'That was a great sign for us' Foul trouble sidelined Zach Edey, but Purdue flourished
WEST LAFAYETTE – What should’ve been the game-deciding moment happened with the leading candidate for National Player of the Year on the bench with two fouls on Sunday.
Zach Edey and the sellout crowd of 14,876 at Mackey Arena watched Purdue steamroll Illinois during the last five minutes before halftime, using a 21-5 run to take control. It was the positive signs of all positive signs to end the regular season and head into the postseason on a huge wave of momentum.
But the Boilermakers were forced to hang on after the Fighting Illini stormed back from 24 points down to tie the score with 1:17 left. Purdue finally prevailed, outlasted Illinois and now moves to the next stage of the season as the Big Ten tournament’s No. 1 seed after winning the league title by three games.
The fifth-ranked Boilermakers face either Michigan or Rutgers in Friday’s quarterfinals (noon, BTN) at the United Center in Chicago.
As worrisome as the second half was from Purdue’s perspective, don’t ignore what happened to close out the first 20 minutes.
“I was so ecstatic how well we played without him,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said. “That was a great sign for us. You get into foul trouble, and you worry about it, and we grew that lead.”
Sparked by the defense Brandon Newman and Ethan Morton – they combined for seven steals Sunday – Purdue showcased its transition game for one of few times during the Big Ten season.
Newman and Braden Smith made transition 3-pointers. The Boilermakers got to the rim, out-hustling the Illini’s defense, and Edey’s backup – Trey Kaufman-Renn – was solid on the block once again.
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Purdue made its last six shots before halftime and converted 7 of 8 with its star player on the bench.
“It’s awesome when you make shots,” Smith said. “We’ve had games where we haven’t made them, and we’ve had games where we’ve shot it good.”
The first half was one of those extended good moments with Edey watching from the sidelines.
But it wasn’t just about the offense.
The Boilermakers were active defensively from the opening tip. Newman had two steals in the first minute, and Purdue finished with 11, the second time this season it has recorded double-digit steals.
Mason Gillis, Fletcher Loyer, Smith, and Kaufman-Renn also had steals before halftime. Purdue generated 14 points directly off the seven steals in the first half.
“Our activity with our hands, and it’s from our perspective, and I think (Illinois coach Brad Underwood) would look at it as being careless, where we look at it as good D,” Painter said. “I thought our guys’ hands were really good at that time, the last four, five minutes of the first half. We generated some layups, step-in 3s, and really built the momentum for that lead.”
