No. 2 Purdue overpowers Michigan

Here’s one of the impressive elements about Purdue’s team this year.

During the first 12 minutes of Tuesday night’s matchup against Michigan, Zach Edey – a nearly automatic double-double machine and who totaled at least 30 points in three straight games – didn’t score.

And the Boilermakers had 24 points and led by 14.

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Edey eventually scored – he finished with 16 points – but No. 2 Purdue once again showcased the rest of its talented starting five and depth off the bench during a resounding 99-67 victory before another sellout crowd at Mackey Arena.

It’s the Boilermakers’ largest margin of victory over the Wolverines since 2002.

Braden Smith, Lance Jones, Trey Kaufman-Renn and Fletcher Loyer provided the offense – along with help from Mason Gillis off the bench – and once Edey got on track, the less-than-interested Wolverines were no match.

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Smith had nine points in the first 10 minutes and was handing out assists at every opportunity, finishing with 10 along with 11 points and seven rebounds, missing another chance at a triple-double.

The Boilermakers were also 4 of 5 from 3-point range en route to a 14 of 21 performance overall, and Jones was a nuisance on the defensive end, collecting three steals before halftime.

He also drained three 3-pointers, and Loyer took his teammates into the locker room, hitting a 3-pointer before the halftime buzzer, capping a 7-for-7 shooting stretch and a 15-2 run to lead by 24.

All this from a team that missed 11 of 12 shots during an earlier stretch.

Jones helped the Boilermakers erase the dreadful shooting stretch in the second half, hitting a pair of 3-pointers and scoring 12 of his season-high 24 points after halftime.

Edey didn’t stay quiet for long, taking out some frustration with an emphatic dunk two minutes into the second half. He reached double figures for the 71^st consecutive game and recorded his 52nd career double-double, including 13 this season.

Michigan played without leading scorer Dug McDaniel, who is suspended for the team’s road games.

“I FELT GOOD TONIGHT”

It showed for Jones, the Southern Illinois transfer who’s given the Boilermakers a lift with his athletic ability and his shooting.

But on Tuesday, add on-ball defense to his list of contributions.

While Jones made five 3-pointers – an impressive achievement – the three steals are what stands out in his mind.

“My three steals,” Jones said. “I was waiting on the perfect time to try and pick his pocket and I got two of them tonight.”

And that was Matt Painter’s takeaway from Jones’ performance. The season-high points are always welcome, but to generate offense directly from defensive pressure was demoralizing to the Wolverines.

“He was good tonight,” Painter said. “He caused some problems, got a couple of picks there at halfcourt and really got the crowd into it and got some energy,. He did a good job in the halfcourt of staying in it and not fouling.

“For him, he really helped us by putting pressure on the basketball and making it hard for those guys. I thought that really sparked us.”

But his offense wasn’t far behind.

Jones was in a rhythm early with his shot and let his teammates and the offense work until finding the right scoring opportunity. Most of the time, the ball ended up in Jones’ hands.  

“I let it come to me in the beginning and I didn’t force anything and played off of Zach, and Braden found me in my spot. I felt good tonight,” said Jones, who scored in double figures for the seventh straight game. “These guys believe in me and it’s up to me to believe in myself in times of need. Just going out there with the utmost confidence.”

“BIGGER THAN ME”

Edey has carried the Boilermakers on the offensive end throughout the season.

Three straight games of 30 or more points coming into Tuesday night. Two other 30-point games earlier in the season when Purdue leaned on its 7-foot-4 center to propel the offense.

But Edey’s early attempts weren’t falling. No big deal. His teammates quickly built a double-digit lead, and the Boilermakers were well on their way to posting a lopsided victory. Everyone not named Edey combined for the first 24 points.

“It’s so much bigger than me,” said Edey, who was 4 of 6 shooting in the second half and finished 6 of 13. “We’re not the Purdue Zach Edeys – we’re the Purdue Boilermakers.

“We got so many guys that go, we’ve got so many guys that can score and really make plays. You see it today – they all stepped up when we needed them to step up. Braden was big for us. Lance was big for us. Everyone made plays.”

Credit the maturity of this team to handle the situation. No one panicked. No one tried to force shots or put Edey in uncomfortable positions. They let the offense run and when the opportunities to score came about, they delivered.

“Share the basketball and there’s nobody out there they don’t have to guard,” Painter said. “That piece of it with Zachary that really helps us and helps us to grow but it’s also the maturity of our guys. That’s the thing that has won out. We’re more confident, we’re making more shots, and the maturity of our guys not to force things, especially after you hit a couple.”

That maturity also helped the Boilermakers deal with the 1 of 12 shooting stretch and then finish the first half by connecting on seven straight field goals.

“When you go 1 for 12, you’re not mad about the shots you’re taking. You keep taking them,” Painter said. “If you take bad shots there, that’s the reason you’re missing. Bad shots lead to transition. Bad decisions, bad shots are normally layups at the other end, but we took good shots and missed them.”

TURNOVER-FREE FIRST HALF

For the first 20 minutes, Purdue didn’t commit a turnover.

That’s an achievement for this group, which has struggled at times to take care of the basketball. Tuesday night wasn’t one of those moments.

“I think it was cool in the first half that we took care of the ball and it helps when we make shots as well,” Smith said. “It’s what we try to do every game but sometimes the shots don’t fall. Of course, I’ve got to screw it up and get the first turnover in the second half.”

However, that turnover didn’t occur until 11:52 to play and Purdue finished with a season-low seven, the sixth time it’s had single-digit turnovers this season.  

McDaniel’s presence was missed for Michigan, not only on the offensive end, but applying pressure on the perimeter. The Boilermakers, though, played a clean game, moved the ball, and found quality shots most of the night.

They were only able to do that by taking care of the basketball.

“That’s great to see,” Painter said. “We went a big portion of the game without turning the ball over.”