Hey, good things happen when Purdue plays defense!
Through four halves of basketball in Chicago Purdue has finally, mercifully, gotten back to playing defense and making teams work on the opposite end of the floor. Should that continue, it will be playing basketball for a few more weeks.
Purdue didn’t absolutely need this win. It was already in the NCAA Tournament comfortably. Much of the season has seen the Boilers struggle with top 10-15 teams. It has lost to Michigan, Iowa State, Michigan State, and
Illinois. Purdue has shown it is good, but it struggled to beat elite teams.
Well, at least they can still beat Nebraska.
Much like last night against Northwestern, Purdue jumped out to an early lead and never really looked back. Once it got the lead to double digits Nebraska got no closer than 8 the rest of the way.
With the win I think Purdue locked up at least a 3 seed in the NCAAs. I say that because Nebraska was a team in direct competition with them for said seed and the Boilermakers now have two wins over them, one on their home floor.
Onto the notes:
- Braden Smith is probably going to get the assists record now. He needed at least five postseason games here and he is now guaranteed at least 4. More importantly, he has 26 assists in the first two, leaving him 21 away. It is entirely possible he will get it in two games, but now he will probably get it as long as Purdue does not suffer a first round upset in the NCAAs (and even then, Purdue cane guarantee another game with a win tomorrow).
- Oscar Cluff has both torn Nebraska up and the Big Ten Tournament up. He had the game-winner in Lincoln and tonight he had a very effective 10 and 9 while playing great defense.
- It was a relief to see a game like this where Purdue was the tougher team on the floor. That was an issue down the stretch. Tonight they won the rebounding battle and that was huge, as second chance points in the second half were the difference. This was a game won with defense and grit, something that has been lacking of late.
- 19 second chance points, witht he majority coming in the second half. Tht’s how you close a team out.
- Fletcher Loyer is a baaaaaaaad man with some of his early threes. He was responsible for putting the boot on throat early, and everyone else made sure it stayed there.
- Omer Mayer is giving some very good minutes off the bench this postseason so far.
- WE HELD A TEAM BELOW 40% FROM THE FIELD!!!! Sorry for the all caps, but that is gigantic and I am very happy about it.
- It was also nice to see Purdue being more deliberate with bleeding clock after the final media timeout. It is safe to say that was an issue in Lincoln.
- Interesting rematch with UCLA or Michigan State next. Purdue lost to both by two on a missed game-winning three as time expired. The UCLA game especially felt like one we gave away since we were up six at the final media timeout. I want that one back.
Purdue Postgame Press Conference
Nebraska Postgame Press Conference
Matt Painter
Purdue Locker Room
