Purdue Preview: Opening Weekend.
By ZACH VOGT (@ZachVogt30)
ISL Contributor
Buckle up, Purdue fans. It’s March.
The long awaited NCAA Tournament bracket is out, and Purdue’s path to destiny is in front of them. It has been a fun regular season for the Boilers, who put together the nation’s best resumé. Purdue won the Big Ten Conference by multiple games for the second consecutive season, and secured another #1 seed in March. All of those regular season accomplishments are great, but I’m sure everyone can agree: for this program, it’s all about what they do from this point forward. It’ll feel as if it was all for nothing if there is another early tournament exit.
Let’s take a look at their path.
Purdue earned themselves the #1 seed in the Midwest Region, hosted in Indianapolis. The round of 64 & 32 games will be played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, home of the Indiana Pacers, a building Purdue is familiar with. Purdue defeated #1 Arizona 92-84 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse back in December.
Purdue’s game will tip-off Friday at approximately 7:25 PM EST vs. the winner of Montana State/Grambling State. Here’s a look at each potential opponent:
The Montana State Bobcats- of the Big Sky Conference
•17-17 Overall (9-9 Conference)
•Head Coach: Matt Logie
•The Bobcats have made the NCAA Tournament each of the last 3 seasons
•Net Ranking: 208th
•KenPom Rankings: 213th Overall – 234th Off – 198th Def
The Bobcats are led by Robert Ford. He is averaging 15.9 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 3.0 APG, 2.9 SPG, while shooting 42.6% from 3.
The Grambling State Tigers- of the Southwestern Athletic Conference
•20-14 Overall (14-4 Conference)
•Head Coach: Donte Jackson
•This is the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance
•Net Ranking: 279th
•KenPom Rankings: 267th Overall – 297th Off – 197th Def
•The Tigers are led by Dozier Kintavious. He is averaging 13.1 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, while shooting 33.3% from 3.
As we know from experience, it’s never safe to assume anything when it comes to Purdue in March, but let’s take a look at their potential round 2 opponents, should they take care of business on Friday night.
Tipping off at approximately 9:55 PM Friday night will be Utah State and TCU. A very intriguing 8/9 match-up that Purdue will hopefully get to entertain. Let’s take a look at what these two teams bring to the court:
The Utah State Aggies- of the Mountain West
•27-6 Overall (14-4 Conference)
•Head Coach: Danny Sprinkle
•This is the program’s 24th appearance in the NCAA Tournament
•Net Ranking: 38th
•KenPom Rankings: 48th Overall – 39th Off – 68th Def
•The Aggies are led by Great Osobor. He is averaging 18.0 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.3 SPG, while shooting 58.3% from the field.
The TCU Horned Frogs of the Big 12.
•21-12 Overall (9-9 Conference)
•Head Coach: Jamie Dixon
•This will be the program’s 11th appearance in the NCAA Tournament
•Net Ranking: 42nd
•KenPom Rankings: 33rd Overall – 44th Off – 31st Def
•The Horned Frogs are led by Emanuel Miller. He is averaging 15.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, while shooting 38.2% from 3.
Purdue has a very exciting weekend ahead of them. It’s a weekend full of opportunity: An opportunity to right the wrongs of years past, and an opportunity to get the weight of years of agony off their back. It’s also an opportunity to put on a show for the home fans to prove that this time, things will be different.
Friday night. 7:25 PM. Purdue’s pursuit of ascending to the top begins.
