2023 Big Ten Tournament: Purdue vs. Rutgers preview
CHICAGO – After winning the Big Ten regular-season championship by three games, fifth-ranked Purdue looks to add a conference tournament title starting Friday. The top-seeded Boilermakers open the postseason against No. 9 seed Rutgers, which knocked off No. 8 seed Michigan on Thursday. The event continues Saturday with the semifinals and Sunday’s championship game. The winner of the tournament receives the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
Where: United Center (Chicago)
When: Friday, noon ET
TV: BTN
Radio: Purdue Sports Network (WAZY locally)
In-game updates: GoldandBlack.com | Twitter @mike_carmin
ABOUT THE TEAMS
Purdue: Roster | Schedule | Stats
Rutgers: Roster | Schedule | Stats
NUMBERS AND SUCH
ON PURDUE (26-5)
• Purdue has never won the Big Ten regular-season title and the league tournament in the same year. The last team to do it was Michigan State in 2019. The Boilermakers advanced to the championship game last season before losing to Iowa.
• Has the modest two-game winning streak pushed Purdue in the right direction? The win over Illinois came after the Boilermakers let a 24-point lead slip away, but they had a hard-fought victory at Wisconsin to clinch the outright conference title. Purdue won’t last long in any postseason tournament by letting a double-digit lead evaporate and building and maintaining the same energy is going to be important starting Friday.
• Regardless of who the Boilermakers face during the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments, the opponent will bring a high level of desperation. Michigan is playing to find a spot in the 68-team field and will likely need more than a victory over Purdue to secure a bid. The key for the Boilermakers is matching or exceeding the desperation they’ll encounter.
PURDUE LINEUPS
Projected Starters
Center — 15 Zach Edey (7-4, 290, Junior)
The Big Ten Player of the Year is already earning All-American awards and is being recognized as the nation’s top player. The honors will keep coming for Edey, who looks to carry the Boilermakers on a deep run. Picked up two fouls in Sunday’s win against Illinois and was on the bench when Purdue used a 21-5 run to close out the first half.
Forward — 0 Mason Gillis (6-6, 230, Junior)
The Boilermakers are 2-0 since his return to the starting lineup but still searching for his 3-point shot. He plays tough defense and hits the boards hard, but the Boilermakers need his perimeter shooting to advance.
Guard — 3 Braden Smith (6-0, 180, Freshman)
Named to the Big Ten’s All-Freshman team after a solid season running the point in his rookie year. Scored 15 points against the Illini and the offense works better when Smith is looking for his shot, either from inside the 3-point line or beyond the arc.
Guard — 2 Fletcher Loyer (6-4, 185, Freshman)
Had a solid outing last week at Wisconsin where his mid-range jumper provided a spark to the offense. Didn’t have the same success against Illini. Hit the go-ahead 3-pointer against Rutgers in early January before the Scarlet Knights won it on the next possession.
Guard — 5 Brandon Newman (6-5, 200, Junior)
Giving the Boilermakers a spark on the defensive end over the last month and his offense is starting to come around. Has developed into a solid two-way player and forcing opponents to pay attention. Totaled 19 points, six rebounds, five assists, and three steals in his most complete game of the season against Illinois.
Bench
Forward— 1 Caleb Furst (6-10, 230, Sophomore)
Averaging 21.4 minutes in the last five games but has a clearly defined role of rebounding and playing defense.
Guard/Forward — 25 Ethan Morton (6-7, 215, Junior)
Moved out of the starting lineup but collected four steals in the win over Illinois and made key defensive plays down the stretch. Is 5 of 11 from 3-point range in the last four games.
Forward/Center — 4 Trey Kaufman-Renn (6-9, 225, Redshirt Freshman)
Continues to produce at a high level in limited minutes, helping the Boilermakers avoid a big drop-off when Edey goes to the bench.
Guard — 14 David Jenkins Jr. (6-1, 200, Senior)
Looking to showcase his mid-range game over the last couple of weeks instead of focusing on 3-pointers. Part of a bench that scored 23 points against the Wolverines.
Guard/Forward — 11 Brian Waddell (6-8, 195, Redshirt Freshman)
Note: Freshman center Will Berg and wing Camden Heide will redshirt this season.
