Purdue's Matt Painter addresses 'very difficult' task of defending sharpshooting Dalton Knecht
Within the blink of an eye, Tennessee superstar Dalton Knecht reached double figures in the first half of the Volunteers’ Elite 8 matchup vs. Purdue, which Matt Painter addressed during a timeout.
Sideline reporter Evan Washburn caught up with the Boilermaker coach at a stoppage in the first half after Knecht and Zach Edey traded a flurry of baskets in the first 10 minutes of the game. When asked how to stop the sharpshooter in orange, Painter’s face went blank as his eyes bulged, telling viewers everything they need to know about the threat of Knecht.
After that reaction, Painter gave the following breakdown on Knecht’s early success:
“Well, he got away from us on one of them, like a long rebound and went away and that happens sometimes. The other time we just didn’t take up his space and he made a tough pull-up right there. Very difficult. You got to limit his touches, you got to push him out a little but further, but that’s easier said than done.”
Knecht isn’t the only aspect of Tennessee’s team bothering Purdue early. This veteran Vols bunch is extremely physical and was making that known early on.
“I think it’s been great,” Matt Painter said of the physicality. “I think it’s been a good game so far. We’ve missed a couple open 3s there that we normally make. We’re getting some pretty good shots there.”
He just wants the Boilermakers to match Tennessee’s intensity:
“We just got to embrace the physicality of the game, be able to make plays, whether that’s a rebound, getting a loose ball or finishing at the rim.”
More background on Elite 8 matchup
Tennessee (27-8), the No. 2 seed in the Midwest, beat No. 3 Creighton 82-75 Friday night to advance out of the Sweet 16, after wins over No. 15 Saint Peter’s and No. 7 Texas in the first weekend in Charlotte.
Purdue (32-4), the No. 1 seed in the Midwest trying to avenge its loss to No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson last season, beat No. 5 Gonzaga 80-68 in the early game Friday. The Boilermakers beat No. 16 Grambling State in the first round in Indianapolis and No. 7 Utah State in the second round.
Now they battle for a Final Four.