GLENDALE, Ariz. – Purdue basketball is in uncharted territory.
Not because the Boilermakers haven’t been to the NCAA title game since 1969.
But because the UConn Huskies are trying to repeat and have a historic run this season.
And for the first time this season, Purdue has trailed.
“There’s a lot of guys on our team we don’t have,” Zack Eddy said. “As a team, everyone is counting on us right now. A lot of our guys are accepting it. A lot of our guys are coping with it.”
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According to Bet MGM, Connecticut opened as a 6.5-point favorite.
historical tournament
Connecticut and Purdue have been the best two teams in college basketball all season and doubled up by becoming the best two teams in the NCAA Tournament.
UConn has defeated Stetson, Northwestern, San Diego State, Illinois and Alabama by an average of 25 points. This is a historic pace. UCLA’s undefeated 1966–67 team, which defeated its four opponents by an average of 23.8 points per game, owns the NCAA Tournament record for average margin of victory for a national champion.
Right behind UConn and UCLA? Purdue won its five games this season by an average of 19.6 points.
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name worth knowing
For Purdue, which has used the same starting lineup in all 38 games this season, it starts with AD (24.9 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.2 blocks, 62.5% FG).
But Purdue’s other four starters and Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year Mason Gillis (6.7 points, 3.9 rebounds) all have solid numbers: Braden Smith (12.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 1.6 steals), Lance Jones (11.9 points, 2.0 assists), Fletcher Lauer (10.6 points, 2.0 assists) and Trey Coffman-Renn (6.4 points, 4.1 rebounds).
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UConn has five players averaging double figures in points: Tristan Newton (14.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 6.2 assists), Cam Spencer (14.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.5 steals), Alex Karban (13.5 points, 5.0 rebounds) ), Donovan Clingan (13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.5 blocks) and Stephen Cassel (11.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists).
Clingan and Eddy are two of the top interior players in the country. Newton and Smith are the two top guards in the country.
State to unpack
Purdue’s 3-point shooting will be where the Boilermakers will have the edge. Although UConn averages more 3s per game (8.6 versus Purdue’s 8.3), the Boilers shoot about 5% better from beyond the arc than their national title counterparts.
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Purdue basketball vs ucon prediction
Play like it did offensively against North Carolina State in the Final Four and Purdue will run out of the building.
Braden Smith won’t be half as bad as he was on Saturday night. maybe another time. This will require a nearly flawless effort from Purdue. But everyone kept an eye on this game throughout the year.
At this point, why not?
Prediction: Purdue 95, UConn 91.
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samuelking.
