Purdue Basketball Game 3 Preview: Marquette

Purdue basketball faces its first major test of the 2022-2023 season Tuesday night, as Marquette visits Mackey Arena. Here’s our full breakdown of the Boilermakers’ Gavitt Games matchup.

Where: Mackey Arena (West Lafayette, Ind.)

Event: Gavitt Games

When: 8:30 p.m. ET

TV: FS1

Radio: Purdue Sports Network (WAZY locally)

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

ABOUT THE TEAMS

Purdue: Roster | Schedule | Stats

Marquette: Roster | Schedule | Stats

NUMBERS AND SUCH

Team	AP	Coaches	NET	KenPom	KenPom Win%
Purdue	ARV	24	—	22	81%
Marquette	—	—	—	73	19%

PROJECTED PURDUE LINEUPS

Starters

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

Coming off a 30-point eruption against Austin Peay, the Boilermakers’ centerpiece is due for even more touches against Marquette, Matt Painter hopes, as he made comments to that effect on his radio show Monday evening. It’s been just two games, but Edey’s dominated the glass and been his best self defensively, and a continuation of both could be pivotal against an undersized, but fast and aggressive, Marquette team.

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

Gillis’ quiet efficiency and possession-maximizing value loom large in games like this as will his tenacity, per usual, but this game also will test everyone’s ability to keep the basketball in front of them when Marquette attacks off the dribble, Purdue’s forwards very much included.

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

The freshman point guard is bearing outsized responsibility for Purdue this season, but from Day 1 has looked ready for it. He’ll make mistakes, but learn from them. There were mistakes made against Austin Peay that could help him against Marquette, against which he may be the central figure for the Boilermakers against the press. His decision-making and poise get tested Tuesday night.

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

Loyer’s going to start making shots at a higher clip than he has thus far, and it may start Tuesday, but his value as a secondary ball-handler, sound decision-maker and sharp passer will matter against Marquette. He, too, will be tested by the dribble at the defensive end.

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

Morton can be a real asset for Purdue in this game more so than many others, especially if he’s not the first player bringing the ball up against pressure. When he’s the second or third and has space to advance the ball or options to move it quickly, that’s when he’s especially effective against this sort of defense. He and Gillis’ and Loyer’s post-entry savvy will be needed every game this season, as well. Morton’s turned the ball over some but that seems to be the product of volume and a symptom of Purdue still kind of getting on the same page offensively.

Rotational Reserves

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

Newman has been really aggressive looking to score, and if you view scoring as a role, per se, then you might say that’s Newman’s job this season. Purdue could use that sort of mentality, especially with that second unit which won’t always be as Edey-centric.

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

Furst’s energy was tangible against Austin Peay and not the last time that will be the case. His positional speed in the open floor can come into play as Purdue navigates backcourt pressure. And Purdue ought to want to get him more looks from three.

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

When Edey’s out of the game, Kaufman-Renn becomes a destination offensive player on the block and thus an important scoring resource for Purdue. Marquette will want to spread Purdue out and attack off the bounce and Kaufman-Renn will be one of several Boilermakers who might encounter some challenges there.

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

Waddell seems to be doing everything right, looking healthier and more ready to contribute than he may have been billed prior to the season. Against defenses that require great offensive discipline, players like Waddell can be invaluable.

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

Jenkins showed significant toughness and competitiveness playing against Austin Peay despite that nasty black eye and a week of practice missed. Purdue’s going to need him against Marquette to handle the ball, so getting that first game in the books was a big deal.

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

Heide is under consideration for a redshirt, taking a few games to observe and make a decision, per Matt Painter. He won’t be playing in the meantime.

Note: Freshman center Will Berg will redshirt this season.

ON MARQUETTE

• Marquette is off to a 2-0 start, with home wins over Radford and Central Michigan.

• Last season, the Eagles were fifth nationally in shortest possession length. It’s only been two games, but they are currently No. 1. They want to play fast.

• Marquette isn’t a great three-point shooting team, but is hitting 65 percent on two-point shots.

MARQUETTE LINEUPS

Forward — 13 Oso Ighodaro (6-9, 215, Junior)

The slashing forward — Marquette’s de facto center — is 14-of-17 from the floor this season, averages a team-best 14.5 points and commands the top of Marquette’s press.

Forward — 12 Olivier-Maxence Prosper (6-8, 230, Junior)

Guard — 4 Stevie Mitchell (6-2, 195, Sophomore)

Guard— 1 Kam Jones (6-4, 195, Sophomore)

Guard — 11 Tyler Kolek (6-3, 190, Junior)

A big-time playmaker who’ll break down the defense and play inside-out, Kolek’s averaging 10 assists though two games.

Bench

Guard — 23 David Joplin (6-7, 220, Sophomore)

Forward — 5 Chase Ross (6-4, 195, Freshman)

Guard — 22 Sean Jones (5-10, 175, Freshman)

Guard — 21 Ben Gold (6-11 220, Freshman)

The youngster from New Zealand is Marquette’s lone true post body type. If they’re going to try to match up big on big, they’ll need his size (and fouls).

THREE KEYS FOR PURDUE

poise	contain the dribble	rebounding
Marquette is pressing on roughly a third of its defensive possessions and will absolutely be looking to test Purdue’s young ball-handlers and non-traditional point guards. It’s a must that those players keep level heads, play at their speed and don’t walk into traps, all in the most viscerally-stimulating environment they’ve probably ever seen.	Marquette’s going to attack off the bounce from all over the floor, putting the onus on Purdue’s help and ability to protect the rim. The Boilermakers are off to a fine start on D, but this will be the biggest challenge yet.	This needs to be an advantage for Purdue against a team that doesn’t really have traditional size, nor does it pretend to. Zach Edey has been a monster on the glass thus far, and the forwards have all been vicious on the offensive boards.

LIGHTNING-ROUND TAKES

• If Purdue can beat the press and get clean, rhythm looks from three, that’s what the Boilermakers want, but at the same time, if it doesn’t make those shots, the game can speed up in Marquette’s favor and Purdue’s marked advantages on the offensive glass can be negated. It’s oversimplification to say that making threes are a key to the game, but making these threes might actually be.

• Against the press, the first ball-handler obviously is crucial, but the second guy may be just as important. Ethan Morton, Caleb Furst, whoever it may be who gets the ball around mid-court has to make the right plays.

• This is the first game where Purdue’s non-traditional point guard mix comes to the forefront. Other than Smith, does Purdue have anyone suited to dribble past aggressive and athletic defenders when they’re pressing? We’ll find out.

PREDICTION: PURDUE 67, MARQUETTE 62

Mackey Arena should loom large here, as long as Purdue’s young/new guys don’t lose their minds in a raucous environment. Purdue’s been good defensively thus far, but still needs to be better against an opponent like this one. Here’s guessing the home team does just enough to get this one done.