NCAA Tournament Preview: #3 Purdue vs Grambling State
INDIANAPOLIS — It’s been a long wait, this past year, but for Purdue the moment has finally arrived: Its return to the NCAA Tournament and opportunity for redemption for last year’s disappointment.
The No. 1 seed in the Midwest Regional, the Boilermakers will face 16th-seeded play-in winner Grambling State Friday night in front of what’s sure to be a distinctly pro-Purdue crowd.
DETAILS: Friday, March 22, 2024 | 7:25 p.m. ET | TV: TBS (Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner, Stan VanGundy, Andy Katz) | Radio: Purdue Radio Network
PURDUE (29-4): ROSTER | SCHEDULE | STATS
GRAMBLING STATE (21-14): ROSTER | SCHEDULE | STATS
THREE THINGS ABOUT PURDUE
• Purdue comes into the NCAA Tournament second nationally in three-point percentage at 40.8 percent. With Kentucky out, the Boilermakers are No. 1 among those teams remaining.
• Braden Smith hurt his knee in the Big Ten Tournament, but played big minutes in the Wisconsin game and by every account is “fine.”
• In four losses this season, Purdue has averaged 15.3 turnovers, and opponents have scored an average of 18.8 points off them.
A FEW THINGS ABOUT THIS GAME
• Grambling got here by winning the SWAC Tournament, then beating Montana State in the play-in game Wednesday in Dayton.
• People will look at Grambling’s 2-10 opening to the season as a “slow start,” but it’s really just the reality of its level. None of those losses were home games, half of them came to high-majors (counting Dayton as such) and six of those opponents went to the NCAA Tournament.
• The Tigers have turned the ball over on more than 20 percent of their possessions this season and allow an offensive rebounding of nearly 33 percent.
• Guards Kintavious Dozier and Tra’Michael Moton are going to attack Purdue off the bounce. They combine to average about 25 points per game.
| TURNOVERS | DRIBBLE PENETRATION | DEFENSIVE REBOUNDING |
| It’s always turnovers. Maybe not against Grambling, but this is the worry that could end Purdue’s season. | The Tigers are going to spread Purdue and drive the ball. Are they potent enough from three to keep defenders honest though? | These smaller teams sometimes find their way to longer rebounds. Any psath to an upset for Grambling has to start with extra possessions. |
GOLDANDBLACK.COM PREDICTION: PURDUE 85, GRAMBLING 64
New year. Very new Purdue team. There are no concerns here that history might repeat itself.
