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Takeaways—impressive win at Iowa

On3 imageby: Brian Neubert02/16/26brianneubert

IOWA CITY, Iowa — In another big game, Purdue again showed up big, dominating from start to finish in a 78-57 win at Iowa in a sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Our GoldandBlack.com post-game analysis from the win …

PDF: Purdue-Iowa statistics

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REBOUNDING IS A GAME-CHANGER

Rebounding is not just nice a complementary element for Purdue right now. It is the foundational pillar everything else is falling in place around. It’s the biggest difference, among several, between losing-streak Purdue and winning streak Purdue.

The Boilermakers are defending at a high level and must sustain that standard, but the most important of defense is possessing the ball when you’re done. Purdue is finishing defensively.

Trey Kaufman-Renn and Oscar Cluff deserve obvious credit for their work on the glass, but this has not been a team-wide deal, and the conversion from defense to offense has been deadly. Stops — rebounds, blocks, steals — create tempo and offensive advantages, advantages Purdue tortured Iowa with on Saturday.

The way Purdue has played the past two games, rebounding has been its foremost strength. If that can be maintained to a meaningful extent, look out.

FINISHING THE JOB

Notable in this win at Iowa is that Purdue dominated the start of the game, dominated the final 10 minutes of the game, dominated the start of the second half and finished strong when nothing really mattered. There was never any let-up.

Consistency had been an issue for Purdue during the losing streak, and I think Saturday’s win in Iowa was a situation where Purdue played at a certain level and did it for basically 40 minutes.

This was a great crowd at Iowa, but Purdue never allowed it much to cheer about.

There were no lulls, no complacency, no boredom, no vanity. Just business.

This is what teams this good and this experienced ought to look like.

DEFENDING BENNETT STIRTZ

Bennett Stirtz is one of the stars of college basketball, but in two games against Purdue this season, the Boilermakers have made him look very ordinary. During the decisive first half, Stirtz was a non-factor, a credit to Purdue’s defensive game plan and execution and the reality that none of Stirtz’s teammates stepped up as they did in Mackey Arena.

Had Iowa just been able to finish at the rim …

Braden Smith, Gicarri Harris, CJ Cox all did good work guarding Stirtz, but give the bigs credit to. Their help on the perimeter was a central piece of the puzzle.

But team-wide, Purdue has been very energetic and active on defense. It sounds simple, but its hands have been up in passing lanes and up in peoples’ personal space when applicable and closeouts have been lively.

Matchups like Stirtz require everyone’s attention, great chemistry and attention to detail and, of course, rebounds.

DEALING WITH PHYSICALITY

With Michigan and Michigan State coming up next, Purdue is trending really well in its physicality up front. That’s not just rebounding, but also scoring through contact, drawing fouls and holding position, as well as not losing its cool when things get nasty.

Across the board, Purdue seems to be in a pretty good place mentally and physically.

Kaufman-Renn’s leadership in this area looms large.

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