Illinois: John Groce (5th season)


Purdue's Team Stats: http://www.purduesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/stats/2016-2017/teamcume.html#TEAM.TEM

Illinois' Team Stats: http://www.fightingillini.com/cumestats.aspx?path=mbball&


Note: (These are my Illinois player stats of note (rotation guys) going into their game vs. Michigan on Thursday, March 9th.)


Projected Starters:

Purdue

1/2 #11 P.J. Thompson 5'10 175 (Jr.): averaging 7.3 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 1 SPG, 3 APG, 45% FG's (75-167), 74% FT's (29-39), 39% 3PT's (46-118), and 28.2 MPG in 31 GP this season

2/1 #31 Dakota Mathias 6'4 195 (Jr.): averaging 10.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 3.6 APG, 49% FG's (108-221), 84% FT's (32-38), 48% 3PT's (65-136), and 31.2 MPG in 31 GP this season

2 #14 Ryan Cline 6'5 190 (So.): averaging 5.7 PPG, 42% FG's (52-123), 82% FT's (9-11), 41% 3PT's (41-99), and 21.3 MPG in 27 GP this season

3/4 #12 Vincent "Vince" Edwards 6'8 215 (Jr.): averaging 12.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.3 APG, 48% FG's (135-282), 85% FT's (70-82), 42% 3PT's (42-99), and 28.5 MPG in 31 GP this season

5/4 #50 Caleb "Biggie" Swanigan 6'9 245 (So.): averaging 18.7 PPG, 12.6 RPG, 2.8 APG, 3.3 TPG, 2.8 FPG, 54% FG's (198-367), 79% FT's (152-192), 45% 3PT's (31-69), and 31.9 MPG in 31 GP this season


Illinois

1/2 #3 Te'Jon Lucas 5'11 165 (Fr.): averaging 4.9 PPG, 1.1 SPG, 2.7 APG, 44% FG's (41-94), 58% FT's (40-69), 39% 3PT's (10-26), and 19.4 MPG in 27 GP this season

1/2 #13 Tracy Abrams 6'1 180 (RS Sr.) (has redshirted each of the past two seasons due to injury): averaging 7.9 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.3 APG, 41% FG's (84-204), 70% FT's (33-47), 41% 3PT's (44-107), and 23.2 MPG in 31 GP this season

3/2 #21 Malcolm Hill 6'6 220 (Sr.): averaging 17.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 3.1 APG, 2 TPG, 44% FG's (168-386), 79% FT's (143-181), 34% 3PT's (53-154), and 33.4 MPG in 31 GP this season

4 #12 Leron Black 6'7 225 (RS So.) (RS last season due to injury): averaging 8.2 PPG, 6 RPG, 3 FPG, 46% FG's (88-191), 76% FT's (38-50), 28% 3PT's (8-29), and 19.7 MPG in 27 GP this season

5/4 #22 Maverick Morgan 6'10 240 (Sr.): averaging 10.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 55% FG's (132-239), 66% FT's (57-86), no 3PT's attempted, and 25.3 MPG in 31 GP this season



Projected Reinforcements:

Purdue

1 #55 Michael "Spike" Albrecht 5'11 180 (RS Sr.) (graduate transfer from Michigan): averaging 1.8 PPG, 27% FG's (10-37), 95% FT's (18-19), 21% 3PT's (5-24), and 12.9 MPG in 24 GP this season

1/2 #3 Carsen Edwards 6'0 185 (Fr.): averaging 10.2 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 1 SPG, 38% FG's (113-299), 71% FT's (45-63), 35% 3PT's (45-129), and 23.4 MPG in 31 GP this season

5 #44 Isaac Haas 7'2 280 (Jr.): averaging 12.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 2.4 TPG, 58% FG's (137-236), 72% FT's (117-162), no 3PT's attempted, and 19.9 MPG in 31 GP this season


Illinois

2 #5 Jalen Coleman-Lands 6'3 180 (So.): averaging 8.1 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 36% FG's (84-232), 82% FT's (18-22), 38% 3PT's (64-169), and 24.4 MPG in 31 GP this season

3/4 #2 Kipper Nichols 6'6 215 (RS Fr.) (transferred from Tulane prior to the start of last season: became eligible in mid-December): averaging 5 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 47% FG's (34-72), 60% FT's (12-20), 50% 3PT's (10-20), and 13.8 MPG in 18 GP this season

4/5 #43 Michael Finke 6'10 230 (RS So.): averaging 6.8 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 48% FG's (80-167), 55% FT's (17-31), 40% 3PT's (35-88), and 19.6 MPG in 31 GP this season


Who Might Play:

Purdue

no one else likely to play


Illinois

1 #1 Jaylon Tate 6'2 170 (Sr.): averaging 2.5 PPG, 3 APG, 38% FG's (18-47), 70% FT's (23-33), 18% 3PT's (2-11), and 16.8 MPG in 24 GP this season

2 #44 Alex Austin 6'3 185 (RS Sr.) (son of former Purdue standout Woody Austin): averaging 0.5 PPG, 29% FG's (2-7), no FT's attempted, 0% 3PT's (0-3), and 1.9 MPG in 8 GP this season

2 #23 Aaron Jordan 6'5 185 (So.): averaging 1 PPG, 29% FG's (7-24), 20% FT's (1-5), 35% 3PT's (6-17), and 7.1 MPG in 21 GP this season

5 #33 Mike Thorne 6'10 270 (RS Sr.) (redshirted last season due to injury) (graduate transfer from UNC-Charlotte): averaging 5.4 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 56% FG's (49-87), 47% FT's (15-32), no 3PT's attempted, and 14.1 MPG in 21 GP this season

 

[nagemj02]

So, if Illinois pulls off a minor upset and beats Michigan, what will be the (non-obvious) keys to victory for the Boilers vs. Illinois on Friday?

 

[Dryfly88]

This may be an obvious one, limit turnovers. Make Illini run their offense against a set defense with few fast breaks. While they have been playing better lately, I like our chances against them playing our game style.

 

[daisyrail1619]

If Finke goes off.........he can also be a threat.

 

[nagemj02]

If Finke goes off.........he can also be a threat.

Agreed, but he seems to be very streaky from the perimeter. I think VE or Swanigan can cover The White Samurai.

 

[nagemj02]

Any other keys or concerns if the Boilers play the Fighting Illini on Friday? Maverick Morgan can shoot out to about 17 feet, so he could be trouble for Purdue's frontcourt. Also, when doing the overview write-up, I was surprised to see that Tracy Abrams is shooting as well as he is on his 3PT's (41%). Anytime I've watched them this season, he seemed to be ice-cold with his jumper.

 

[boilerzz]

Any other keys or concerns if the Boilers play the Fighting Illini on Friday? Maverick Morgan can shoot out to about 17 feet, so he could be trouble for Purdue's frontcourt. Also, when doing the overview write-up, I was surprised to see that Tracy Abrams is shooting as well as he is on his 3PT's (41%). Anytime I've watched them this season, he seemed to be ice-cold with his jumper.

Abrams started the season ok, then slumped big time before picking it back up the last few weeks.