Nojel Eastern not just progressing, but helping Purdue win
More: Eastern growing, learning
Throughout Purdue's season-changing 12-game winning streak, freshman Nojel Eastern has done some positive things.
The difference lately: He's affecting outcomes.
Whereas in many games, the young reserve was showing signs of progress in games Purdue was bound to win regardless, he has factored notably into the Boilermakers winning vs. Nebraska and Michigan the past two games.
Especially Michigan.
In the second half of a game that was ultimately decided by the slimmest of margins, in Purdue's favor, the Boilermakers endured an offensive dry spell that might have cost them the game had their freshman backup point guard not scored on back-to-back putbacks of offensive rebounds — typically the least common avenue of point guard scoring — that saw Purdue through its offensive struggles at that time and kept Michigan at bay a bit longer.
First, Eastern — 6-foot-6, 220 pounds – shook off the smaller guards around him to rebound Ryan Cline's missed three with two hands and lay it back in; next, he shook off Duncan Robinson, Michigan's 4 man, to rebound Vincent Edwards' missed jumper, then tip in his own miss.
Those plays embodied the critical effort-driven contributions made by Purdue's bench, notably Eastern and Grady Eifert, that loomed so large when all was said and done.
“It’s just something you harp on and talk about," Coach Matt Painter said. "When you don’t play as much as those other guys, when you come in, (it’s about) giving us that energy and giving us that spark and both those guys were able to do that."
In the first half, Eifert grabbed an offensive rebound that led to a three-point miss, then dove to steal the rebound of that miss from Michigan, setting up Dakota Mathias' do-over made triple.
Effort produced offense in situations where Purdue might not have had optimal offensive lineups on the floor.
"Especially on the road, you have to steal points somehow," Mathias said. "… That’s what our bench guys do, they come in and play their asses off and it helps us."
Eastern has been central to it.
Against Nebraska, a game Purdue probably wins regardless, but you never know, the rookie used his 10 minutes to grab four rebounds and make two of his three shots, and factored into a defensive effort that stifled Husker point Glynn Watson.
Against Michigan, a game it probably doesn't win otherwise, Purdue needed solid minutes from Eastern with veteran stalwart P.J. Thompson dealing with foul issues, and got it.
In 12 minutes, he delivered four points, five rebounds and an assist, with no turnovers. When Mathias made that three off Eifert's dive, it was Eastern who drew the defense and kicked to him in the corner. The versatile defender's dimensions probably fit well into Purdue's matchup-specific screen-switching, too.
Eastern has really mattered for the Boilermakers on the glass, an area of sensitivity where Purdue needs productivity from anyone and everyone.
Three games in a row now, Eastern's grabbed at least four, with a total of five offensive boards.
For the season, Eastern's averaging a staggering 8.4 rebounds per 40 minutes.
This season's not been a straight line for Eastern, who's had to adjust to fewer minutes as Purdue's leaned on it veterans, but things have turned in his favor lately.
"When you know you did something that affected or helped the team win, it always feels great," Eastern said. "But even the games where (the opponent is) getting blown out and I get more minutes, I'm going to continue to build off that as well, so I can continue to gain confidence and continue to become better as a player."
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