UVA Basketball: Keys to beating Purdue in the Elite Eight
3. Own the glass – especially defensively
Rebounding is possibly the only facet of this matchup where Purdue has the statistical advantage. And while Virginia is far from a poor rebounding team – they are actually among the best – Purdue is flat-out elite in this category. The Boilermakers feature three different players who average over five rebounds per game and their offensive (34.7% – 19th) and defensive (73.5% – 97th) rebounding rates are both near the tops of the country. Purdue has won the rebounding battle in 28 of their 35 games so far this season and they have also posted 12 games with at least a +10 advantage on the glass.
With this said, Virginia will need to be at their best on the glass in order to walk away victorious. And while several areas of basketball focus on individual performances, rebounding is a team effort. It is impossible to be a high-quality rebounding team, especially on the defensive glass, without the entire unit working towards the same goal. This means that the Cavaliers will need to remain fundamental on missed shots by finding a body to box out and then seeking out the ball after it caroms off the rim.
In general, the Cavaliers have done a superb job on the glass this season but this will be one of their toughest matchups in that category. The Boilermakers boast several excellent rebounders that need to be kept off the glass. Additionally, it is important to note that UVa will need to be prepared for long rebounds as Purdue will likely attempt a ton of 3-pointers (as already discussed). The Cavaliers might not need to outrebound the Boilermakers in order to win this game but they cannot allow endless second-chance opportunities.
Reranking the Sweet 16 teams. dark. Next
This will definitely be the toughest test for Virginia basketball so far in the NCAA Tournament. After facing a couple of defensive-minded teams in their last two games, the Cavaliers’ defense will certainly be challenged in this one by the flamethrowing Boilermakers. If, though, UVa is able to contain Purdue’s shooters and avoid giving up too many second-chance buckets, they should walk away victorious. Oh, and maybe a couple of Kyle Guy bombs might help.
Final Prediction: Virginia Cavaliers – 69, Purdue Boilermakers 65.