INDIANAPOLIS − Do not be stunned if what Utah State does offensively appears eerily acquainted, Purdue basketball followers.
Aggies coach Danny Sprinkle admitted Saturday afternoon the place he is discovered a few of the group’s offense.
“A variety of our offensive units, like, we steal lots of units from (Matt) Painter and his workers,” Sprinkle stated.
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So a March Insanity second-round showdown will see two groups that ought to know what they’re up towards in that regard.
Purdue will try to succeed in the Candy 16 for the second time in three years and seventh time since 2009 whereas dealing with a Utah State group averaging 80 factors per sport that has scored a minimum of 87 4 occasions in its previous 5 video games.
How will Utah State defend Zach Edey?
The one factor the Aggies cannot replicate is dealing with a 7-4, 300-pound power.
Zach Edey is coming off Friday’s 30-point, 21-rebound efficiency towards Grambling State.
The technique?
Scratch, claw, pray.‘I do not suppose no person has seen something like Zach Edey,’
Attempt to make Edey as uncomfortable as attainable.
“There isn’t any good solution to deal with him,” Utah State guard Ian Martinez stated. “We have simply acquired to go on the market and problem him and never give him something straightforward. He’ll need to work for every part that he desires to get.”
Former Purdue PG Johnny Hill on Utah State teaching workers
Former teammates P.J. Thompson and Johnny Hill are actually opposing one another.
Thompson and Hill had been teammates at Purdue throughout the 2015-16 season. Thompson now coaches Purdue’s offense. Hill is on the Utah State teaching workers.
For Hill, it is no shock Thompson has earned the belief of Matt Painter to run the group’s offensive playcalls.
“If you transition from taking part in to doing no matter it’s you are doing, it’s form of like a brand new id,” Hill stated. “It is nice to see. He’ll be phenomenal. Everyone over there on that stuff understands it and so they see it.”
Names to know
For Purdue: Zach Edey (24.6 factors, 12.0 rebounds, 2.2 blocks); Braden Smith (12.5 factors, 5.8 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.6 steals); Lance Jones (12.1 factors); Fletcher Loyer (10.4 factors).
For Utah State: Nice Osobor (17.8 factors, 9.1 rebounds, 1.5 blocks); Ian Martinez (13.4 factors); Darius Brown II (12.4 factors, 6.6 assists).
Purdue vs Utah State prediction in March Insanity
Each groups have confirmed they’ll rating persistently at a excessive clip.
The matchup to mark is Edey and Osobor on the boards. The winner on these missed pictures doubtless makes the distinction right here.
Prediction: Purdue 83, Utah State 75
Sam King covers sports activities for the Journal & Courier. E mail him at sking@jconline.com and observe him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.