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Purdue vs. IUPUI prediction and game preview for when the Boilermakers host the Jaguars in West Lafayette, Ind.
September 26, 2016
Date: Monday, Dec. 7
Game Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Mackey Arena, West Lafayette, Ind.
Network: ESPNU
Online Live Stream: Watch ESPN, Purdue Radio Live Stream
This one is shaping up to be just another win for No. 11 Purdue. The Boilermakers are 8-0 going into this one, having beaten New Mexico on Saturday 70-58 for their eighth win of the season.
Head coach Matt Painter has his team ranked 10th in total rebounds with 368 and fifth in defensive rebounds with 267, so it’ll definitely be a challenge trying to box out the Boilermakers.
IUPUI is up for the challenge though — maybe. The Jaguars are 3-6 on the season, but their latest game ended with a 78-64 win against Miami (Ohio) to snap a four-game losing streak.
The Mackey Arena will surely be rocking for this one.
To reiterate, the Boilermakers clean glass with the best of them. Caleb Swanigan and A.J. Hammons are combining for an average of 17 rebounds per game for Purdue, and they’re also combining for 20.8 points per game. So, those are definitely two key contributors to a Purdue win. IUPUI has turned the ball over 139 times already this season, so Painter will stress, to his guys, the importance of pressuring the ball handler and playing the passing lanes.
If the Jaguars find a way to crash the offensive glass and pick up some second-chance points, they might be in it. Darell Combs and his 15.3 points per game need to lead the way offensively for IUPUI, but he’l need help from Nick Osborne, who is averaging just shy of a double-double with 8.7 points and seven rebounds per game. Crashing the boards and protecting the basketball will definitely put IUPUI in a good spot.
Purdue is going to win. It’s as simple as that. The Boilermakers are just too tough on the boards, and they force their opponents into shooting too low a three-point percentage for the Jaguars to hang around for too long. IUPUI won’t make it too easy on Painter’s crew, but Purdue is going to pull away sooner than later and win the game.
Robert Judin: Purdue 81, IUPUI 63
Line: Purdue -21, o/u: 137.5