Game Info:

Where: Mackey Arena, West Lafayette, Indiana
When: 1:06 p.m. Sunday, January 26
TV/Radio: CBS/Spartan Sports Network radio

Purdue 13-6 (6-2): NR (111 votes - AP), NR (30 - USA/Coaches), #8 (Kenpom)

Depth Chart:

1 - Edwards (6’1” jr)
2 - Cline (6’6” sr), Hunter (6’3” fr), Stefanovic (6’4” fr)
3 - Eastern (6’6” so)
4 - Eifert (6’6” sr), Wheeler (6’9” fr)
5 - Williams (6’9” fr), Haarms (7’3” so), Boudreaux (6’8” jr)

Scout:

Purdue has improved since we beat them - winning their last 4 B1G games (@ Wisc, vs Rutgers, vs IU, @ OSU). In each of those wins Edwards did not have to deal with McQ and therefore had good games. Other developments: Williams has kept playing and is averaging nearly 20 mins a game and has been scoring and rebounding well.

This team is much better than the one we played against a couple weeks ago. Williams, Haarms, and the rest of the others have been playing well and shooting well. Unfortunately for Purdue, despite their offensive improvement, their defense is still sub-optimal (#59 in Kenpom) and they allow good shots and a high percentage from all over the court.

Key-players:

Edwards: 113 Ortg, 84% of mins played, 35% of possessions used, ~37% of shots taken while on the court, 46% from 2, 38% from 3, 85% from the ft line. Dude is a beast still and McQ will need another stellar performance to keep a lid on him.

Cline: 125 Ortg, 82% of mins played, ~42% from 3 (141 3pt fga).

Williams: 124 Ortg, 7 fouls against per 40, 5 fouls draw per 40, 60% from 2, 50% from the ft line.

Game-plan:

Similar game-plan: keep a lid on Edwards, Ward and Tillman play solid defense against Williams and Haarms, and lock down the glass against a good offensive rebounding team (#22 in the nation per Kenpom).

If they want to crash the glass we need to get out and run to punish them. Hopefully Henry and Brown are ready to run the wings hard and take it strong to the hoop.

If Winston plays his game, which he should because despite Eastern’s best efforts he can’t keep Cash down, then we should be able to maintain a decent level of execution on offense. Can’t have offensive droughts in this one or their loud crowd will build momentum. Ward and X staying out of foul-trouble early will be crucial.

I expect Edwards to hit 20 in this one, and we will need McQ to give as good as he gets - look for McQ to get loose for nearly 20 of his own.

Prediction:

MSU 74 Purdue 70

Make Gamethread go now!!!

GO GREEN!!!