Takeaways and Wrap Video: Purdue's 68-50 win at Rutgers
PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Our post-game analysis following 20th-ranked Purdue’s 68-50 win at Rutgers Thursday at Jersey Mike’s Arena.
ON PURDUE’S CALEB FURST
Truth be told: This is Caleb Furst‘s last season at Purdue, and his first real opportunity, his first season in which Purdue has needed him to be good. Sure, he played some important minutes as a freshman, but then Zach Edey came along and sat on Furst for two years.
Furst has never been in a situation where Purdue has needed him to be one of its best players to win and invested in him accordingly.
He still isn’t but regardless, his impact — especially in context — of late has made for the best sustained stretch of impactful basketball of Furst’s career.
His energy and effort have been off the charts, he’s battling physically and he’s made as much of a difference as anyone defensively as Purdue has really turned that up. The senior is rebounding at a very high level, getting contested rebounds and hustle rebounds alike.
He’s been an absolute difference-maker, when Purdue has needed him most.
Now, the context.
Purdue is really thin at center, as has been the case ever since Daniel Jacobsen got hurt. Even before, it was an unknown.
Purdue has an acute need on the glass, being a team that has to overachieve in the rebounding column.
And stalwart Trey Kaufman-Renn keeps getting in foul trouble, putting even more onus on Furst.
Furst is playing really well, but he’s also covering a lot of stuff up.
DEFENSIVE COMING OF AGE
Purdue has been great on defense ever since Auburn. Four games in a row now.
It has been attentive and connected, it has tried hard and it has clearly been well-prepared and able to bring that preparedness to life. Its younger players are getting better and Furst has been a plus.
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But, the biggest piece — keep in mind that all this stuff is connected — has been the offense taking care of the ball.
That was Purdue’s biggest defensive problem in its losses this season. Lately, the turnover numbers and more importantly the points off them have been negligible.
Good offense leads to good defense. Always has, always will.
WINNING UGLY
Purdue won this game Rutgers-style, winning with defense and rebounding and grit and despite awful shooting. The Boilermakers really struggled from three and left a bunch of points at the foul line. Otherwise this easily could have been a 20-point game at halftime. Easily.
Nevertheless, Purdue made all the plays it needed to make — Camden Heide‘s tip-in and Gicarri Harris‘ key three after Rutgers got within five, among them — and can leave Jersey with the understanding that making winning, timely plays is more important than making shots.
And once the clock hit all zeroes, shooting poorly became a positive, because games like this happen, especially in the Big Ten. Having to slog through some struggles ultimately builds character that may be needed down the line.
