The game that everyone circled after Ohio State upset Michigan State is here.
The No. 14 Buckeyes and No. 3 Purdue are set to play what is arguably the Big Ten game of the year on Wednesday night in West Lafayette, Ind., with the top spot in the conference on the line.
| Who | Where | When | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| #3 Purdue (23-2, 12-0) | Mackey Arena | 8:30 p.m. | BTN |
Purdue has not lost since late November, when Matt Painter's team dropped back-to-back contests to Tennessee and Western Kentucky in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas. The Boilermakers have won 19 straight to put themselves in control of the Big Ten; however, a loss to the Buckeyes would put them into an even tie, with Ohio State holding the head-to-head advantage.
While he hasn't had a chance to play in premier games like this much since coming to Ohio State in 2014, Jae'Sean Tate said Tuesday that matchups like the one he will play in against Purdue are why he chose to play for his hometown team.
"This is what we come here for, games like this," Tate said. "This is the top two teams in the Big Ten and we are looking forward to a dogfight."
Opponent Breakdown
Anytime you look up and down a team's roster, you can usually identify at least one weakness. According to Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann, however, the Boilermakers don't appear to have one.
Purdue has started the same five players in every game this season, four of which are averaging double-digits in the scoring column. After dissecting the film on Painter's squad, Holtmann said the Boilermakers are without a doubt one of the best teams in the country.
| Player | Pos | HT | WT | Min | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CARSEN EDWARDS | G | 6-1 | 200 | 27.8 | 16.6 | 3.7 | 3.0 | 1.2 | 0.2 |
| VINCENT EDWARDS | F | 6-8 | 225 | 31.1 | 15.5 | 7.8 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 0.6 |
| ISAAC HAAS | C | 7-2 | 290 | 22.4 | 14.5 | 5.4 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 1.3 |
| DAKOTA MATHIAS | G | 6-4 | 200 | 30.8 | 12.4 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 1.3 | 0.3 |
| P.J. THOMPSON | G | 5-10 | 185 | 28.2 | 8.6 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 0.1 |
"We have a great challenge ahead of us. (Purdue) is a complete team in every way, really," he said. "No clear, identifiable weaknesses to be honest with you. Like any elite team, they are a Final Four contender, national championship contender and elite on both ends."
Defensively, the Boilermakers rank third in the conference in points allowed, surrendering just 64.2 per contest. Offensively, however, is where Purdue has buried teams all season. The Big Ten's top team is averaging 84 points per game and is shooting a white-hot 42.8 percent from behind the three-point line.
The Boilermakers' ability to shoot from the perimeter is something Holtmann said is unlike anything Ohio State has seen this season, including Michigan State.
"Their ability to shoot it is at a completely different level," he said. "I think that is what really gives them a chance to have a great run. That is the one area that is not even close to comparable to the Michigan State team."
Vincent Edwards, Dakota Mathias and P.J. Thompson are all converting on more than 40 percent of their three-point shots this season while Carsen Edwards is connecting on 39.6 of his shots from long range. The only starter in Purdue's lineup that doesn't provide Painter with the outside touch is 7-foot-2 center Isaac Haas, who has not attempted a three-pointer all season.
Haas, a player described by Holtmann as "a mountain of a man," is averaging 14.5 points per game and converts on 61.5 percent of his shots, the majority of which come in the painted area. When Haas is out of the game, Painter has the option to turn to Matt Haarms, a 7-foot-3 backup center that is averaging 5.6 points and 3.4 rebounds in 17.7 minutes per game.
In addition to Purdue's size and length, Tate said playing the Boilermakers will be a tough challenge because of how well they play together.
"They have a lot of size down low. They are a smart, veteran team," Tate said. "I like their team composure. I don't think there's a lot of teams like that, where they show how together they are. We are going to have to be smart about the shot selection we take and driving with their length in the post."
Buckeye Breakdown
Ohio State enters the showdown with Purdue without one of its traditional starters, as Kam Williams will miss his second consecutive game following an indefinite suspension handed down from Holtmann on Sunday, prior to a 75-67 win over Illinois.
In Williams' place, Andre Wesson earned the start, and scored just two points in the victory, while picking up four fouls. However, the older Wesson brother has now had extended time with the Ohio State starting lineup in practice, something Keita Bates-Diop said should help the Buckeyes come tipoff.
"It definitely helps because we have a game under our belt, and three, four or five practice days without (Williams)," Bates-Diop said. "Andre has been really good in his role so far, so I don't think we are worried about it moving forward."
Even though Wesson doesn't bring much of an offensive threat to the table, his defensive abilities could be critical for defending a Purdue team that has perhaps more size than any team Ohio State has faced this season. When it does come to the offensive side of the floor, however, the Buckeyes will need someone to pick up Williams' eight points per game.
Against Illinois, it was Bates-Diop that picked up the slack, scoring a career-high 35 points to will Ohio State back from an early 15-point deficit. Since depending on a similar output from Bates-Diop isn't always realistic, Tate said the Buckeyes will have to be more selective with their shots offensively against Purdue.
"We are going to have to pick and choose our spots on the offensive end a little better, just making sure that we get the correct shot," Tate said.
In recent games, Ohio State has had to find scoring inside as its shots from long range have not been falling consistently. With Williams – the Buckeyes' top three-point shooter – out against Illinois, Ohio State shot just 3-of-16 from behind the arc. If OSU can't find its touch from deep, the Scarlet and Gray could be in some trouble as shots on the interior will likely be greatly altered due to the size and strength the Boilermakers pose inside.
How It Plays Out
Purdue enters the game as a national championship contender, while Ohio State is once again the underdog for perhaps the first time since defeating Michigan State on Jan. 7.
The Boilermakers have not lost at home all season and shoot the ball particularly well within the friendly confines of Mackey Arena. On the opposite end, Williams' absence for Ohio State constricts the Buckeyes' offensive ability, as Bates-Diop will likely need another all-world performance for OSU to stick with the Boilers.
If Purdue has an off night from the perimeter and Ohio State can get Haas in early foul trouble, the Buckeyes have an outside shot at an upset, especially with Michigan State looming for the Boilermakers. However, Painter's squad is playing as well as anyone in the country, and his roster from top to bottom is better than anyone in the Big Ten.
Prediction: Purdue 85, Ohio State 73
