B10 Tournament Preview: #7 Purdue vs. #2 Nebraska

Purdue dealt with enterprise on Thursday night time, taking down the Northwestern Wildcats 81-68 within the third spherical of the Big Ten Tournament in Chicago.
It was Braden Smith’s brilliance (16 assists) and Oscar Cluff’s physicality (19 factors, 10 rebounds) that set the tempo for Purdue.
Purdue’s protection and offense had been each working within the first half because it units its sights on #2 seed Nebraska within the Quarterfinals of the Big Ten Conference Tournament on Friday Night.
But very like the one matchup between Purdue and Nebraska this season, Purdue noticed a giant lead dwindle within the second half towards the Wildcats. But towards Northwestern, Purdue caught a backside of the convention Wildcats crew with out its beginning heart whereas taking part in its third video games in three days. Northwestern by no means had the firepower to maintain tempo with an offense that continues to hum at full velocity regardless of one ultimate sensible efficiency from senior Nick Martinelli who performed his final school recreation.
That will not be the case on Friday when Purdue takes on the second-seeded Nebraska Cornhuskers who took Purdue to time beyond regulation, erasing a 24-point Boilermaker lead within the second half of the crew’s solely matchup this season.

A glance again at Purdue at Nebraska:

Purdue took an outrageous quantity of threes towards Nebraska. Nebraska’s overloaded, hold the ball out of the paint protection meant that Purdue bought appears to be like from the perimeter and it took them. 46 instances Purdue shot from distance, and it wasn’t notably environment friendly at them. Purdue made simply 13 of these makes an attempt, a mark beneath 30%, however a part of why its three level capturing numbers had been so excessive was as a result of Purdue dominated on the glass.

Purdue had 21 offensive rebounds towards Nebraska, together with 10 offensive rebounds from Oscar Cluff. Purdue out rebounded Nebraska 54-37 for the sport. That edge on the glass was the explanation Purdue may maintain on in time beyond regulation towards the Cornhuskers.
Nebraska did not do something notably effectively towards Purdue, capturing simply 12 of 32 from three, dropping on the glass, and turning the ball over 14 instances, however its protection tightened up late holding Purdue to simply 80 factors on the finish of time beyond regulation after giving up 40 factors within the first 20 minutes of motion.
Pryce Sandfort scored 15 factors, Jamarques Lawrence had 16 factors, and Rienk Mast had 18, together with nailing a pair large threes late to even the sport on the finish of the second half.
Both groups wish to make up for disappointing finishes to the season

Purdue was 6-7 in its ultimate 13 video games, accounting for all its losses in convention play after successful its first seven convention video games.
Nebraska was 6-5 over its final 11 video games after successful its first 9 convention video games of the season.
With the 2 dropping within the Big Ten standings, each groups will get an opportunity to realize momentum heading into the NCAA Tournament and doubtlessly enhance their seeds within the NCAA Tournament the place each groups are thought-about competing for a 3 seed.

Braden Smith’s monster night time places all-time help document in sight.

Smith had 16 assists on Thursday, tying his career-high in assists. That means Smith is simply 31 assists shy of Bobby Hurley’s all-time help mark.
At Smith’s season tempo of simply over 8 assists per recreation, that leaves Smith probably needing 4 video games to get to the mark until he has one other night time like he did on Thursday. Nebraska’s deny the paint philosophy means there’s loads of open shooters for Smith to seek out. If Purdue has an honest capturing night time, Smith may threaten that 16 help mark for a second straight recreation. Smith had 10 assists within the common season matchup towards Nebraska when nobody for Purdue may hit a shot.

With a giant help recreation, Smith may very well be taking a look at setting the document within the Big Ten Tournament Finals or the primary or second spherical within the NCAA Tournament.