Games are never easy when you’ve got a coach like Shaka Smart on the opposing sideline. Purdue came into a snowy Mackey Arena being intimately familiar not just with Marquette, who they’ve played each
of the past three seasons, but also with Shaka Smart who famously faced Purdue in the NCAA Tournament at a different school years ago. Shoutout to the fans who brave temperatures in the teens with snow coming down and streets that weren’t prepared for it. Despite the conditions Purdue fans packed Mackey Arena for a final home game before the break.
John Wooden Memorial Player of the Game (JWPMPOTG): Oscar Cluff is hands down today’s honoree. The Aussie big man keeps getting better and better. Marquette had no answer for the big man the whole game. If he got the ball he scored the ball. The pairing of him and TKR has made them both better on the glass and that was clear today when he finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds in an absolutely dominating performance. He did not missThe Hammer and Rails group chat has suggested the nickname the Bloomin’ O and I love it. Please let me know your thoughts in the comments.
Purdue has had slow starts the past couple times and this one was no different. After Smith found Loyer for a quick three to start the scoring things slowed down dramatically as neither team was able to find a rhythm. Just a few minutes into this game and each team had four turnovers as they were feeling each other out. Three of Purdue’s first four came from Braden Smith who was facing plenty of full court pressure from the Golden Eagles. After that though, things began to settle down as Purdue slowly built a lead not off of three point shooting, they were just 2-10 from deep in the first half with Fletcher Loyer being the sole Boilermaker to hit one, but from the midrange game. Purdue was 13-19 on two point attempts. No Boilermaker went into halftime in double digits, Loyer led the way with 9 on the back of his three point shooting, but Oscar Cluff was a standout. He was 3-3 from the floor plus 1-1 at the line for 7 total points. He also grabbed 6 rebounds. Combine that with Trey Kaufman-Renn who grabbed 8 rebounds of his own and the two had 14 combined. At halftime Marquette had just 11 rebounds. As a team. So Cluff and TKR outrebounded Marquette. It’s hard to combat something like that if you’re the Golden Eagles. Purdue had a 12-0 run to push the lead to 21-8 early in the first half and while Marquette found their way back for a bit, Purdue was able to push the lead out further and head into halftime comfortably up 37-21.
The second half saw more domination from the JWMPOTG as he absolutely dominate the Golden Eagles. They had no answer for him. The Boilers big man made Marquette look silly possession after possession. The shooting never really came alive for the Boilermakers as they struggled from deep. But timely ones from Loyer and Jack Benter continued to push the lead beyond 15, then beyond 20, for the good guys. The defensive pressure for the Boilermakers was much improved in this game as we saw active hands all over the court, good focus on rebounding the basketball, and staying in position. The two leading scorers for Marquette, Chase Ross and Nigel James Jr. who coming into this game combined for 31.7 points per game finished this one with just 10 between them. It was a masterclass in forcing the others on the floor to beat you. The rest of the Golden Eagles roster could not step up enough to find a way in this one.
It’s amazing I’ve gone so far in this article without mentioning in depth the game of Braden Smith. He continues to add new wrinkles to his game including that midrange game that is becoming deadly. His stat sheet today wasn’t nearly as eye popping as the last outing against the Golden Gophers, no triple double watch today, but he still makes his team better every possession he’s out there. Despite battling some early turnovers and some foul trouble the senior captain finished with 7 point, 10 assists, and 5 rebounds. Another great day.
Purdue fans walked away happy after this one but no one was in a hurry to leave as the elements kept them in a warm Mackey Arena all the way to the end. Purdue continued to pour it on before sending in the reserves with 1:01 left in the game. Final score here from snowy Mackey Arena was Purdue 79 and Marquette 59. The lead peaked at 30 before Purdue left off the gas. Overall a very satisfied crowd here in Mackey.
