More ($): Fearful Predictions — Purdue's 2017-18 season | Stuff That Matters

Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017 • 6:30 p.m. ET | Mackey Arena (West Lafayette, Ind.) | TV: FS1 | Radio: Purdue Radio Network

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• It's been a grueling run for Purdue, six games — all of them important ones — bunched into less than two weeks. Its good news now has been a chance to actually practice once or twice without having to be solely focused on an opponent. The Boilermakers have won four straight and moved back into the top 25, but have escaped a couple close ones at home lately, and VU's unbeaten record indicates a team capable of giving Purdue another such push.

• Leading into its first season in the Missouri Valley, Valpo has opened the season 8-0 under second-year coach Matt Lottich.The Crusaders are No. 83 nationally in the KenPom rankings, receiving votes in the AP poll and widely projected to make the NCAA Tournament, whether as the MVC's automatic qualifier or otherwise.

• Valparaiso is achieving the rare feat of playing 12 players double-digit minutes per game.

Roster | Schedule | Statistics

Projected Starters

C - Isaac Haas (7-2, 290, Sr.)

Haas has been dominant at the offensive end the past two games and has generally been better playing against comparable size. He'll have that opportunity against VU and its two 7-footers, Jaume Sorolla and Derrik Smits. Smits at least may be able to step out and shoot a bit, so that could create a defensive hassle here and there.

F - Vincent Edwards (6-8, 225, Sr.)

The senior's been terrific on the glass this season and obviously a key player on offense with his versatility, but he'd like to be more efficient. His 43-percent shooting is uncharacteristic and his 21 turnovers a team-high.

G - Carsen Edwards (6-1, 200, So.)

Purdue's leading scorer's threes haven't been falling lately. That'll balance itself out before long.

G- P.J. Thompson (5-10, 185, Sr.)

Thompson's most notable roles of late have come in finishing games off at the foul lime, an important job for certain, and one Purdue would like to sidestep these next few games and not have to sweat things out as much.

G - Dakota Mathias (6-4, 200, Sr.)

The senior's probably been one of the most complete and important players in college basketball this season and his defense will be critical against this guard-oriented Valparaiso team, one of the more athletic perimeter groups Purdue's seen this season.

KEY PLAYERS

G —Ryan Cline (6-5, 190, Jr.)

Coming off his best game of the season against Northwestern, Cline hopes he's turned a corner with his shooting after opening the season slowly.

G — Nojel Eastern (6-6, 220, Fr.)

The freshman quietly did some good things against Northwestern, but his minutes are likely to be limited in close games as Purdue rides its veterans.

F — Grady Eifert (6-6, 220, Jr.)

With Vincent Edwards logging big minutes at the 4, opportunities have been infrequent and brief for Eifert lately. That doesn't mean there can't be conditions that exist that change that.

C — Matt Haarms (7-3, 250, R-Fr.)

One of college basketball's most productive shot-blockers and a player who's transformed Purdue this season, Haarms has totally covered for the limitations of upperclassman Jacquil Taylor after he sat out most of preseason practice.

Roster | Schedule | Stats

F- 0 Parker Hazen (6-7, 210, Fr.)

He may not start, as he did in the last game vs. Utah State, but the versatile and athletic freshman forward from Columbia City will play a role. His play thus far has been up and down.

C- 14 Jaume Sorolla (7-0, 245, S0.)

Sorolla gives VU legitimate size to throw at Isaac Haas, or at least height.

G -2 Tevonn Walker (6-2, 210, Sr.)

Valpo's leading scorer averages 17.3 points. He's known as a very good athlete.

G - 4 Bakari Evelyn (6-2, 180, So.)

The Nebraska transfer is VU's point guard. He's averaging 11-and-a-half points. His speed and quickness will be concerns for Purdue.

G - 10 Joe Burton (6-6, 210, Jr.)

KEY PLAYER

F — 5 Markus Golder (6-6, 195, Jr.)

Golder's come off the bench all season and averages double-figures.

C — 21 Derrik Smits (7-2, 240, Jr.)

Another 7-plus-footer, Smits is shooting 73 percent from the floor. He's a mobile post who can shoot jumpers.

G — 3 Max Joseph (6-2, 210, Sr.)

F — 33 John Kiser (6-5, 205, So.)

Obviously, Purdue will need to be on high alert. This is a weird year in college basketball, especially in Indiana. Here's guessing Ball State's win at Notre Dame has been brought up in the past 24 hours or so. But Valparaiso is too good to be overlooked and the Boilermakers too mature, one would think, to not do so. They still have to play better than the Crusaders, though. One thing: VU is not a great jump-shooting team, and big upsets so often involve threes.

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