USC at Purdue: MASTER DISCUSSION THREAD:
- Thread starter Travis Miller
- Start date
No word yet on whether Desmond Claude is going to play. He's a key to their success.
PU is -13.5 right now. That suggests to me he isn't playing. But maybe CHI will chime in and give some intel on the spread. That just seems pretty high if he were playing.
That definitely assumes he's out. So I guess follow the line and see if it drops 2-3 points.
Not saying it is a trap game but it does have the markings. This team walking into Champaign and knocked around Illinois....I know Claude's status is in question but this is a Mussleman team and that dude is going to throw some hard defensive looks at us....
I personally would love this game to be the one where Colvin and Heide figure out their 3 point shooting and get some confidence heading into a tough stretch of games. Would also like to see Cox and Harris continue to find their place in the offense and keep building confidence.
I personally would love this game to be the one where Colvin and Heide figure out their 3 point shooting and get some confidence heading into a tough stretch of games. Would also like to see Cox and Harris continue to find their place in the offense and keep building confidence.
I hadn't heard anything about him being injured but it doesn't look like he's playing. I don't have any player props for him and I do for Agbo and Saint Thomas. It is a big line. My site is at -13. Fanduel had 12.5 and I brought it down to 7.5 among other things.
If Cox and Harris continue as they have, there's not much room for Heide and Colvin. Heide has done better than Myles though and could be the 7th-8th guy off the bench. I sadly think Myles' ship has sailed.
Heide will play because he plays the four and we don’t have any other options there.
Musselman will prolly throw double teams at Braden and TKR and make the other 3 beat them
Loyer might be due for a 15-20 point night, I would think the focus will be to stop TKR and Braden, guessing Fletcher gets some open looks.
Looks like Desmond Claude is ruled out tonight, CBS' Jon Rothstein reporting. That makes it tougher for USC but still no picnic for Purdue - going to get plenty of defensive pressure.
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Tonight, the University of Southern California Trojans (13-9; 5-6) visit Mackey Arena to take on the #7-ranked Purdue Boilermakers (18-5; 10-2). Tip is set for approximately 7:00 pm (Eastern time) with television coverage on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). This is the only regular season match-up between the two teams.
Projected Starting Line-ups:
USC - Saint Thomas, Rashaun Agee, Wesley Yates III, Clark Slajchert (replacing Desmond Claude), and Chibuzo Agbo
Purdue - Trey Kaufman-Renn, Caleb Furst, CJ Cox, Fletcher Loyer, and Braden Smith
__________________________________
USC is 4-3 in their last seven games, including wins at Illinois and at home against Michigan State. It dropped a close one at Northwestern in the most recent game on Tuesday, 77-75. The Tojans' top scorer is Desmond Claude, a 6'6 junior guard getting 16.2 PPG while adding 4.2 APG. Claude suffered a bone bruise in his leg in the Michigan State game and sat out against Northwestern, and unfortunately, USC has ruled him out for tonight's game.
In their last game, USC was led by Clark Slajchert with 24 points, including four three pointers in the loss to Northwestern. Slajchert is a 6'1 senior guard who transferred in from Penn over the summer. He is typically only a rotational player and averages 3.8 PPG, but he has big game potential as he scored 24 last time out, and averaged 18.0 PPG last season with Penn. Their top outside shooter is Chibuzo Agbo, a 6'7 senior forward with 46 made threes on 35.7% shooting from the outside. Agbo is their second-leading scorer with 11.8 PPG. Their top frontcourt player is 6'7 senior forward Saint Thomas who gets 10.6 PPG and 6.3 RPG.
USC is currently 60th overall in the KenPom ratings, 50th in offensive efficiency and 89th in defensive efficiency. The Trojans play at about an average pace, with an adjusted tempo rating of 158th.
Purdue is currently 7th overall in KenPom ratings, 7th offensively and 32nd defensively. Adjusted tempo rating has Purdue at 288th.
