Takeaways from victory at Barn
MINNEAPOLIS — Our post-game analysis following 20th-ranked Purdue’s 81-61 win at Minnesota to resume Big Ten play.
ON FLETCHER LOYER AND BRADEN SMITH
This is why experienced backcourts — and outstanding players — matter.
Purdue needed this win, on the road, and its clearest path to defeat since both Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer arrived has been turnovers and points off them.
This was not a great defensive team Purdue was playing nor was this a daunting environment. But nevertheless, the two junior guards accounting for zero turnovers in a combined 75-and-a-half minutes, with the ball in their hands as much as it was, was really something.
That as much as all the other stuff was exactly what Purdue needed from its two veterans.
Now, the other stuff.
Take a moment to appreciate that of all the great shooters Matt Painter has had at Purdue, Loyer might be the best. And of all the clutch players Painter has had, Smith is right up there. This wound up not being a close game, but it wasn’t close because Smith took it over, when his team needed to put this away.
Think, too, about the IQ that played into Smith making every correct read, seemingly, against a defense trying to blitz him and Loyer doing the same on the read-and-react actions Purdue runs for him.
Veteran play, in every sense.
ON THE STARTING FIVE
Matt Painter rarely tinkers with his starting lineup after wins, but he clearly wanted more out of Camden Heide and Myles Colvin, so he made a change.
Of the two new starters, Caleb Furst had played well enough to earn a shot and he sure made the most of it Thursday, his energy and defensive effort on Dawson Garcia making a profound difference for Purdue.
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He chipped in opportunistic scoring, made his free throws and really rebounded.
Furst has had his share of great moments at Purdue but has never really been able to sustain them, albeit in inconsistent minutes, because of Zach Edey.
But he can absolutely help Purdue win a game on any given night, especially this season given Purdue’s frontcourt mix. With only a few more months left in his Boilermaker career, Furst did that tonight.
TREY KAUFMAN-RENN
Another reminder that Purdue needs him on the floor. The game changes when he has fouls to worry about.
You saw the difference in Purdue’s offensive output with him and without him, and while he was buoying the offense in the second half, Minnesota was attacking him in the post, knowing he couldn’t risk fouls.
The second half was all about Purdue’s shots just starting to fall, but Kaufman-Renn’s potency in two-man game with Smith was what really shook everything up and gave the Boilermakers some offensive juice.
His assist to Gicarri Harris in the first half for a three was one of the best plays of the game.
