Big Ten Basketball: Conference tournament preview and predictions
3. Purdue Boilermakers
It has been a tale of different season for the Boilermakers in 2015-16. The Boilers jumped out to a 12-1 non-conference start with victories over Florida and at Pittsburgh. This fueled talk of a Big Ten championship, but the Boilers stammered to a 9-5 conference record with a curious loss to Illinois and championship defining wins wasted against Iowa (2x), at Maryland and at Michigan.
In the last four games, Purdue has seemed to find its grove back, going 3-1 with victories over Maryland and Wisconsin. They have the talent and size to make a run to a Big Ten Tournament championship, but can they put it together for all three games to make it happen?
If Purdue is going to make a run they will do so using an advantage they have possessed all season: their size.
Purdue is one of the biggest teams in all of D1 with first-team All-Big Ten senior center A.J. Hammons anchoring the middle. All Big Ten Freshman Caleb “Biggie” Swanigan mans the power forward position and was one of the Big Ten’s leading rebounders (8.2 a game). 6’8″ versatile forward sophomore Vince Edwards has picked it up recently averaging 14 a game over his last three. Oh, and A.J. Hammons’ back-up? That would be 7’2″ sophomore Isaac Haas.
Purdue killed nearly every team on the boards this season, leading the conference in defensive rebounding and finishing second in offensive rebounding and rebounding margin. But, how well to they stack up to smaller, quicker teams? Saturday should offer a good test for that.
If Purdue gets by Iowa for the first time this season, arch-rival Indiana waits. The teams have only met once in the Big Ten Tournament (1998) and it seems appropriate they would meet this year given they only played once in the regular season.
That game was in Bloomington and Indiana won 77-73 with the teams playing two very different styles. Indiana shot 28 three-pointers and hit 12, while Purdue shot 58% from the field on close shots around the basket. The difference in the first meeting? Purdue turned the ball over 14 times to IU’s four and the Hoosiers surprisingly held their own on the boards only losing the rebounding battle 26-28.
If Purdue is to get by IU, they will need to cut back on turnovers and chase Indiana off the three-point line. Easier said than done, which is why I think Indiana slips by Purdue to get to the championship game against the Spartans. This IU/Purdue match-up will be must-watch TV.
Next: 2. Indiana Hoosiers