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Purdue Basketball: 3 keys to beating Saint Peter’s in Sweet 16 matchup

Mar 20, 2022; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Purdue Boilermakers forward Trevion Williams (50) and Purdue Boilermakers guard Jaden Ivey (23) celebrate the win against the Texas Longhorns 71-81 in the second round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 20, 2022; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Purdue Boilermakers forward Trevion Williams (50) and Purdue Boilermakers guard Jaden Ivey (23) celebrate the win against the Texas Longhorns 71-81 in the second round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
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Trevion Williams Sasha Stefanovic Purdue Basketball (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
Trevion Williams Sasha Stefanovic Purdue Basketball (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)

Purdue Basketball entered the season with lofty expectations, being tabbed the preseason favorite in the Big Ten. But a year marred by defensive lapses and heart-breaking losses, left them in third place in the regular season and runner-ups in the conference tournament.

Despite underachieving, Purdue has put themselves two wins away from reaching a coveted Final Four, which would be the first in Matt Painter’s coaching career. They handled 14 seed Yale in round one, before edging out a win over a tough and physical Texas team in the second round.

Up next is the Cinderella of March this year, the St. Peter’s Peacocks. The Peacocks became the third 15 seed to advance to the Sweet Sixteen, pulling off the upset of the tournament beating Kentucky, then taking down No. 7 seed Murray State. No 15 seed has ever made the Elite Eight and Purdue enters the game as a heavy favorite. Here are the three things I’m looking for the Boilermakers to advance to the Elite Eight.

1. Establish the bigs inside

For the most part, Purdue has had a size advantage all year down low with 7’4 Zach Edey. That size mismatch will be even more apparent with St Peter’s starting center, KC Ndefo, standing at only 6’7. The Peacocks did a good job slowing down Murray State’s big, KJ Williams, holding him to 12 points. But, Oscar Tshiebwe was too much of a mismatch problem, going for 30 points.

But Purdue’s bigs are unlike anything St Peter’s has seen. The duo of Edey and Trevion Williams is averaging a combined 25 points and 13 rebounds this season. In their win over Texas, Purdue looked to establish their bigs early.

The Boilermakers got to the free throw line 46 times, putting the Longhorns in foul trouble. Edey, the more bruising big, finished with 11 points. While back-up center Williams, more of a finesse big, finished with 22. Both Edey and Williams have faced much bigger front-courts this season and should both be fed early and often.

Unlike Texas, St. Peter’s does not have the depth to throw out multiple bigs that can guard Purdue. If Ndefo gets in early foul trouble, that will hurt the Peacocks on both ends and sink their chances of winning tremendously.