Three keys to Rutgers men's basketball's Big Ten Tournament matchup against Purdue
The Rutgers men's basketball team will take on Purdue in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament today. The No. 9 seeded Scarlet Knights (19-13, 10-10) will play the No. 1 seeded Boilermakers (26-5, 15-5) for a chance to make the Big Ten Tournament semifinals for the first time in school history. Here are three keys to this potentially historic game.
Keep Zach Edey out of the low post
Much like how Michigan performs with Hunter Dickinson, Purdue's offense operates best when Big Ten Player of the Year Zach Edey is receiving touches in the low post. Standing at 7-foot-4, Edey is a lethal scorer and passes well from the low post.
When Edey gets the ball in the low post, he becomes the conductor of the offense, and he can pass the ball to an open three-point shooter, drive inside for an easy layup or score with his hook shot.
Junior center Clifford Omoruyi must do everything he can to either stay in front of Edey or push him off the low block when the latter's back is turned. Due to his size, Edey is guaranteed to get some touches in the low post, and when that happens, Rutgers must double-team him and force him to pass the ball to the perimeter. At the very least, the Knights must make Edey work for his low post touches so as to tire him out as the game goes along.
Let's Get Physical
The Boilermakers have the 11th-best adjusted offensive efficiency in the country. With such a high-powered offense, Purdue's one minor struggle has been turnovers. The Boilermakers average 11.2 turnovers per game, the sixth-highest mark in the Big Ten.
This is mostly due to their two freshman guards, Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith. While Loyer and Smith have been instrumental in Purdue's success, their inexperience has shown through the Boilermakers' losses. If Rutgers is able to increase the physicality and pressure on Purdue's guards, the Knights may be able to generate points off of turnovers, or, at the very least, keep the Boilermakers uncomfortable on offense.
Rutgers is adept at this strategy, as it causes its opponents to average 14.5 turnovers per game.
Physicality will also be important on the glass. Yesterday, the Knights coralled 12 offensive rebounds against the Wolverines (17-15, 11-9). They also corralled seven more total rebounds than Michigan in the game. If it wants to defeat Purdue, Rutgers will need a similar effort on the glass.
Be decisive on offense
The Knights have struggled at times on offense, only averaging 68 points per game which is 10th best in the Big Ten. Rutgers' 42.9 team field goal percentage sits at third last in the Big Ten.
The Knights' offense issues will not be fixed overnight, but there is a clear difference between the team that scored 53 points against Northwestern on Sunday and the team that scored 62 points on Michigan yesterday.
One of the biggest differences is decisiveness. On Rutgers' worst offensive days, it fails to create open looks and when it does create those positions, it is too hesitant to take shots. The Knights are at their best, though, when they're quick and decisive with their passes and shots.
Freshman guard Derek Simpson has helped a lot with this issue, as his speed on the ball and his ability to drive in the lane gives Rutgers confidence. Senior guard Paul Mulcahy attacking the paint and hitting three-point shots also help the Knights be more confident and decisive in their offensive possessions. Mulcahy and Simpson combined for just three total turnovers in Rutgers' game versus the Wolverines.
The Knights and the Boilermakers will tip off at the United Center in Chicago at noon today. The game will be broadcasted on the Big Ten Network and 88.7 WRSU-FM.
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