Purdue Basketball Game 14 Preview: Rutgers

Coming off its second unbeaten non-conference season in as many years, top-ranked Purdue resumes Big Ten play looking to open 3-0 in the league after December wins over Minnesota and Nebraska. Rutgers has been a real thorn in the Boilermakers’ side lately, making this a real test to open the 2023 calendar year.

Where: Mackey Arena (West Lafayette)

When: Monday, Jan. 2, 7 p.m. ET

(Note: This game was originally scheduled for Noon)

TV: BTN

Radio: Purdue Sports Network (WAZY locally)

In-game updates: GoldandBlack.com | Twitter @brianneubert

ABOUT THE TEAMS

Purdue: Roster | Schedule | Stats

Rutgers: Roster | Schedule | Stats

NUMBERS AND SUCH

Team	AP	Coaches	NET	KenPom	KenPom Win%
Purdue	1	1	4	6	73%
Rutgers	—	—	21	19	27%

ON #1 PURDUE (13-0, 2-0 B1G)

• Purdue went 11-0 in non-conference play, stretching the program’s regular season non-conference win streak to 24 games.

• The Boilermakers remain top-five nationally in offensive efficiency, per KenPom, despite shooting poorly from three-point range for the better part of December. The past four games, Purdue’s 21-of-98, just 21.4 percent.

PROJECTED PURDUE LINEUPS

Starters

Center — 15 Zach Edey (7-4, 290, Junior)

Probably the best, most influential and most consistent player in college basketball this season, Edey looks to carry over his dominance into the remainder of the Big Ten season, starting with Rutgers, where the need for him to set a physical tone and assert himself on the glass are especially acute.

Forward— 1 Caleb Furst (6-10, 230, Sophomore)

Furst’s presence on the glass and constant motor will be pluses against Rutgers, but the Knights’ interchangeable lineups might also put him in positions where he has to contain wings off the dribble at times. Something to watch for all of Purdue’s forwards.

Guard — 3 Braden Smith (6-0, 180, Freshman)

This will be the most physical defense Purdue’s freshman guards have seen this season, and the most height and length and energy they will encounter in switches. Nothing has fazed Smith all season. This will be another key test.

Guard — 2 Fletcher Loyer (6-4, 185, Freshman)

Same as Smith, but Loyer in particular will face physical tests coming off screens and moving without the ball. It is likely just a matter of time before he breaks out shooting threes, but this won’t be an opponent that’ll make that easy.

Guard/Forward — 25 Ethan Morton (6-7, 215, Junior)

You have to defend and take care of the ball against Rutgers and those are two things Morton’s doing at a really high level this season.

Rotational Reserves

Forward — 0 Mason Gillis (6-6, 230, Junior)

Gillis’ perpetual value — his toughness, physicality and energy — will always be there, but he’s really been an offensive playmaker the past few games, too, attacking closeouts and making things happen off the dribble.

Guard — 5 Brandon Newman (6-5, 200, Junior)

Newman saw some shots fall against Florida A&M. It would be an enormous boost for Purdue if he can do it again against the Scarlet Knights.

Forward/Center — 4 Trey Kaufman-Renn (6-9, 225, Redshirt Freshman)

The redshirt freshman is a destination player for Purdue offensively when he’s on the floor and Zach Edey isn’t. He’s been really productive the past two games as a scorer and drawer of fouls. No reason Purdue shouldn’t want to get him touches against Rutgers.

Guard/Forward — 11 Brian Waddell (6-8, 195, Redshirt Freshman)

Chances are, Waddell’s minutes might start coming and going as matchups come into play in the Big Ten. He’s looked a bit behind the past few games, making you wonder if his past setbacks aren’t now catching up with him more than they did to start this season.

Guard — 14 David Jenkins Jr. (6-1, 200, Senior)

One of the guys in Purdue’s backcourt that Rutgers probably won’t try to bully, but the Knights will probably try to pressure him. It’s imperative that Jenkins and all of Purdue’s guards take care of the ball to the best of their ability. Obviously.

