Purdue basketball ramps up defense during win streak: 5 numbers to back it up

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Remember those old school Purdue basketball teams coached by Gene Keady?

The ones who always had a chance because they played defense, had grit and could win games ugly?

Look a lot like the current Boilermakers, don’t they?

Coach Matt Painter doesn’t have that elite eraser defender he’s had at times in his career, with guys like Chris Kramer and Rapheal Davis.

Instead, Purdue has relied on help defense and savvy instincts.

It’s given the Boilermakers opportunities to stay in it when shots aren’t falling in recent road games at Minnesota, Rutgers and Washington.

On Wednesday night, the Boilermakers found themselves down 10 late in the first half vs. the Huskies, but forced nine turnovers.

More: Purdue basketball needed more from Caleb Furst — and the Boilers big man is supplying it.

“Defensively, I didn’t think it was that bad in the first half, you know, holding someone to 30 points on their home court,” Painter told reporters after.

Four minutes and 24 seconds into the second half, Purdue led Washington, ultimately running to a sixth straight victory, all of them by double figures.

Washington finished with 17 turnovers, becoming the fourth straight opponent Purdue has turned over at least 13 times.

Purdue’s next challenge: at Oregon Saturday afternoon.

Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Brice Williams (3) is guarded by Purdue Boilermakers guard C.J. Cox (0) Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, during the NCAA men’s basketball game at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind. Purdue Boilermakers won 104-68.

5 defensive stats during Purdue basketball win streak

Opponents points per game: 60.3

Purdue has outscored opponents by an average of 20.3 points over its six-game winning streak. Nebraska scored 68 ― most of them inconsequential ― the highest against the Boilermakers during that stretch. Washington is the fourth opponent in the last five games to score 61 or fewer.

Turnovers forced per game: 14.2

Minnesota, with eight, is the only team that didn’t have double-digit turnovers against the Boilermakers…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/purdue-basketball-ramps-defense-during-090440814.html

Author : Journal & Courier

Publish date : 2025-01-17 09:04:00

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