:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/26614355/20140104_pjc_ab8_015.0.jpg)
Sunday's game against Nebraska is simply a must-win if Purdue is going to make the NCAA Tournament. The Cornhuskers are a tough out, but after getting off to an 0-3 start in conference play after Thursday's close home loss to Michigan it looks like they will not battle for an NCAA bid out of the Big Ten. They are fighting for an NIT berth, however, and they will still be a tough team for anyone to play. They, along with Penn State and Northwestern, are the three teams that are likely already out of the NCAA hunt and Purdue probably joins them with a loss. The Boilermakers simply cannot afford a loss right now to one of those three bottom teams.
It is also a must-win because Purdue has already dropped a game at Mackey Arena and likely has at least one more home loss coming because both Michigan State and Wisconsin come to town. To get into March Purdue has to be able to defend its home court successfully against teams like Nebraska. Thatis why this is now a critical basketball game.
|
Projected Starters |
|
|
Purdue Boilermakers (10-5, 0-2) |
Nebraska Cornhuskers (8-7, 0-3) |
|
Terone Johnson - Sr. |
Terran Petteway - So. |
|
Ronnie Johnson - So. |
Ray Gallegos - Sr. |
|
Kendall Stephens - Fr. |
Walter Pitchford - So. |
|
Basil Smotherman - Fr. |
Shavon Shields - So. |
|
A.J. Hammons - So. |
Tai Webster - Fr. |
|
Series with Purdue: |
Purdue leads 9-3 |
|
Last Purdue win: |
65-56 at Nebraska on 1/16/2013 |
|
Last Nebraska win: |
57-55 at Big Ten Tournament in Chicago on 3/14/2013 |
|
Odds: |
|
|
Blog Representation: |
|
|
Location: |
Lincoln, Nebraska |
|
Best Postseason Result: |
NCAA tournament First Round, 0-6 all-time, last appearance 1998 |
|
2012-13 record: |
21-14, 8-10 Big Ten, lost 78-64 in NCAA Tournament Second Round |
|
Coach: |
Tim Miles 302-243 overall, 23-25 in second year at Nebraska |
|
RPI: |
83 |
|
Time: |
Noon |
|
Streaming Video: |
|
|
TV: |
Big Ten Network |
|
Radio: |
|
|
Streaming Audio: |
|
Nebraska is a relatively young team and coach Miles has them playing very hard. With a new on campus arena they showed their toughness by coming inches away from an upset of Michigan on Thursday. They played a solid non-conference schedule with losses to UMass, Cincinnati, and Creighton. They helped the Big Ten win the ACC/Big Ten challenge with a win over defending ACC champion Miami.
They are getting a lot of help this year from transfer Terran Petteway, who is in his first year playing for the Cornhuskers after sitting out last season due to his transfer from Texas Tech. He is averaging 17.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. Don't expect a lot in the form of distribution as Nebraska is one of the worst teams in the nation at only 10 assists per game.
Petteway and Ray Gallegos are their top three point shooters along with 6'10" forward Walter Pitchford. Pitchford is going to prevent a matchup problem on the perimeter because he can draw guys like A.J. Hammons and Jay Simpson away from the basket defensively with his ability to shoot.
As we remember, Purdue split a pair of games with Nebraska last season. We have opened the Big Ten Tournament with them in each of their first two years in the conference and last season they ended Purdue's hopes of a run with a 57-55 win on day 1. Shavon Shields was big in that game with 19 points, 15 of which came in the first half as Nebraska also led by two at the break. Shields is averaging 11.3 points and five rebounds per game but has been held mostly in check in Big Ten play thus far.
Nebraska doesn't score a lot of points, but has been pretty respectable on defense do far. Purdue is also the much better rebounding team at almost 6 more rebounds per game overall. Purdue outscores them by almost eight points per game.
As has been the case all season, this game hinges on which Purdue shows up. It was noted on Twitter earlier this week that Purdue has had a series of very hard practices led by Coach Painter. That is all good and well, but it means nothing unless that effort is replicated when the lights are on and the games matter. It was a lack of effort that led to the loss in Minneapolis and that has plagued this team for a season and a half now. I don't know why coach Painter can't reach these guys, but I do know he is trying. This team clearly looks light years better when it plays with high effort and intensity, but for whatever reason it cannot maintain that level.
Purdue is playing at home, where effort has mostly not been a problem this season. It took a top 10 team, some fortunate calls, and a great individual effort for Ohio State to hand Purdue its only home loss so far. If the message being taught in practice this week carries over we should expect he first Big Ten win of the season.
