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Purdue 82 Rutgers 75: Tough way to end

New York City- Rutgers in the quarterfinal. The sentence alone should make the pulse of Scarlet Nation quicken a bit. The opposition is Purdue, a team Rutgers took to the final possession in a two point loss back on February 3. Let the game, and observations, begin.


Getting a good start is important regardless of the competition. For Rutgers it was vital and they did it ‘winning’ the first four minutes 5-4.

Several times Rutgers builds a lead and threatens to gain separation. Each time Purdue respond and on every occasion Rutgers does not fold. Sitting two rows from the court, can get a read on the Rutgers players’ body language. In this opening half they seem to have the attitude ‘we aren’t just making this close. We want to win’.

At the half Rutgers held a 38-35 lead.

Possessions: 32. Good tempo. Doubt Rutgers mentor Steve Pikiell wanted a track meet versus the Boilers.

Offensive efficiency: Rutgers 119, Purdue 109. Both operating at a high efficiency. Rutgers just a little bit better. A cliche’ but Rutgers needs to get out to a good start these last twenty minutes.


Purdue came out firing. Three treys punctuated an 11-0 run to start the second half. The first four minutes belonged to Matt Painter’s Boilermakers by a 13-5 count. Rutgers trailed 48-43 at the 16 minute media timeout. Not insurmountable yet significant as Purdue made an opening second half statement.

Despite the rough start of the second half, Rutgers is battling. Down 56-54 just under a dozen minutes left.

Don’t think Rutgers is doing a bad job on defensive closeouts. Purdue, especially Carsen Edwards, has been in a shooter’s zone this half. Still, it is tied with just under eight to play and very much anybody’s ballgame.

Making plays. It was discussed as part of the Penn State-Ohio State game. Sometimes we can over analyze when the difference between winning and losing is staring us in the face. The ability or inability to make plays.

In the stretch Purdue did, Rutgers didn’t. Isaac Haas a 12 point 10 rebound performer had two big post up baskets at crunch time. Down three with thirty seconds to go Corey Sanders of Rutgers missed the front end of a one and one. Ten seconds later he was called for a charge. In no way is this a criticism of Sanders. The Junior guard finished with a 23 point 4 assist effort. Another excellent effort on the part of Sanders who has come up big during the season and this week in particular. Those two plays in the stretch- after they transpired and Purdue was shooting a free throw, Sanders crouched down visibly upset. Safe to say the most upset and disappointed person in the Garden. The numbers:



Final: Purdue 82 Rutgers 75

Possessions: Rutgers 65, Purdue 63

Offensive efficiency: Purdue 130, Rutgers 115

Leading scorers: Rutgers- Geo Baker 25.

Purdue- Carsen Edwards, Vincent Edwards 26 points

Records : Purdue 27-5, Rutgers 15-19


An efficiency of 115 will win a lot of games. Not when you allow a 130. Purdue’s efficiency was ,aided by a 67% eFG percentage. Boilers shot 13 of 30 (43%) from beyond the arc.

Rutgers was able to hang tough winning the OREB (offensive rebounding percentage) by a 44-24% count. In raw numbers the Scarlet Knights outrebounded Purdue 17-6 and led 20-2 in second chance points.

Pikiell termed Purdue a "Final Four team with hardly a weakness." If they do have an Achilles heel it is rebounding. But the Rutgers mentor added, "they do not have great offensive rebounding numbers because they are so good at shooting the ball."

Matt painter is impressed with the direction Rutgers is taking. "Steve’s (Pikiell) teams always defend and rebound," Painter said. "If they shot this season like they did against us and this week, their record would be different."


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