ON RUTGERS (19-13)
• Before Thursday’s win over Michigan, the Scarlet Knight had dropped six of their last eight games, moving close to the NCAA tournament bubble. The victory over the Wolverines should put Rutgers in a comfortable spot and a win over the Boilermakers would move coach Steve Pikiell’s team away from the play-in game and squarely into the field.
• The loss of starting forward Mawot Mag has impacted the Scarlet Knights’ season. Mag suffered a torn ACL against Michigan State on Feb. 4 at Madison Square Garden and it started the recently losing stretch. Mag was averaging 7.8 points and 5.3 rebounds before his injury.
• Rutgers had Purdue’s number recently. The Scarlet Knights have won five of the last six meetings, including twice when the Boilermakers were ranked No. 1. Purdue is 9-3 against Rutgers under Matt Painter when not ranked No. 1 and 0-2 when it holds the top spot.
• The Scarlet Knights are all about defense and that’s continues to be their strength. Rutgers is 19-3 when holding opponents to 65 or few points, including 10-2 against Big Ten teams this season. If the Boilermakers to surpass that mark, the Scarlet Knights are 0-9 when giving up more than 65 points.
RUTGERS LINEUP
Projected starters
Center – 11 Clifford Omoruyi (6-11, 240, Junior)
The big man loves to dunk, totaling 69 through the regular season to rank No. 1 in the Big Ten and third nationally. He’s can do more than dunk. A terrific defender and a strong rim protector who anchors the Scarlet Knights’ defense. Had 12 points and six rebounds in the first meeting against the Boilermakers.
Guard — 10 Cam Spencer (6-4, 207, Senior)
Hit the game-winning 3-pointer in January at Mackey Arena to give Purdue its first loss of the season. Scored 14 points and was 6 of 8 from the field, including a pair of 3-pointers. The transfer from Loyola Maryland has given Rutgers much-needed perimeter scoring.
Guard — 4 Paul Mulcahy (6-7, 213, Senior)
Was the difference down the stretch in the victory over the Boilermakers, scoring nine of his 16 points in the final five minutes. Used his physical presence to score in the paint in January and also was stellar on the defensive end with four steals. Became the first Rutgers player to reach 16 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals in a Big Ten game.
Guard — 0 Derek Simpson (6-3, 170, Freshman)
Made a difference late in the season with production off the bench. Had 14 points in the second half in the second half against Indiana and sparked a big comeback against Penn State, scoring 16 points after Rutgers trailed by 19. Moved into the starting lineup against Michigan and scored 13 points.
Guard — 22 Caleb McConnell (6-7, 200, Fifth year)
Two-time winner of the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year award. He shares the honor with Northwestern’s Chase Audige this season. Ranks sixth in the nation in steals (2.6) and has the second-most in program history.
Bench
Forward — 5 Aundre Hyatt (6-6, 227, Junior)
The transfer from LSU returned to the starting lineup after Mag’s injury. He started the first nine games of the season and is currently averaging 9.6 points.
Forward — 13 Antwone Woolfolk (6-9, 250, Freshman)
Forward — 1 Oskar Palmquist (6-8, 220, Junior)
LIGHTNING-ROUND TAKES
• The Boilermakers can’t play from behind against the Scarlet Knights. They trailed by 10 at halftime in January and by as many as 13. Rutgers’ defense is solid and cutting into a lead is difficult, especially in the second half.
• Remember what Matt Painter said after the Scarlet Knights beat Purdue at Mackey Arena, praising the their toughness.
“What Rutgers did tonight didn’t shock the coaching staff. We sold it and sold it and sold it like ‘Hey man, these guys are coming.’ If we were going to war, we’d stop by New Jersey and pick them up, you know what I mean?” Painter said.
“Those cats, they play for keeps. We explained that to them. Right now, we have to learn to play for keeps. Like, you get in that pick-up game and if you lose, you got to wait an hour to get back on there. We don’t want to wait. We want to keep hooping, keep playing. We got to get grimy. We’re not very grimy right now.”
PREDICTION: PURDUE 62, RUTGERS 56
The Boilermakers need their 3-point shooting to come alive since the Scarlet Knights will clog the paint with Omoruyi and their terrific defense, which limited Michigan to 1 of 17 shooting to start the second half Thursday. Purdue made 7 of 23 from 3-point range in the first meeting and Newman had a good look from the top of the key as time expired. Keeping Mulcahy under control is a big key and the Boilermakers should be more aware of Spencer after seeing what he’s done during the Big Ten season.
