The primary half tonight was most likely the worst Purdue has appeared thus far on this younger season. Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer have been a mixed 2 of 13, with one of many two makes an off-balance banked-in three simply earlier than the buzzer. Trey Kaufman-Renn was saddled with three fouls, severely limiting his potential for the ultimate 20 minutes. Memphis’ athleticism was inflicting all types of issues. It was a sloppy, bodily recreation to that time, and it might solely get extra bodily within the second half.
Via all that, Purdue nonetheless led by one.
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Typically it’s important to win video games ugly. This recreation had the sensation of an 8:30 tipoff on a cold January night time on the Bryce Jordan Mausoleum in opposition to a 9-16 Penn State recreation with 4,000 folks in attendance and the higher deck blocked off. These are the video games the place the Nittany Lions’ residence courtroom benefit of lulling an opponent to sleep in a lifeless area works finest. This recreation had a pro-Purdue crowd, nevertheless it was nonetheless a basketball recreation being performed in a resort ballroom on a courtroom that was apparently wiped down with Crisco. Purdue needed to grit by means of an terrible capturing night time from Braden, quite a few uncalled fouls each methods, a ground that had gamers slipping and sliding at key moments, and officers that had a questionable maintain on the proceedings.
If something, that simply goes to indicate how good Purdue will be this 12 months. Memphis had superior size and athleticism. It triggered issues all night time. With seven minutes left Purdue was down three and going through probably the most adversity it has confronted thus far. It then closed the sport on a 19-7 run to seal the deal. When you possibly can win a recreation with a C stage of execution in opposition to an athletic group that’s the signal of being program.
Some ideas from this one:
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My participant of the sport is CJ Cox. He had an especially environment friendly 18 factors and linked on some huge threes when Purdue wanted them most. These are huge contributions after being comparatively quiet the previous couple of video games, particularly when Braden having an off night time scoring.
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Talking of Braden, if that is the worst he performs all 12 months we’ll be superb. He nonetheless dished out 11 assists to get to 803 for his profession. That’s forward of the tempo he must get the all-time document. With a minimal of 28 video games and a most of 35 remaining he must common between 9.75 and seven.8 to get there (once more, relying on how far Purdue goes in each the Large Ten and NCAA Tournaments). Though he wasn’t scoring he made passes solely he could make, with a giant one late to Oscar Cluff for a critial basket.
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Fletcher Loyer bounced again from a nasty first half to hit some fairly huge threes within the second half and end with a recreation excessive 20.
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How about Jack Benter working the ground and getting a giant dunk in transition! I used to be additionally grateful he obtained prolonged run within the first two video games, as a result of he obtained some extra tonight with TKR on the bench as a result of foul hassle.
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TKR battled laborious. The T from frustration late put a restrict on what he may do within the second half, however he nonetheless had a close to double-double within the first half.
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I nonetheless love what Omer Mayer is doing. I believe he can be laborious to maintain off the courtroom at instances this 12 months.
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When was the final time an opponent shot 14 extra free throws than Purdue? That saved the Tigers in it early earlier than they missed a bunch late.
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To me, this was an essential recreation for Purdue to play. This was an especially lengthy, athletic group that performed actually laborious. Purdue nonetheless discovered a approach to win.
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When is the final time Purdue had the chief of a rustic at one in every of its video games? In the course of the recreation Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis was interviewed. For a very long time Lord Palmerston has been my favourite Prime Minister, however Philip Davis rockets as much as No. 1 as a result of he got here to see Purdue basketball.
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Aaron Bradshaw had one of many worst flops i’ve ever seen.
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Purdue has now gained 11 straight video games in these multi-team occasions, with the final loss coming in opposition to Clemson early within the 2020-21 season. It’s an unbelievable run over some actually good groups. The outcomes:
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2021 Corridor of Fame Tipoff: Beat #18 North Carolina 93-84 and #5 Villanova 90-84 (Each went to the Remaining 4).
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2022 Phil Knight Legacy: Beat West Virginia 80-68, #6 Gonzaga 84-66, and #8 Duke 75-56
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2023 Maui Invitational: Beat #11 Gonzaga 73-63, #7 Tennessee 71-67, and #4 Marquette 78-75
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2024 Rady Youngsters’s Invitational: Beat NC State 71-61 and #23 Mississippi 80-78.
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See you all tomorrow night time. Hopefully the ground isn’t as slippery.
