3 keys for Purdue basketball that can lead to upset of Houston

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Purdue 76, McNeese 62: Matt Painter’s reaction to Boilers win

The Boilermakers coach on Trey Kaufman-Renn’s rebounding, defensive answers, what happens when the transfer portal opens Monday and more.

WEST LAFAYETTE — Did McNeese State just set up Purdue basketball for its next NCAA Tournament challenge?

The Cowboys were buried early by the Boilermakers’ outside shooting.

Backs against the wall, McNeese went to a full court press and tried to force the ball out of point guard Braden Smith’s hands.

Houston, Purdue’s Sweet 16 opponent Friday night and the nation’s most efficient defensive team, feasts on forcing point guards to get rid of the ball.

On Saturday afternoon, Purdue countered McNeese’s press with a unique lineup it hasn’t shown this season.

It included Smith, freshmen guards CJ Cox and Gicarri Harris along with Myles Colvin all in the backcourt. It was a game where all four flourished and, until late when a comeback was essentially out of reach, proved to work in terms of getting the ball past McNeese’s defense.

More: Can Braden Smith give Purdue basketball three straight Naismith Trophy award winners?

“They were picking up the press in the second half so seeing us having four guards, four ball handlers out there is definitely beneficial, especially with Braden having to bring the ball up the whole game,” Cox said.

Houston will be the popular pick to beat Purdue, but the Boilermakers can win. Here’s how.

Can Purdue basketball continuity lead to upset of Houston in Sweet 16?

Of the 16 remaining teams in the NCAA Tournament, only one has a starting lineup with players who’ve only been at one college program.

Other than Cox, who has been in the starting five the last 22 games, Purdue’s other four starters have the benefit of three full seasons together.

Senior Caleb Furst has 55 career starts and 140 career games played. Redshirt junior center Trey Kaufman-Renn has 74 consecutive starts and 109 games played. Junior guards Smith and Fletcher Loyer have started all 109 games in…

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Publish date : 2025-03-26 08:02:00

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