Wisconsin Basketball: 3 keys to beat Purdue in top 10 showdown

Don't forget about Lance Jones

As crucial as Edey is to Purdue's success, sophomore guards Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer have also played important roles for the Boilermakers over the last season-and-a-half. The pair play with a maturity well beyond their years, and have built on last year with another impressive campaign. But now, there's a new guard for defenders to worry about: Lance Jones.

Jones, who played the last four seasons at Southern Illinois before transferring into Purdue before the year, brings the experience and clutch shot-making that was occasionally missing for the Boilermakers last season. Just as important, he's playing efficient basketball, averaging 12.7 points per game on 43% shooting from the field and 36% from three-point territory.

For the Badgers, that means devising a defensive gameplan that counteracts Purdue's trio of guards, while still keeping track of Edey underneath. Wisconsin oftens runs a three-guard lineup anyways, and they'll have to keep that in place. They'll also need to stay home on drives - Smith, Loyer, and Jones can all shoot them out of games if they are left open.

Putting Jones on the line when needed may not be a bad strategy, either. He's improved his free throw shooting this year, up to 75%, but has had his issues with the free ones throughout his career, as a lifetime 68% free throw shooter.