After knocking off New Mexico for Purdue's fourth Top 50 RPI win in the first eight games the Boilers now have a relatively easy stretch as they head into first semester finals. On paper, Purdue should not be tested in the next three games. It is extremely likely that Purdue will be in the top 10 when the rankings come out tomorrow morning. A loss in any of the next three games would pretty much be the equivalent of losing to Gardner-Webb last season (and no, I will not badmouth North Florida when they at least made the NCAA Tournament).
We start this stretch with our first in-state opponent of 2015-16, the IUPUI Hoosiermakers, errr, Jaguars.
Opponent: |
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From: |
Indianapolis, IN |
Date: |
12/7/2015 |
Venue: |
Mackey Arena (14,846), West Lafayette, IN |
TV/Streaming: |
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Radio Stream: |
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Satellite Radio: |
SIRI 136, XM |
Odds: |
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Tickets: |
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Tipoff: |
7pm |
Blog Representation: |
None |
2015-16 Record: |
3-6 |
All-time series |
Purdue leads 1-0 |
Last Purdue win: |
77-57 at Purdue on 11/16/2014 |
Last IUPUI Win: |
None |
2014-15 Record: |
10-21, 6-10 Summit League |
Last NCAA appearance: |
2003 (Lost to Kentucky in NCAA First Round |
Coach: |
Jason Gardner (13-27 in Second Year at IUPUI) |
I cannot remember if it was reported that Purdue will play at IUPUI in the renovated Fairgrounds Coliseum next season or if I imagined it, but if true, this is the second game of a 2-for-1 that Jags worked out with the Boilers. Despite sharing a state and even being a satellite campus of Purdue, last season was the first time Purdue played IUPUI in basketball. The Boilers won by 20 in the second game of the season.
The Jags are loaded with a lot of familiar names if you have followed Indiana HS basketball at all. They have also gathered a lot of transfers from other schools over the past few seasons, most notably Ron Patterson, who was Creaned from "The Movement" and ended up at Syracuse before moving on to IUPUI this year, where he is sitting out due to transfer rules. Also of note, Justus Stanback, the son of Purdue's Ian Stanback, transferred out after a decent freshman season where he was a part time starter.
The Jags are led by Darrell Combs, a player we have seen before. He played 15 minutes and scored 7 points for Eastern Michigan in Purdue's 69-64 win in Mackey Arena during the 2013-14 season. For the Jaguars he is averaging 15.3 points as he has lead them to wins over Indiana State, Miami (OH), and Kentucky State (non-DI). He had 21 points in the second game of the season, an overtime loss at Marquette.
Jordan Pickett, who played at Pike in Indianapolis before transferring in from Loyola, averaged 10.2 points per game as the only other player in double figures. The player to watch, however, is Nick Osbourne. He played in high school at Muncie Central and also transferred from Loyola. He is averaging 8.7 points and is their leading rebounder at 7 per game. He is also shooting better than 50% from three-point range. He is paired at forward with Matt O'Leary and Marcellus Barksdale. Those two average 8.6 points and 7 points, respectively.
IUPUI isn't a terrible team. They will win some games in the Summit League. They won't win this one, however. Their tallest rotation player are O'Leary and Osbourne at 6'8". Basically, Isaac Haas and A.J. Hammons, who were unstoppable against two seven-footers on Saturday, are going to do filthy things all night. The Jags don't have anyone that can match up with them physically, so expect double teams from their few post players. That means Purdue's shooters will have every opportunity to break out of their funk.
This could get brutally ugly given Purdue's strength in the post. Evan Hall and Aaron Brennan are only 6'6" and 6'7" after Osbourne and O'Leary, so IUPUI is in very deep trouble up front. Expect Purdue to be able to do whatever it wants offensively while Hammons and Haas patrol the paint on defense and make shots as difficult as possible anything the Jags get within five feet of the rim.