Look for USC to switch up coverages defensively and give Purdue a variety of looks - pressure man, some zone, and even a press. This style worked against Michigan State for a win and against Northwestern without Desmond Claude despite the two-point loss. The Trojans could throw some exotic-look defense at Purdue earlier to keep them within arm’s length. And recall, Eric Musselman coached Arkansas last season, and his team gave Purdue fits defensively in an exhibition win in overtime. From Matt Painter - "They also scheme differently.....like what they run sometimes varies from game to game. And defensively, they'll do some different things. You just have to be prepared for everything."
As always, Purdue will really need to execute well, but they'll need to be better with the ball than against Iowa. Defensively, Purdue will still be challenged, even without Claude in the line-up. His back-up and fellow teammates are more than capable if the Boilers drop their level of intensity or lose focus.
Some other keys to the game for Purdue according to Coach Matt Painter -
"They have so many interchangeable pieces....so many guys who can drive the basketball.....can score the basketball.....can make three's. Just make plays, period."
"That versatility defensively and that versatility offensively really causes problems for you......so more than anything trying to keep them out of rhythm....keep them from having angles and driving the basketball."
Purdue has battled back to the top of the conference with a half-game lead over Michigan State and Michigan. This is another big game to keep pace, especially as Purdue travels to Ann Arbor for a game with Michigan on Tuesday.
Can the Boilers keep things on track as the conference race continues to heat up? We shall see, starting in just a little over an hour.
Boiler up, my friends.
Projected Starting Line-ups:
USC - Saint Thomas, Rashaun Agee, Wesley Yates III, Clark Slajchert (replacing Desmond Claude), and Chibuzo Agbo
Purdue - Trey Kaufman-Renn, Caleb Furst, CJ Cox, Fletcher Loyer, and Braden Smith
__________________________________
USC is 4-3 in their last seven games, including wins at Illinois and at home against Michigan State. It dropped a close one at Northwestern in the most recent game on Tuesday, 77-75. The Tojans' top scorer is Desmond Claude, a 6'6 junior guard getting 16.2 PPG while adding 4.2 APG. Claude suffered a bone bruise in his leg in the Michigan State game and sat out against Northwestern, and unfortunately, USC has ruled him out for tonight's game.
In their last game, USC was led by Clark Slajchert with 24 points, including four three pointers in the loss to Northwestern. Slajchert is a 6'1 senior guard who transferred in from Penn over the summer. He is typically only a rotational player and averages 3.8 PPG, but he has big game potential as he scored 24 last time out, and averaged 18.0 PPG last season with Penn. Their top outside shooter is Chibuzo Agbo, a 6'7 senior forward with 46 made threes on 35.7% shooting from the outside. Agbo is their second-leading scorer with 11.8 PPG. Their top frontcourt player is 6'7 senior forward Saint Thomas who gets 10.6 PPG and 6.3 RPG.
USC is currently 60th overall in the KenPom ratings, 50th in offensive efficiency and 89th in defensive efficiency. The Trojans play at about an average pace, with an adjusted tempo rating of 158th.
Purdue is currently 7th overall in KenPom ratings, 7th offensively and 32nd defensively. Adjusted tempo rating has Purdue at 288th.
Look for USC to switch up coverages defensively and give Purdue a variety of looks - pressure man, some zone, and even a press. This style worked against Michigan State for a win and against Northwestern without Desmond Claude despite the two-point loss. The Trojans could throw some exotic-look defense at Purdue earlier to keep them within arm’s length. And recall, Eric Musselman coached Arkansas last season, and his team gave Purdue fits defensively in an exhibition win in overtime. From Matt Painter - "They also scheme differently.....like what they run sometimes varies from game to game. And defensively, they'll do some different things. You just have to be prepared for everything."
As always, Purdue will really need to execute well, but they'll need to be better with the ball than against Iowa. Defensively, Purdue will still be challenged, even without Claude in the line-up. His back-up and fellow teammates are more than capable if the Boilers drop their level of intensity or lose focus.
Some other keys to the game for Purdue according to Coach Matt Painter -
"They have so many interchangeable pieces....so many guys who can drive the basketball.....can score the basketball.....can make three's. Just make plays, period."
"That versatility defensively and that versatility offensively really causes problems for you......so more than anything trying to keep them out of rhythm....keep them from having angles and driving the basketball."
