The two best offenses in the country will battle it out in Mackey Arena on a frigid Saturday afternoon when the #4 Purdue 17-2 (7-1) play host to #11 Illinois 16-3 (7-1). Both teams come into this game hobbling from a loss. For Purdue, it’s a simple matter of scoreboard. After struggling against USC last […]
The two best offenses in the country will battle it out in Mackey Arena on a frigid Saturday afternoon when the #4 Purdue 17-2 (7-1) play host to #11 Illinois 16-3 (7-1).
Both teams come into this game hobbling from a loss. For Purdue, it’s a simple matter of scoreboard. After struggling against USC last weekend, UCLA got the better of Purdue on Tuesday, handing Purdue its first conference loss of the season on a last second Tyler Bilodeau three-pointer.
For Illinois, the loss is less permanent but more impactful for todays game. Star two-way guard, Kylan Boswell, is injured and will be out for the next month for the Fighting Illini.
Both teams are now tied in second in the Big Ten with Michigan as part of the one loss crowd chasing the undefeated Nebraska Cornhuskers. Both teams will have their shots at the Cornhuskers in the coming weeks, but first, they’ll look to plant themselves at the top of the Big Ten instead of falling behind even further in the conference race.
There’s a cold front coming across the country and West Lafayette will be in single digits when this one gets going, but on the court, Illinois has overtaken Purdue as the best offense in the country. Purdue, before its trip out west, had been running away with most offensive metrics.
Now the two best offenses will try to get hot to keep up with the other.
Broken hand keeps Boswell out
Kylan Boswell injured his right hand in practice about a week ago. The fracture will now keep Boswell off the floor for Illinois for about the next month. That does mean Boswell will be back in plenty of time for the NCAA Tournament, but Illinois attempts to win a stacked Big Ten Conference just got a whole lot harder. Illinois was fine handling Maryland at home on Wednesday, but it’s about to play five games in the next two weeks including games at Purdue, at Nebraska, and at Michigan State.
Even with Boswell, Illinois would do well for itself to win just one of those three trips on the road.
Boswell is Illinois’ best and most experienced defenders. Now it will have to trey to handle Braden Smith without him and Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears. Arguably those are the two best pure point guards in the country.
Big guard big problems
Andrej Stojakovic is one of the biggest guards in the country, capable of handling the ball, shooting, and getting to the rim. At 6-7, Stojakovic will present a lot of problems for the Boilers who lack elite size on the perimeter. No matter who it puts on Stojakovic, it will likely be giving up size.
Purdue’s goal will be simple in concept, impossible in action – keep Stojakovic out of the paint.
Stojakovic is shooting over 60% inside the perimeter, and less than 30% from three. Purdue will want to turn Stojakovic into a jump shooter. Expect CJ Cox to get this matchup and try to harass and get into Stojakovic’s dribble before he get in motion or into actions though it’s possible Purdue will want to try to put size on Stojakovic as well.
Keaton Wagler and Braden Smith duel
As good as Stojakovic is, it’s Keaton Wagler that gets things going for Illinois.
Purdue will have to rely on Braden Smith’s defense in this one as much as his offense. Wagler is how Illinois’ myriads of offensive threats get the ball where they’re most dangerous. Smith has improved his defense this season, particularly on ball, but Purdue still prefers to put Cox on the most dangerous ball handler. It won’t have that luxury with Cox dealing with the Stojakovic problem.
This game might just come down to who is more impactful on both sides of the ball between Wagler and Smith. Smith’s always been great about forcing turnovers, but his continued improvement on and off ball and being a solid defender will be tested.
True stretch bigs will make Purdue’s bigs uncomfortable
David Mirkovic and Tomislav Ivisic are two of the most stretch bigs in the country.
Ivisic offers a bit more inside and outside game, but both bigs prefer to attack with their jumper from deep. Mirkovic is shooting 37% on 68 three point attempts and Ivisic is shooting nearly 37% on 71 attempts.
Purdue has struggled this season in instances playing five out where it’s susceptible to cuts all over the court and lose its rim protection at the rim. Purdue has relied heavily on Oscar Cluff inside to protect the rim and Trey Kaufman-Renn to be an elite rebounder from the four position.
If both are asked to defend in space and on the perimeter, Purdue will needs its guards to rebound. It will also be a lot of ask of Purdue’s primary big back up, Daniel Jacobsen, who has played a more traditional role on the defensive end. In the last few games, Purdue has been asking Jacobsen to hedge more and play out towards the perimeter on pick and rolls, but against Illinois, all of Purdue’s bigs won’t just be pulled out by pick and roll action. Mirkovic adn the Ivisic’s are threats from the perimeter off ball as well.
Illinois isn’t elite shooting in efficiency, but volume, and then it uses that threat to attack and get to the hoop where it will draw fouls to get to the line. Purdue will be tested by a frenetic Illinois team that plays Brad Underwoods system that involves playing fast, lots of threes, lots of isolations, and lots of pressure on the defense from all five spots on the floor.
In some ways, Purdue will look to control the game and pace with its offense. It will lean on Smith and its bullies inside to play controlled. Purdue will need to shoot well after struggling to knock down shots on its west coast trip.
But with the two best offenses on the floor, no score is going to be safe.
This should be a good one, folks.
Category: General Sports
