Purdue at Ohio State: Preview, Odds, & How to Watch

We get our first rematch of the season. Of Purdue’s 10 victories so far, the best one is against Ohio State. Even as a home game it is on tier 1 of the NET rankings since they sit 20th there. They are also 16th according to KenPom. Like Purdue, the Buckeyes come in hot, having won three in a row, so this one will not be easy.

Ohio State Buckeyes

From: Columbus, OH

Date: Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Tip Time: 6:30 p.m. ET

Location: Columbus, OH

Arena: Value City Arena (19,049)

Television: BTN

Radio: Purdue Radio Network

SiriusXM Satellite: XM (Ch. 381); Internet (Ch. 968)

Live Stats: bit.ly/PurdueLiveStats

Odds: Ohio State by 4

KenPom: 16

NET: 20

Blog Representation: Land-Grant Holyland

2019-20 Record: 21-10, 11-9 Big Ten

2020-21 Record: 11-3, 5-3 Big Ten

Series with Purdue: Ohio State leads 91-89

Last Purdue win: 67-60 at Purdue on 12/16/2020

Last Ohio State win: 68-52 at Ohio State on 2/15/2020

NCAA Tournament History: 33 Appearances, last in 2019. 1960 National Champions

Coach: Chris Holtmann (77-37 in 4th year at Ohio State, 191-122 overall

This is the first game of a very tough stretch for Purdue, and we did not have a four-game winning streak at any point last season. The good news is that the first win over Ohio State has aged very, very well and looks excellent on our resume even when they were without E.J. Liddell. The bad news is the next three games are against teams in the top 20. Pulling off an upset somewhere in there would be very, very good. I still estimate we need five more wins to feel safe on selection Sunday, with both Nebraska games, the home Indiana and Northwestern games, and either home against Michigan State or at Penn State as the most likely five.

Liddell will be a difference maker in this one. He is their leading rebounder and second leading scorer and will make a difference inside. Purdue wont he rebounding battled 36-30 the first time around and Trevion Williams really took advantage of Liddell’s absence. He didn’t start, but the message was received from coach Painter as he had 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists. Liddell is a solid interior defender, so don’t expect Tre to repeat that feat.

Justice Sueing and Duane Washington Jr. were their only two players in double figures the last time, which makes since as they average in double figures with Liddell. Purdue did benefit from Ohio State shooting 37% as a team and 35% from three. Both were well below their season averages.

It is encouraging to me that Purdue’s offense has been a lot better in the last two games. The Boilers are still last in the league in scoring at 71.7 points per game, but we’ve been in the 80s for the last two games. We shot the three better at Indiana, but we were only 6 of 32 against Penn State. Fortunately, we were 19 of 30 elsewhere.

It is always a tall order to win on the road, but Purdue is playing really good basketball right now. Losing this game will not hurt us in any way, so it feels like we’re playing with the house’s money. Win, however, and we’re suddenly two games out of first place and...