Purdue basketball opens Big Ten play with dud at Penn State; player ratings

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The annual early season Big Ten dud came Thursday night in the conference opener for Purdue basketball.

Penn State’s defense swarmed the Boilermakers, who didn’t help themselves by failing to cash in on good looks offensively.

By halftime, the Boilermakers turned the ball over 14 times and found themselves in an insurmountable deficit.

Penn State, meanwhile, got the marquee victory that validates its 8-1 start while Purdue falls to 0-2 in true road games.

More: What is Purdue athletic director Mike Bobinski’s track record hiring football coaches?

Rating the Boilermakers from Thursday’s Big Ten opener at Bryce Jordan Center:

Dec 5, 2024; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions forward Zach Hicks (24) defends as Purdue Boilermakers guard Fletcher Loyer (2) looks to pass the ball during the first half at Bryce Jordan Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images

STARTERS

Braden Smith: 3/10

We’re grading this on the Braden Smith curve, meaning an All-American candidate and Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year. Players with those accolades have to get you through the tough ones. Smith didn’t attempt a shot until late in the first half and had struggles with Penn State’s defensive pressure.

More: Purdue opens Big Ten title defense with a dud at Penn State, another court-storming

Fletcher Loyer: 5/10

Loyer’s 3 accounted for Purdue’s first field goal and the Boilermakers had an early 5-0 lead. The points were there for the junior guard, but he struggled taking care of the ball and also finishing at the rim. Don’t confuse him for the best athlete on the floor and that was evident when he was blocked twice early in the first half.

Myles Colvin: 4/10

His lone bucket was a 3 when the Boilermakers had to have a shot go down.

Cam Heide: 3/10

Heide did end up with three steals, but Purdue can’t get a goose egg out of him in the scoring column.

Trey Kaufman-Renn: 5/10

Too many turnovers for the redshirt junior center. He’ll have to be more advantageous from the free throw line….

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/purdue-basketball-opens-big-ten-014330280.html

Author : Journal & Courier

Publish date : 2024-12-06 01:43:00

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