More ($): Fearful Predictions — Purdue's 2017-18 season | Stuff That Matters
Big Ten Tournament semifinal
Saturday, March 3 2018 • 4:30 p.m. ET | Madison Square Garden (New York City) | TV: CBS | Radio: Purdue Radio Network
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ABOUT THIS GAME
• Purdue advanced to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals by overcoming a first-half deficit to beat Rutgers 82-75. Penn State did so by beating Ohio State — for the third time this season – 69-68 in the finals seconds.
• These two teams' lone meeting of the season was just played two weeks ago, a 76-73 Purdue win in Mackey Arena that saw the Lions split a pair of free throws in the final seconds when it needed both to tie.
Purdue did play that game without senior Vincent Edwards, who's since returned and scored 26 against Rutgers.
• Penn State is without big man Mike Watkins due to injury. He's one of the Big Ten's top rebounders. But he was a non-factor at Purdue due to foul trouble. Still, Penn State feels his loss.
• This is a meeting between the two of the league's three first-team All-Big Ten guards in Purdue's Carsen Edwards, who's ending the season on a tear, and Penn State's Tony Carr, the conference's leading scorer.
PURDUE BOILERMAKERS (27-5)
Roster | Schedule | Statistics
Projected Starters
C - Isaac Haas (7-2, 290, Sr.)
Purdue will want to take advantage of Penn State's backup big men here, but they also need a rebounding presence. Purdue struggled on the glass when he was on the bench due to foul trouble vs. Rutgers. Ball-screen D on Tony Carr is important here, too, and Haas has to be a big part of that.
F - Vincent Edwards (6-8, 225, Sr.)
Edwards looked great against Rutgers, but the back-to-back games will be a test of his ankle.
G - Carsen Edwards (6-1, 200, So.)
The sophomore put 27 on Penn State last time, which is sort of what he's doing to everybody these days.
G- P.J. Thompson (5-10, 185, Sr.)
Thompson often guarded Garner last time and had some threes made over him. He'll see Carr, too, at times. Thompson made some big shots and big defensive plays vs. Rutgers.
G - Dakota Mathias (6-4, 200, Sr.)
Mathias is shooting the ball at a really high level right now and made some plays off the bounce vs. Rutgers, as well. He looks like he's peaking at the right time.
KEY PLAYERS
G —Ryan Cline (6-5, 190, Jr.)
Cline played a key role in Purdue's win over Penn State last time, with seven points off the bench, and important shots.
G — Nojel Eastern (6-6, 220, Fr.)
Eastern did a solid job on Carr in the first meeting.
F — Grady Eifert (6-6, 220, Jr.)
His role won't be the same but Eifert's six points and four boards against Penn State last time made a difference.
C — Matt Haarms (7-3, 250, R-Fr.)
Rutgers was a really physical game around the basket and that didn't play to Haarms' strengths at this stage of the season.
PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (22-12)
G- 10 Tony Carr (6-5, 204, So.)
The Big Ten's top scorer in league play is a pro, with size, tight ball-handling and the ability to get shots off whenever he wants. He'll make plays for others off the attention he draws, too. Purdue held him to 8-of-22 shooting in Mackey Arena.
G -33 Shep Garner (6-2, 196, Sr.)
Garner made five threes against Purdue in the last meeting.
G - 23 Josh Reaves (6-4, 210, Jr.)
Reaves is one of the Big Ten's elite defenders, but a chunk of Carsen Edwards' 27 came against him in the last meeting.
C - 21 John Harrar (6-9, 243, Fr.)
Penn State started the rookie in Watkins' place against Ohio State, but he played just 11 minutes.
F- 11 Lamar Stevens (6-8, 226, So.)
Stevens is athletic and talented and very productive, but his second-half struggles were part of Purdue overcoming a sizeable first half deficit.
KEY PLAYERS
G - 4 Nazeer Bostick (6-4, 203, So.)
More size and athleticism in the backcourt for Penn State.
F - 44 Julian Moore (6-10, 248, Sr.)
Moore hurt Purdue off the bench in Mackey Arena, with six points on 3-of-3 shooting.
G - 5 Jamari Wheeler (6-1, 170, Fr.)
Wheeler didn't play much against Purdue last time but he can be disruptive defensively and Purdue must avoid turnovers.
PREDICTION: PURDUE 80, PENN STATE 72
Last game between these two teams was a toss-up at the end, but Vincent Edwards really matters, and even though he was a non-factor vs. Purdue, so does the loss of Mike Watkins. Purdue made threes in the second half vs. Rutgers. Maybe that carries over.
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