Force the Boilermakers inside but avoid foul trouble
As mentioned prior, Purdue does a little bit of everything just right. But something they do very well as a whole is shooting it from deep at the moment. Their entire starting five shoots it at a rate of 45.5% on 7.2 made attempts a game.
On the other side of the ball, the Tigers allow only about 18.6 three-point attempts a game. They also defend it well as their opponents only sink about 5.8 a game at only 31.2%. If Auburn can take away the three or at least stifle it, Purdue will be forced to take their offense inside the arc. This isn't their strong suit, even though they make 55.5% of their two-point field goals, good enough for 99th in the country.
Purdue also heads to the line a fair amount with 22.1 attempts a game. However, they only knocked them down at a rate of 72.4%, which placed them in the middle of the pack nationally. If Auburn can limit their effectiveness from deep while forcing them inside for tough shots without fouling, it will be easier said than done without Broome, but a "neutral" court win is highly likely.
This is a big game, with big-time repercussions if not executed properly come selection Sunday in March. As current No. 1 ranked Tennessee has an in-state match up with Middle Tennessee State. The Volunteers are undefeated at the moment, but a win over the Big Ten front runner might carry more weight when it's time to decide No. 1 seeds for the Big Dance.