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Well, before the second weekend has even started, only one Big East team remains in the NCAA Tournament. Nevertheless, Villanova will attempt to make their third Sweet Sixteen since 2016. All that stands in the Wildcats’ way is the 3rd seeded Purdue Boilermakers.
Game Info
Time: 8:40 PM ET
Location: Hartford, Connecticut
TV: TNT
Stream: March Madness Live
Spread: Purdue -4
Scouting Purdue
Coach Matt Painter once again has his Boilermakers churning in March. After beating Old Dominion in fairly comfortable fashion, Purdue has their eyes set on Villanova.
Purdue is a very good offensive team. They love to shoot the three-ball, seeing as about 38% of their total points on the season have come from beyond the arc. Senior guard Ryan Cline leads the team from distance, shooting 40% from three.
Furthermore, Purdue is a very good offensive rebounding team. They get an offensive rebound on 34% of their missed shot opportunities. Senior forward Grady Eifert has averaged about 2 offensive rebounds per contest. Also, the Boilermakers are a very effective offensive team because they rarely turn the ball over.
They are led by junior guard Carsen Edwards who averages 23 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. He was an unanimous selection on the All-Big Ten First Team. He is a playmaker that needs to be kept in check. His matchup against Phil Booth will be very intriguing.
Defensively, the Boilermakers defend the two-point shot very well. They can block out shots, they can turn opponents over, and stop many opponents at the basket. The best way to attack the Purdue defense is to work for open three-point shots, and hit them consistently.