GOLDANDBLACK.COM PREVIEW: # 12 Purdue vs. Penn State



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Saturday, February 16, 2019 • 4 p.m. AND | Mackey Arena (West Lafayette) | TV: BTN | Radio: Purdue Radio Network

Updates in the game: Twitter.com – @GoldandBlackcom | @brianneubert

You will find our high quality thread and our pre-game thoughts about an hour before the game.

ABOUT THIS GAME

On January 31, Purdue won the first meeting between these two teams, 99-90, at State College, but it took a decisive bucket at the end of the regulation to force overtime, which the Boilermakers then dominated.

Carsen Edwards scored 38 points and Ryan Cline made six of the three trios, but that was not nearly enough. Penn State made 41 free throws, 18 offensive rebounds and 24 points from Lamar Stevens to remain without a win in the Big Ten. Since then he has been won at Northwestern and has just got angry at the co-leader of Big Ten Michigan.

• Ryan Cline is 15 out of 27 after three career games out of six with Penn State, but in the last four games – all very competitive, Purdue wins – he's 13 out of 20. He's been a key player in the Boilermakers win in occupational therapy at State College two seasons ago. He made two thirds in overtime to lead Purdue to an exhausting victory. Last year, he won two wins in a tight Boilermaker victory at Mackey Arena, and this season his 20 points were decisive for another Purdue victory.

More: Purdue's approach to the season shaped by data

Listing | Program | Statistics

Projected rotation

50 C Trevion Williams (6-9, 280, Fr.)

The great freshman has played such an important role in the success of Purdue, but the Boilermakers need him on the ground and are well established on the offensive. Foul problems are a recent problem. Purdue must keep Penn State out of criticism, and Williams' presence on Mike Watkins would be helpful.

24 F Grady Eifert (6-6, 220, Sr.)

Purdue will have to do a good job defending Lamar Stevens, and the 4 men will be part of it. Stevens was only 4 out of 13 from the surface at State College, but Purdue could not keep him off the line, where he was 14 of 17.

14 G / F Ryan Cline (6-6, 195, Sr.)

It may be Penn State's last encounter with Cline and he will haunt Pat Chambers' dreams at night if he has another big game against the Nittany Lions.

20 G Nojel Eastern (6-6, 220, so)

Purdue has to consolidate the defensive glass and, to do this, Eastern represents a big part of the effort. That said, Purdue was still working on the boards of the Bryce Jordan Center, even with his leader who captured 10 rebounds. Few teams can match his physical presence as a rebounder. Defensively, Purdue will want to do a better job of holding Rasir Bolton and Myles Dread after scoring eight shots in the opening game, but you also wonder if Purdue has thought about putting his best defender on Stevens.

3 G Carsen Edwards (6-1, 200, Jr.)

The match at State College was one of those evenings for the All-American Purdue, but scored 38 out of 50 shots, but he also played on time, and maybe as well as the Boilermakers took a good start shooting.

KEY PLAYERS

32 C – Matt Haarms (7-3, 250, So.)

Haarms has not experienced his best game in Maryland, and Penn State offers an opportunity to bounce – in no other capacity – against another physical forward ground. Haarms was an important player in the match and OT in the first game against Penn State.

1 F Aaron Wheeler (6-9, 200, R-Fr.)

The first rookie was a valuable weapon to stretch the ground for Purdue, but he is only 2 out of 13, out of three since he was 3-in-3 against Michigan State five games ago. It's a safe bet that when he burst, it will happen at home, where he had his greatest shooting games.

2G Eric Hunter (6-3, 170, Fr.)

Hunter does not report a lot of minutes, but it has now been three consecutive games that he has not experienced any change. It's pretty decent for a freshman who plays a leader in his first stint in the Big Ten.

55 G Sasha Stefanovic (6-4, 195, R-Fr.)

In the first meeting with Penn State, Stefanovic made two first jumpers in a match in which, obviously, each point counted.

12 Evan Boudreaux (6-8, 220, Jr.)

Boudreaux lost all that had happened, giving Purdue solid first half minutes in Maryland against a tough game.

Listing | Program | Statistics

C – 24 Mike Watkins (6-9, 254, Jr.)

One of Big Ten's best rebounders, Watkins is a physical and aggressive presence on the glass with which Purdue has always struggled.

F – 11 Lamar Stevens (6-8, 230, Jr.)

G – 23 Josh Reaves (6-5, 214, Sr.)

G – 5 Jamari Wheeler (6-1, 170, therefore)

G – 2 Myles Dread (6-4, 215, Fr.)

The rookie guard scored four goals against Purdue the first time and just put five on Michigan.

KEY PLAYERS

G – 13 Rasir Bolton (6-2, 180, Fr.)

F – 21 John Harrar (6-9, 243, So.)

G – 0 Myreon Jones (6-3, 170, Fr.)

Penn State probably will not shoot like at State College and will certainly not throw 40 free throws at the Mackey Arena. Purdue must be on guard and bring the best on defense, but the Boilermakers have been too good at home this season to think it could be upset.

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