Guard/Forward — 23 Camden Heide (6-7, 205, Freshman)

Heide seems to be set to redshirt this season.

Note: Freshman center Will Berg will redshirt this season.

ON RUTGERS (9-4, 1-1 B1G)

• Rutgers ranks No. 3 nationally in defensive efficiency, according to KenPom, led two of the best individual defensive players in the Big Ten — wing Caleb McConnell and big man Cliff Omoruyi.

Its effective field goal percentage defenses ranked No. 4 nationally and opponents are turning the ball over on a quarter of their possessions. Rutgers opponents shoot just 24.6 percent from three-point range, third-worst nationally.

Only once this season has an opponent scored 70 or more points against Rutgers, the 72 Temple managed in a neutral-site win in November.

Indiana scored just 48 at Rutgers in December and Seton Hall beat Rutgers despite scoring only 45 points. In the first game of the season, Columbia scored 35 points.

• The Scarlet Knights should be 2-0 in the Big Ten, but officiating mistakes at the end of their game at Ohio State led to the Buckeyes winning on a buzzer-beater in Columbus.

RUTGERS LINEUPS

Center — 11 Cliff Omoruyi (6-11, 240, Junior)

One of the most physical and explosive players in the Big Ten, Omoruyi was already a defensive game-changer but has taken a real step offensively this season, leading the Knights at 15 points per game. Purdue will have to keep him off the offensive glass and make sure he’s covered rolling to the rim for lobs.

Guard — 10 Cam Spencer (6-4, 207, Senior)

Spencer is the best shooter on an otherwise poor shooting team, as he’s making 43-plus percent of his threes.

Guard — 4 Paul Mulcahy (6-7, 213, Senior)

A player whose value goes well beyond his modest scoring, Mulcahy may look to leverage his considerable size against Purdue’s smaller guards.

Guard — 22 Caleb McConnell (6-7, 200, Grad)

McConnell’s one of the best wing defenders in college basketball, but who does Rutgers put him on?

Forward — 3 Mawot Mag (6-7, 216, Junior)

What’s tricky about Rutgers is that all these guys are so interchangeable defensively, and Mag’s part of that.

Bench

Guard— 3 Derek Simpson (6-3, 170, Freshman)

Forward — 5 Aundre Hyatt (6-6, 227, Junior)

Forward — 13 Antwone Woolfolk (6-9, 250, Freshman)

LIGHTNING-ROUND TAKES

• Can Rutgers score enough to pull the upset? Defensively, they are the most problematic matchup Purdue has seen this season, but there are no Geo Baker- and Ron Harper-like shot creators on this team, it wouldn’t appear. That’s been just as central a reason to Purdue’s problems against Rutgers than anything.

THREE KEYS FOR PURDUE

rebounding	ball security	physicality
The key to the game by a wide margin, Purdue needs its advantage on the glass to endure against a formidable rebounding team. Omoruyi is a force on the offensive glass. Purdue can’t allow him to be on this night.	All this height and length and tenacity that Rutgers will throw at Purdue in switches will be a real issue if the Boilermakers aren’t the strongest they’ve ever been this season with the ball.	Zach Edey in particular must be the physical tone-setter in this game. Normally it has taken Purdue time to acclimate to Rutgers’ style. Time to turn the tables.

PREDICTION: PURDUE 67, RUTGERS 58

Barring the sort of three-point eruption Purdue’s not displayed in a while — and Rutgers would seem unlikely to allow — scoring won’t come easily for the Boilermakers, making this the sort of game where their strengths to this point must come to the forefront. Taking care of the ball, being attentive on D and hitting the glass. But Rutgers has to score, too, and we’re not sure they have the firepower. That said, Rutgers has been a real nuisance for Purdue the past few years for a reason, and those reasons are largely still in play.