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Purdue basketball notebook: Impact of turnovers show up in losses to Rutgers, Indiana

b8vTr9Hoby:Mike Carmin•02/07/23
Purdue coach Matt Painter
Purdue coach Matt Painter

WEST LAFAYETTE – Turnovers aren’t the only concern in Purdue’s two losses, but it’s hard to deny they haven’t played a significant factor.

Not only the number of times the Boilermakers committed turnovers but how Rutgers and Indiana pounced on those mistakes.  

The Scarlet Knights scored 18 points off Purdue’s 13 turnovers on Jan. 2. The Hoosiers scored 20 points off the 16 turnovers in Saturday’s loss. The Boilermakers lost those games by a combined six points.  

That’s why the margin for error for this year’s team remains relatively small, even with big man Zach Edey, who is on his way to winning National Player of the Year, posting double-doubles each game.  

They don’t have to be perfect but allowing opponents numerous fastbreak opportunities makes it harder, especially on the road. Purdue has overcome high-volume turnover games – West Virginia when it had 18 – by making plays down the stretch, winning the rebounding battle and hitting free throws. 

“The pick-sixes kill you,” coach Matt Painter said after the IU loss, which snapped a nine-game winning streak.

And the Hoosiers had plenty of run-outs to stretch their lead, energize the Assembly Hall crowd and build the lead to 16 before the Boilermakers made a second-half run.  

When Purdue closed within one possession late in the second half, three turnovers led to the Hoosiers increasing the margin.  

“Whenever you’re winning close games or losing close games, you look at every possession,” said Edey, who had five turnovers against the Hoosiers. “You look at how you could’ve done better. I got in foul trouble in the first half. I could’ve played more, I could’ve affected the game more in the first half if I hadn’t done that. I have to be more disciplined, I’ve got to be smarter. When you win by one possession it feels great, but when you lose by one possession it feels awful.”  

The turnovers, both forced and unforced, provided fuel to Indiana’s offense, resulting in dunks by Trayce Jackson-Davis and jumpers by freshman Jalen Hood-Schifino. Of the 20 points scored off turnovers, Jackson-Davis and Hood-Schifino totaled 16.  

All of this came after the Boilermakers had seven turnovers against Penn State.  

“It just hurts you,” Painter said. 

They now face Iowa on Thursday at Mackey Arena. The Hawkeyes are forcing 12.3 turnovers in Big Ten play, the third-best mark in conference games, and we’ve seen their fullcourt press give teams problems.

Purdue must figure out a way to reduce the pain of committing turnovers.  

NO. 6

Edey picked up his sixth Big Ten Player of the Week honor, tying the late Caleb Swanigan for the most weekly conference awards in program history.  

For the second straight week, he shared the honor with Jackson-Davis.   

Edey is one shy of the league record held by Ohio State’s Evan Turner (2010-11) season.  

HOLDING STEADY

Purdue was the only team in the AP top 25 to remain in the same position compared to last week. 

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