Purdue has battled back to the top of the conference with a half-game lead over Michigan State and Michigan. This is another big game to keep pace, especially as Purdue travels to Ann Arbor for a game with Michigan on Tuesday.
Can the Boilers keep things on track as the conference race continues to heat up? We shall see, starting in just a little over an hour.
Boiler up, my friends.
DAMN man ... this is awesome!!! Thank you!!!Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Tonight, the University of Southern California Trojans (13-9; 5-6) visit Mackey Arena to take on the #7-ranked Purdue Boilermakers (18-5; 10-2). Tip is set for approximately 7:00 pm (Eastern time) with television coverage on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). This is the only regular season match-up between the two teams.
Projected Starting Line-ups:
USC - Saint Thomas, Rashaun Agee, Wesley Yates III, Clark Slajchert (replacing Desmond Claude), and Chibuzo Agbo
Purdue - Trey Kaufman-Renn, Caleb Furst, CJ Cox, Fletcher Loyer, and Braden Smith
__________________________________
USC is 4-3 in their last seven games, including wins at Illinois and at home against Michigan State. It dropped a close one at Northwestern in the most recent game on Tuesday, 77-75. The Tojans' top scorer is Desmond Claude, a 6'6 junior guard getting 16.2 PPG while adding 4.2 APG. Claude suffered a bone bruise in his leg in the Michigan State game and sat out against Northwestern, and unfortunately, USC has ruled him out for tonight's game.
In their last game, USC was led by Clark Slajchert with 24 points, including four three pointers in the loss to Northwestern. Slajchert is a 6'1 senior guard who transferred in from Penn over the summer. He is typically only a rotational player and averages 3.8 PPG, but he has big game potential as he scored 24 last time out, and averaged 18.0 PPG last season with Penn. Their top outside shooter is Chibuzo Agbo, a 6'7 senior forward with 46 made threes on 35.7% shooting from the outside. Agbo is their second-leading scorer with 11.8 PPG. Their top frontcourt player is 6'7 senior forward Saint Thomas who gets 10.6 PPG and 6.3 RPG.
USC is currently 60th overall in the KenPom ratings, 50th in offensive efficiency and 89th in defensive efficiency. The Trojans play at about an average pace, with an adjusted tempo rating of 158th.
Purdue is currently 7th overall in KenPom ratings, 7th offensively and 32nd defensively. Adjusted tempo rating has Purdue at 288th.
Look for USC to switch up coverages defensively and give Purdue a variety of looks - pressure man, some zone, and even a press. This style worked against Michigan State for a win and against Northwestern without Desmond Claude despite the two-point loss. The Trojans could throw some exotic-look defense at Purdue earlier to keep them within arm’s length. And recall, Eric Musselman coached Arkansas last season, and his team gave Purdue fits defensively in an exhibition win in overtime. From Matt Painter - "They also scheme differently.....like what they run sometimes varies from game to game. And defensively, they'll do some different things. You just have to be prepared for everything."
As always, Purdue will really need to execute well, but they'll need to be better with the ball than against Iowa. Defensively, Purdue will still be challenged, even without Claude in the line-up. His back-up and fellow teammates are more than capable if the Boilers drop their level of intensity or lose focus.
Some other keys to the game for Purdue according to Coach Matt Painter -
"They have so many interchangeable pieces....so many guys who can drive the basketball.....can score the basketball.....can make three's. Just make plays, period."
"That versatility defensively and that versatility offensively really causes problems for you......so more than anything trying to keep them out of rhythm....keep them from having angles and driving the basketball."
Purdue has battled back to the top of the conference with a half-game lead over Michigan State and Michigan. This is another big game to keep pace, especially as Purdue travels to Ann Arbor for a game with Michigan on Tuesday.
Can the Boilers keep things on track as the conference race continues to heat up? We shall see, starting in just a little over an hour.
Boiler up, my friends.
Looking for a solid defensive effort from our team tonight. Loyer and Cox both in double digits and Heide hits two 3s and goes for 8-10!
Iowa gave Purdue all we could handle without their stud.
A rather pedestrian O$U team got down big to Purdue, them systematically blitzed us in Mackey.
Forgive me for ignoring this point spread BS😉
