GOLDANDBLACK.COM PREVIEW: #12 PURDUE vs LITTLE ROCK
NCAA TOURNAMENT MIDWEST REGIONAL - Round 1
Thursday, March 17, 2016 • Approx. 4:30 p.m. ET | Pepsi Center (Denver) | TV: TBS | Radio: Purdue Radio Network
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About this game: After losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament after and extended streak of first-round wins, Purdue wants better this season, much better. The fifth-seeded Boilermakers (26-8) start off against No. 12 seed Little Rock (29-4), an experienced team that hit the ground running under first-year coach Chris Beard. Little Rock has been an outstanding defensive team all season, ranked second nationally in scoring defense.
PURDUE BOILERMAKERS (26-8, 14-7 B1G - including postseason)
Roster | Schedule | Statistics
Projected Starters
C - A.J. Hammons (7-0, 250, Sr.)
Hammons and Isaac Haas will obviously be Purdue's focal points against a team that won't even pretend to be able to match up with the two 7-footers. Little Rock's best defense will be to try to crowd the lane, deny the ball or force them to turn it over by converging on them upon entry. It's going to be important for the centers to make quick passes and decisions when necessary. It's going to be more important for Purdue to absolutely dominate on the glass. Little Rock will run some isolation and get to the basket at times. Hammons' presence will matter.
F- Caleb Swanigan (6-9, 250, Fr.)
Swanigan has hit his stride late in the season and Purdue would like nothing more than for that to continue into the postseason, particularly in his offensive efficiency, improved defense against difficult matchups and with his presence on the glass.
F - Vince Edwards (6-8, 225, So.)
Watch the last six-and-a-half games or so from Edwards and you'll see how much better the Boilermakers look offensively when the forward is breaking defenses down from the wing. Purdue will want to him continue that and show his 0-of-6 three-point shooting from the Michigan State was a fluke. He'd been shooting very well.
F - Rapheal Davis (6-6, 217, Sr.)
Davis changed the Michigan State game with his defense and it would be good for Purdue is he can affect games that same way here in Denver. Little Rock is a guard-driven offense and would be limited if Davis can take one of those guards out. Dakota Mathias and Ryan Cline can really help the Boilermakers by making some shots against a defense that almost has to sell out to cover the post.
G- P.J. Thompson (5-10, 188, So.)
Point guard has become a hot-hand sort of situation. We'll see how this game unfolds, but Thompson's shooting and decision-making might matter. Purdue can't afford to turn the ball over. Johnny Hill's defensive capabilities and rebounding could, though, too.
LITTLE ROCK TROJANS (29-4, 17-3 Sun Belt - including postseason)
Roster | Schedule | Statistics
Projected Starters
Guard - Josh Hagins (6-1, 180, Sr.)
Little Rock's leading scorer, Hagins averages 12.8 per game and will have the ball in his hands a lot. The Trojans will look to isolate him in space when they can.
Guard - Marcus Johnson Jr. (5-11, 175, Jr.)
An excellent spot-up shooter who makes nearly 45 percent of his threes, Johnson is a point guard-type shooting guard. He averages 12.7.
Forward - Mareik Isom (6-9, 215, Jr.)
Isom averages just six points per game and 2.7 rebounds but has made 42 percent of his threes on a high-volume of attempts. Little Rock's frontcourt might be able to stretch Purdue out.
Forward - Roger Woods (6-5, 230, Sr.)
Woods is Little Rock's third-leading scorer at 11.3 points per game and a very efficient 58-percent shooter. He will presumably have to stay in front of Edwards at the defensive
Forward/Center - Lis Shoshi (6-11, 210, Sr.)
Shoshi is going to have his hands full with Hammons and Haas defensively and with Swanigan on the glass. Maybe his best bet will be to try to pull them away from the basket. He was 10-of-18 from three in Sun Belt games this season. Might be worth a try.
| Rebound | Shoot well | Turnovers |
|---|---|---|
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This is the portion of the game where Little Rock should be most overwhelmed. They lack anything close to the size and physicality Purdue has, but Purdue has to be careful to not let them just try harder. Blocking out and simply concentrating are going to be important, as always. Second-chance points will be especially harmful. |
Purdue's season ended prematurely last season in part because it couldn't make a shot against Cincinnati. It will have opportunities against Little Rock, which may have to swarm the post just to have a chance down there. But Purdue has been shooting well lately and will need to be at least solid to maximize its advantages in this one. |
Purdue can't afford them. Little Rock needs to force them. The Trojans will press. The turnover bug can re-appear at any time and end the Boilermakers' season if they're not careful. They have to be especially careful against this particular team, due to the nature of its defense. The big men have to make good, quick decisions. |
PREDICTION: PURDUE 75, LITTLE ROCK 66
Make no mistake: Little Rock does have some of the elements that can give Purdue problems. The Trojans press, their frontcourt can shoot the ball and they'll probably play pretty hard, not that Purdue won't. This game means a lot to Little Rock and Purdue will match that effort. It would be stunning if it didn't. Purdue is playing like a team that can do some damage in this tournament and it starts now.
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