Boilermaker Breakdown (Ohio State – Feb. 28)

Purdue 75 – Ohio State 50

In total contrast to the game Purdue played at Michigan less than 48 hours before this one, the Boilers used smothering defense to shut down one of the best scoring teams in the Big Ten.

Other than Evan Turner, a strong candidate for Big Ten Player of the Year, no player scored more than seven points for the Buckeyes.

Better yet, Purdue finally showed the offensive balance that it used so well last season as five players scored in double figures.

It was the definition of a rout as the Boilers turned a six point first half lead into a laugher in the second half.

What the Boilers did well 

Shooting from the Field

In one of Purdue’s best shooting games of the season, they made nearly 55 percent from the floor, including 9-of-19 from deep.

A healthy Robbie Hummel opens things up for all other players on the court and it showed in this game. 

Rebounding

In the first meeting between the teams, the Buckeyes out-rebounded the Boilers by 16. The second time around Purdue won the battle by 15.

Ohio State’s zone allowed Purdue to get several long offensive rebounds off of missed threes as they pulled down 13. That was only three fewer total rebounds than they had in the first meeting.

Defense

In another comparison to the first game between the teams, Ohio State’s field goal percentage dropped from 60 percent to just under 44.

Purdue did a much better job down low against B.J. Mullens and gave the Buckeyes few easy baskets. Evan Turner is always going to get his points, but his 14 was still under his season average.

Where the Boilers struggled

Free-Throw Shooting

In a trend that is a bit unsettling, the Boilers continued to struggle from the line. Only 8-of-15 from the stripe is not good and this is going to come back to bite the Boilers eventually.

Player of the Game

Robbie Hummel

This could have gone to several players, but I’ll give it to the game high scorer.

Hummel was his usually efficient self, hitting 6-of-10 shots, pulling down four rebounds, and swiping two steals in 30 minutes of play.

Robbie does so much more than what his numbers show, though. Purdue is just better in all areas of the game when he is on the floor.

Questions for the Future

Which team is going to show up?

With only two regular season games left—is Purdue going to get the team that struggled in Michigan or the one that dominated the Buckeyes?

How will the Boilers’ energy level be now that the Big Ten is (essentially) out of reach?

Purdue would need a miracle to have a shot at the Big Ten title now. Will their intensity level stay up in these last two games that really have no impact on the Big Ten championship?

Where They Stand

I waited to publish this until after the Michigan State/Illinois game due to its impact on the Big Ten title race.

If you are a Purdue fan, the wrong outcome occurred as Illinois made poor decisions in crunch time and let the Spartans leave Champaign with a win.

That leaves Michigan State two games clear of the Boilers with only two games left to play.

Even though the Spartans do have to play Purdue, their other matchup is a trip to last place Indiana. Purdue would need a Hoosier victory to have a shot at the title, but that would require the biggest upset of the year in the Big Ten.

The Boilers can still lock up the second seed in the Big Ten tournament with two victories. However, if Illinois wins their last game at Penn State, Purdue needs to win both their games or Illinois would get the two seed.

The Michigan loss not only hurt Purdue’s Big Ten hopes, but also their NCAA seeding. The Boilers would probably be a five seed today, but a quality win over Michigan State and good showing in the Big Ten tournament could move that up to a four or even a three.

Up Next and Prediction

Purdue has a rematch with Northwestern on Wednesday night in Mackey. The Boilers barely escaped the first meeting after being down 13 points at halftime.

Northwestern plays a 1-3-1 zone defense and employs back cuts and three pointers to score on offense.

Forward Kevin Coble is a potential first-team player in the Big Ten and guard Craig Moore is a sniper from deep.

Northwestern’s zone really frustrated Purdue in the first game, but the Boilers have had better production against other zone defenses since then.

The Wildcats just aren’t as talented as this Purdue team and will be playing in front of a pumped up crowd on senior night. Purdue uses its trademark defense and improved shooting to run away with this one.

Purdue 74 – Northwestern 60