Big Ten Tournament Preview: #3 Purdue vs Michigan State
MINNEAPOLIS — Big Ten title-winner Purdue opens postseason play Friday at the Target Center, starting with its seemingly annual Big Ten Tournament meeting with Michigan State.
NOTE: Our pre-game previews from the Big Ten Tournament will be brief
DETAILS: Friday, March 15, 2024 | 12 p.m. ET | TV: BTN (Kevin Kugler, Stephen Bardo, Rick Pizzo) | Radio: Purdue Radio Network
PURDUE (28-3, 17-3 B1G): ROSTER | SCHEDULE | STATS
MICHIGAN STATE (19-13, 10-10 B1G): ROSTER | SCHEDULE | STATS
A FEW THINGS ABOUT PURDUE
• Purdue’s looking for the rare feat of repeating as both Big Ten regular season and tournament champions. There’s not been a repeat BTT champ since Michigan in 2017 and ’18.
• The Boilermakers are virtually guaranteed a 1 seed to the NCAA Tournament regardless of how they fare in the Twin Cities.
• First-team All-Big Ten picks Zach Edey and Braden Smith rolled ankles against Wisconsin in the regular season finale, but are both “fine,” per Matt Painter.
• Purdue has won four straight over Michigan State and eight of the last 10 meetings, including the two teams’ lone matchup this season, a hard-fought 80-74 win in Mackey Arena on March 3.
A FEW THINGS ABOUT THIS GAME
• While Purdue enjoyed a double bye, the Spartans had to beat Minnesota Thursday to advance. After playing its way onto the bubble to close the regular season, Michigan State had to have that one.
• It’s March and Tom Izzo is still tinkering with his rotation at center. Prior starter Mady Sissoko played just one minute vs.Minnesota while Carson Cooper got the start and freshman Xavier Booker saw 15 minutes and Jaxon Kohler nearly 20. Remember, Booker made a pair of threes against Purdue in Mackey.
| TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS | TRANSITION | REBOUNDING |
| It’s the same key every game and will be for every game to come. The correlation between turnovers and Purdue’s vulnerability is air-tight and undeniable. | Michigan State’s long-standing M.O. is to rebound and run. Transition defense, limiting turnovers and shot quality always loom large against them. | This is where Purdue can really lean on people until they break, and this is not a typical Spartan team on the glass. MSU has been out-rebounded more often than not this season. |
GOLDANDBLACK.COM PREDICTION: PURDUE 77, MICHIGAN STATE 72
The last meeting wasn’t easy on Purdue, nor will this one be. Zach Edey has destroyed Michigan State time and again in his career. This is the Spartans’ last chance to figure out.
