Purdue Boilermakers
Big Ten (21-11, 9-7)
Seed: #9
Midwest Region
RPI: 44
Big Wins:
1/27 Illinois (64-47), 2/7 Michigan State (62-38), 2/15 Indiana (81-68)
Bad Losses:
12/28 at Indiana State (70-89), 1/3 at Minnesota (59-65), 2/21 at Iowa
(59-78)
Last NCAA
Appearance: 2003, Second Round loss to Texas
Coach:
Matt Painter (0-1 in 1 NCAA appearance)
Probable
Starters:
David Teague,
Senior, Guard, 14.3 ppg, 2.0 apg, 5.1 rpg
Chris Kramer,
Freshman, Guard, 6.6 ppg, 2.5 apg
Keaton Grant,
Freshman, Guard, 4.5 ppg, 1.9 apg
Gordon Watt,
Sophomore, Forward, 7.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg
Carl Landry,
Senior, Forward, 18.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg
Key
Roleplayers:
Tarrance Crump,
Junior, Guard, 5.6 ppg, 1.9 apg
Chris Lutz,
Sophomore, Guard, 5.9 ppg, 2.1 apg
Marcus Green,
Sophomore, Guard, 4.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg
Why They Can
Surprise:
Carl Landry
leads Purdue with 18.9 points and 7.1 rebounds. The 6-7 senior is an
extremely effective scorer and will step out and hit the mid-range jumper.
Shooting 72.3% from the charity helps out the Boilermakers immensely,
especially since Landry goes to the line 8.3 times per game. The only player
to win three consecutive Big Ten Player of the Week awards does have a bad
side though. Landry can become too perimeter orientated against a shot
blocking opponent and he has a habit of turning the ball over at inopportune
times.
The
Boilermakers only have two consistent scoring threats, but Landry and David
Teague are good ones. Teague is a great outside shooter, but can get to the
basket as well. However, it is his defensive skills that make him such a
valuable piece of Coach Matt Painter’s puzzle. Point guard Tarrance Crump
lost his starting job the day the non-conference season ended, but the
junior will display some nice moves on his way to the basket and will dish
to one of his teammates or occasionally finish the job himself.
Why They Can
Disappoint:
With Landry on
the floor, Purdue should be a good rebounding team, but they are not.
Despite leading the team in rebounds, Landry has been somewhat disappointing
on the glass and it is not because somebody else is picking off his
rebounds. Gordon Watt is undersized to play the four and the bench is
non-existent as far as big men go.
Who To
Watch:
The backcourt
has some depth and Chris Kramer, Chris Lutz, Keaton Grant and Marcus Green
will all share minutes. Kramer, a 6-3 freshman, has become a surprisingly
good scorer and a decent rebounder out of the backcourt. The sharpshooting
Lutz is good for a long ball or two per game. Grant may not have helped out
as much as hoped during his freshman campaign, but can be the third scorer
for the Boilermakers…just not on a consistent basis. Green lacks the
consistency as well, but is a great athlete and a good rebounder.
Joel’s
Bracket Says: First Round loss to Arizona
