Purdue basketball preview Game 28: Ohio State

WEST LAFAYETTE – Purdue is dealing with its first dose of adversity after losing three of its last four games and watching the lead in the Big Ten standings shrink to one in the loss column. The good news is the third-ranked Boilermakers close out the regular season with three of their last four at home, starting Sunday against struggling Ohio State. The concern is Purdue hasn’t played a complete game since early February against Penn State.

Where: Mackey Arena

When: Sunday 1 p.m. ET

TV: CBS

Radio: Purdue Sports Network (WAZY locally)

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

ABOUT THE TEAMS

Purdue: Roster | Schedule | Stats

Ohio State: Roster | Schedule | Stats

NUMBERS AND SUCH

Team	AP	Coaches	NET	KenPom	KenPom Win%
Purdue	3	3	5	6	84%
Ohio State	–	–	58	60	16%

ON PURDUE (23-4, 12-4 B1G)

• For the first time this season, the Boilermakers are dealing with a two-game winning streak. Purdue hasn’t lost three straight since the end of the 2019-20 season when it dropped four in a row to Penn State, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Michigan. Both losses this season were on the road and the Boilermakers have lost three straight away from the Mackey Arena. The good news – Purdue plays three of its last four regular-season games at home where its 6-1 in Big Ten action, the lone loss a one-point setback to Rutgers.

• The turnovers disappeared in Thursday’s loss at Maryland but the Boilermakers didn’t rebound at their normal level. They were outrebounded by 12 and grabbed only three offensive boards. Purdue led the nation in offensive rebounding efficiency prior to Thursday but dropped to third. The Boilermakers generated only two second-chance points, which has been a key stat this season when they have off-shooting games. Purdue shot just 44%, including a 2 of 13 performance from 3-point range against the Terrapins.

• The Boilermakers have drifted back to the pack in the Big Ten standings. One week ago, Purdue had a three-game cushion in the loss column before suffering defeats to Northwestern and Maryland. But can another conference team piece together a winning streak to catch the Boilermakers? If Purdue can take care of its business at home, catching the Boilermakers will be a tough task since most of the teams in the next group still play each other.

PROJECTED PURDUE LINEUPS

Starters

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

For the first time this season, Edey had single-digit rebounds in back-to-back games. He totaled eight against Northwestern and Maryland, two of the team’s subpar rebounding performances. Had 16 and 11 in the first meeting against the Buckeyes but delivered the game-winning assist to Fletcher Loyer, who drained a late 3-pointer to give Purdue the win.

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

Started the second half at Maryland and will move into the lineup Sunday. Had a streak of six straight games with at least one 3-pointer snapped against the Terrapins.

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

Found his comfortable level for most of the game against the Terrapins, scoring 18 points but it wasn’t enough to push the Boilermakers over the top. Made 6 of his last 11 from 3-point range.

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

Smith’s backcourt mate is at the opposite end of the shooting spectrum, missing 12 of his last 15 attempts and is 0 of 5 from 3-point range the last two games. Made multiple 3-pointers just once in the last nine games.

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

Scored a season-high 10 points and collected four assists against Ohio State in January.

Rotational Reserves

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

Was sick prior to Thursday’s loss and played just 14 minutes. Will come off the bench against the Buckeyes. Prior to Maryland, he had 23 points in the three previous games.

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

He’s 0 of 7 from 3-point range the last three games.

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

Scored six points at Maryland, the most since totaling eight at Minnesota in January.

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

Played 14 minutes on Thursday – his most against a Big Ten team – and also saw action at the power forward spot down the stretch against the Terrapins.

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

Note: Freshman center Will Berg and wing Camden Heide will redshirt this season.

OHIO STATE (11-15, 3-12 B1G)

• The Buckeyes were cruising prior to facing Purdue in January, winning 10 of their first 13 games, suffering losses to San Diego State, Duke and North Carolina – all ranked teams at the time. They had drilled Northwestern in Evanston and held a double-digit lead against Purdue. Loyer’s game-winning basket and the ensuing defensive stop sent Ohio State’s season into a tailspin. The Buckeyes have won once – a 93-77 victory over Iowa on Jan. 21 – and bring a seven-game losing streak in Sunday’s matchup. They’ve also dropped seven straight Big Ten road games.

• Unless there’s a late push, Ohio State will finish with the fewest Big Ten victories in a season since 1997-98 when it had one. The Buckeyes have won 10 or more conference games 19 times in the last 25 seasons.

OHIO STATE LINEUPS

Forward — 10 Brice Sensabaugh (6-6, 235, Freshman)

Led all scorers with 21 points in the first matchup against the Boilermakers, making 10 of 17 field goals. Ethan Morton and the defense made Sensabaugh work for his points but he’s a talented player who is going to find the basket. He ranks fourth nationally in scoring among freshmen.

Forward — 14 Justice Sueing (6-6, 210, R-Senior)

Also reached double figures against Purdue with 15 points on 6 of 11 shooting. Surpassed the 1,500-point mark earlier this month against Wisconsin.

Center — 23 Zed Key (6-8, 255, Junior)

Suffered a shoulder injury early in the first meeting, removing Ohio State’s most experienced big man to deal with Zach Edey. Returned to action seven days later and was back in the starting lineup against Nebraska on Jan. 18. Called for three or more fouls in seven straight games. Key aggravated his shoulder again during Thursday’s loss at Iowa.

Guard — 2 Bruce Thornton (6-2 215, Freshman)

Physical and tough point guard has started every game. Averaging 13.5 points and shooting 61.1% from the field during the last four games. Scored a season-high 22 at Michigan on Feb. 5.

Guard — 1 Roddy Gayle Jr. (6-4, 205, Fr.)

Made three starts, including in the last two games. Totaled 11 points against Michigan State and Iowa.

Bench

Guard— 0 Tanner Holden (6-6, 200, Senior)

Guard —3 Eugene Brown III (6-7, 195, Junior)

Guard — 4 Sean McNeil (6-4, 205, Grad)

Might move back into the starting lineup after scoring 20 points on 7 of 7 shooting, including 4 of 4 from 3-point range, in Thursday’s loss at Iowa. He recorded his 200th career 3-pointer. The transfer from West Virginia put the Buckeyes up on the Boilermakers with a late 3-pointer in the first meeting.

Guard — 13 Isaac Likeleke (6-5, 215, Grad)

Center — 34 Felix Okpara (6-11, 220, Freshman)

LIGHTNING-ROUND TAKES

• Ohio State should be tired of losing to the Boilermakers on last-second shots. Fletcher Loyer did it earlier this season and Jaden Ivy beat the Buckeyes in back-to-back years, including a fadeaway 3-pointer at the buzzer last season.

PREDICTION: PURDUE 70, OHIO STATE 61

Every Big Ten team has dealt with the stretch the Boilermakers are currently experiencing, losing three out of four games. The last two weeks have tightened up the league race but now it’s time for Purdue to re-established itself as the clear front-runner for the regular-season championship. The Buckeyes have clearly underachieved after rolling into early January as a serious title contender. The talent is there and the Boilermakers can’t take Ohio State for granted.