#5 Purdue 14-1 (4-0) will play host to Penn State 9-6 (0-4) on Saturday afternoon in Mackey Arena. Purdue is coming off six straight victories, and despite a final score against Washington that made the game appear closer than it was, the Boilers are playing its best basketball of the season. It has yet to […]
#5 Purdue 14-1 (4-0) will play host to Penn State 9-6 (0-4) on Saturday afternoon in Mackey Arena.
Purdue is coming off six straight victories, and despite a final score against Washington that made the game appear closer than it was, the Boilers are playing its best basketball of the season. It has yet to play in a competitive Big Ten game.
Penn State is staring up at Purdue from the bottom of the conference. The Nittany Loins have lost all four of its conference games after fading late and nearly knocking off Michigan on Tuesday night.
Penn State, which has lost every top-100 game of the season, is coming off its best performance by a mile against a Michigan team that had dominated nearly every opponent its played this season.
Purdue is coming off a lot of wins, but also a sloppy final ten minutes against Washington that let the Huskies cut into a 20+ point lead during a sloppy last half of the half.
But Purdue remains undefeated in Big Ten play and has a lost to Penn State at the start of last year’s conference play to act as motivation as it tries to keep pace with fellow undefeateds in Big Ten play, Michigan and Nebraska.
No media before game
With the quick turnaround, media was unable to talk with Matt Painter or players ahead of the game.
Penn State defenses remains turnover focused
Penn State got into Purdue last year and forced a lot of turnovers. This Penn State team wants to do the same.
It’s turning over teams once every five possessions while taking care of the ball at the other end. Penn State won the turnover battle 12-10 against Michigan on Tuesday while out rebounding the Wolverines by six. The Nittany Lions need to win the possession battle to have a chance against the nation’s most efficient offense.
But past turnovers, Penn State’s defense has not been good this season. Teams are shooting 36% from three agains them and an even more concerning 57% from inside the arc.
If Purdue protects the ball and gets into its stuff, Nittany Lions are likely in for a long day.
Players to look out for
Kayden Mingo and Freddie Dilione V are talented, if not a little inefficient, guards for Penn State that lead the team in scoring. Both are dropping 14 points a game and do the heavy lifting when it comes to play making. Both have attempted more than fifty threes this season, and while Dilione is a serviceable 33% from three, Mingo has been ice cold and barely above 20% on his three point attempts.
Instead the two are quicker guards, comfortable attacking and needing to get in the paint to do damage.
Penn State is not a great three point shooting team in general but it has a lot of different guys that can get hot. That might be Penn State’s best hope to keep up with Purdue’s offense. It’ll need points off turnovers and to get hot from three, but on paper this game looks like another lopsided one in the direction of the Boilers.
Category: General Sports
