Purdue Basketball: Penn State Preview

No. 1 Purdue (14-1, Big 10 3-1) vs. Penn State (11-4, Big 10 2-2)

January 8, 2023 at 6:00 ET

Palestra, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Television: BTN

roster

Pennsylvania State University under attack

This is a diminutive team that makes the difference between life and death by creating open shots. They usually set all 5 outside the arc without cutting too much paint. This will be difficult against a team the size of the Boilermakers, who are one of the worst offensive rebounding teams in the country. In this matchup, it will take a miracle for the Nittany Lions to score many second chance points. In other words, they can make better shots.

But when it comes to size, Nittany Lions guards like Jalen Pickett are very physical in the paint, stomping their bodies against seven-foot lows before creating their own step-back jumpers. It shows that it can be upgraded. It’s not small, just a little short.

But they are a great shooting team both off the field and off the foul line. Penn State ranks 16th in field goal percentage shot and has a 77% free throw percentage, which puts him 22nd in the nation. But here’s the problem. Purdue doesn’t foul much, tends to force bad shots, and close offensive players like space.

With a similarly sized hybrid guard/forward revolving door, Purdue has one of the best shooting backcourts in the conference to watch. Another thing to keep in mind: Penn State ranks #1 in college hoops when it comes to avoiding turnover, and their turnover rate combined with their shooting prowess makes it an offensive You can almost deny his miserable display of rebounding.

Pennsylvania State University on Defense

The presence of paint simply does not exist. They close out their shots well and honestly. Don’t give up too many shots that need to be closed out. But with a smaller lineup, they can give up space to the big teams, bring points to both the center and double teams, and allow the center to kick the ball out to open shooters. That’s always great for Purdue.

In a recent 79-69 loss to Michigan, Penn State tucked a lion’s tail between its legs near the crease. Michigan’s 7-foot-1 center Hunter Dickinson doesn’t do much that 1-foot-4 Zach Eady can’t replicate or improve.

They are great at communicating defender switching with off-the-ball movement, and Purdue also relies heavily on this. But they… break down in the paint every time they face a dominant center. They always have to gamble on whether or not to let more than one guy stick with Edy, and if you double him on your team, you can find an open shooter. Or give him what he wants to see in the paint and take a chance hoping he misses if Purdue hits his shot open outside (this has been said before I think), Penn State will stick to the defense.

X Factor – Sales

Penn State has been better at protecting the ball than any team in the country all season and I expect them to definitely reach out. What would you need to do to beat the ?…..create them.

On the good side of the spectrum, if Braden Smith remains a defensive pest and can steal some possessions against Penn State, Nittany Lyons will have a chance against the boilermakers. would require a record night in terms of rate of fire.

predict

Kempom

Purdue – 70

Pennsylvania – 65

Confidence 33%

Galette

Purdue – 78

Pennsylvania – 66

See, Penn State are pretty good with their brand of small balls, but they play tight, clean defense, they’re bigger in position, just as mobile. It also helps that Purdue has Zach Edey and isn’t.