More ($): Fearful Predictions — Purdue's 2017-18 season | Stuff That Matters
Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017 • 7 p.m. ET | Imperial Arena (Paradise Islands, Bahamas) | TV: ESPN3 | Radio: Purdue Radio Network
In-game updates: Twitter.com/@GoldandBlackcom
ABOUT THIS GAME
• Purdue is looking to rebound — literally — from its disappointing 78-75 overtime loss to Tennessee is the Battle 4 Atlantis opener. Purdue allowed 41 points off either offensive rebounds or turnovers in the defeat.
• Western Kentucky fell to top-five Villanova 66-58 after trailing by just three at half.
#18 PURDUE BOILERMAKERS (4-1)
Roster | Schedule | Statistics
Projected Starters
C - Isaac Haas (7-2, 290, Sr.)
The Tennessee game was not Haas' finest hour at Purdue, as he was able to get just five shots, finishing with only three rebounds in 24 minutes and was largely outdone by Tennessee's Kyle Alexander. But he will have games the rest of the way where he can dominate. This could be one of them.
F - Vincent Edwards (6-8, 225, Sr.)
The senior was Purdue's best rebounder on a bad rebounding day. He finished with 13 and often did so many positive things as a passer, but also was just 3-of-13 from the floor, with four turnovers. He will have a favorable matchup against Western Kentucky, but he had some, as well, vs. Tennessee that he didn't always take advantage of.
G - Carsen Edwards (6-1, 200, So.)
The sophomore was 5-of-17 vs. Tennessee, scoring his 21 points off volume. He took some quick shots, but that's going to be the cost of doing business with him. He also missed some great looks Purdue will take for him every time.
G- P.J. Thompson (5-10, 185, Sr.)
Thompson made three triples against Tennessee and has shot very well beyond the arc, when the ball finds him. His quick hands on defense have created a bunch of opportunities for Purdue, too.
G - Dakota Mathias (6-4, 200, Sr.)
Mathias did a lot of positive things vs. Tennessee, as he always does, but the four turnovers stand as an outlier, very unlike him. Expect better against Western Kentucky. Most likely, he's madder about the Tennessee game than anybody.
KEY PLAYERS
G —Ryan Cline (6-5, 190, Jr.)
Cline played just 13 minutes against Tennessee, not exactly the starter-type minutes he'd been seeing prior and was expected to. He's not shooting well, strangely, after a great off-season. He missed his only shot vs. UT, but it was a wide-open three, so it stood out.
G — Nojel Eastern (6-6, 220, Fr.)
Tennessee's backcourt pressure was not conducive to Eastern playing much at this stage. And he didn't, playing just four minutes. He might better match up against WKU though.
F — Grady Eifert (6-6, 220, Jr.)
Eifert got just six minutes against Tennessee and its frontcourt athleticism.
C — Matt Haarms (7-3, 250, R-Fr.)
Give Haarms some credit: In a physical basketball game, he finished with four rebounds in 21 minutes and blocked a pair of shots, one of which led to a bucket at the other end. He's been an impact player for Purdue. Jacquil Taylor didn't play against Tennessee, unsurprisingly given his struggles in games prior. He may be a work in progress and being idled in October.
WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS (2-2)
F- 22 Dwight Coleby (6-9, 245, Sr.)
The former Kansas big man — he was with the Jayhawks for their NCAA Tournament win over Purdue last season, though he played sparingly — came to WKU as a grad transfer looking for a bigger opportunity. The native of the Bahamas is making something of it, averaging about 15 and seven rebounds thus far, including 12 and 10 vs. 'Nova.
F- 23 Justin Johnson (6-7, 245, Sr.)
The senior big man is averaging better than 11 rebounds per game. Obviously, rebounding is an emphasis for Purdue, and thus Johnson will be.
G -1 Lamonte Bearden (6-3, 170, Jr.)
The guard is a 14-plus-per-game scorer, but very inefficient thus far, shooting 41 percent and averaging almost four-and-a-half turnovers. He did score 24 against Missouri State earlier.
G - Taveion Hollingsworth (6-2, 165, Fr.)
The former Kentucky Mr. Basketball winner is probably going to be an outstanding player for Western Kentucky. He's shown flashes this season.
G - 15 Darius Thompson (6-4, 190, Sr.)
The former Virginia guard — Purdue recruited him as a transfer — moved to Western Kentucky this offseason as a grad transfer. The long and tall guard made four three on six tries vs. Villanova and scored a team-best 16.
KEY PLAYER
G - Jake Ohmer (6-1, 170, Fr.)
F - Marek Nelson (6-7, 185, Fr.)
PREDICTION: PURDUE 80, WESTERN KENTUCKY 71
Purdue's too good a team to go 0-2 to start a tournament it hoped have great success in. It just is. The guess here is that Wednesday's setback is a temporary one and affects the Boilermakers resolve for the better. For Purdue's sake, it better.
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