Extended Purdue Preview – Yahoo Sports

Iowa State rolls into Mackey Arena on Saturday morning to face what could be the tallest task of the 2025-26 season: Attempting to beat the number 1 team in the country on their home floor.

The Boilermakers (8-0) have put together an impressive non-conference resume thus far, including a win at Alabama and a 30-point trouncing of Texas Tech. They are the number 2 ranked team per KenPom, 5th best team per Bart Torvik, and the 3rd best per EvanMiya. The analytics love Purdue and they have the talent to support it.

Advertisement

Notably, Purdue’s number 1 ranked offense (KenPom) features one of the best players in college basketball in Braden Smith. Smith, the 6’0″ Senior Point Guard, is on every watchlist imaginable and will almost certainly be a contender for the Naismith Trophy when the season ends in April.

Smith presents problems for Iowa State’s ultra-aggressive no-middle defense, which feasts on poor decision-making from opposing guards. The Senior boasts an astounding sense of court vision, seemingly finding passing lanes that don’t exist with ease AND flash.

Smith has been an eye test darling and the numbers back up his strong play. His assist rate is the 9th best in all of college basketball and he still manages to shoot 41% from 3 while playing 31 minutes a night, a number sure to go up as Purdue gets into conference play. Speaking of conference play, did I mention Smith was the Big Ten POY last year?

Iowa State’s defensive stockpile of Lipsey, Toure, and even Heise will all be tested whenever Smith is on the floor. The Cyclones will need to remain physical on-and-off the ball and work to push Smith away from the paint. His ability to dish is unlike anyone else in all of College Basketball and the numbers back that up. In Purdue losses last year his assist numbers are almost identical to when the Boilermakers won, while his scoring drops a full 5 points/game during losses. Can Lipsey (if healthy and playing) and Toure stay out of foul trouble and make life…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/extended-purdue-preview-235837278.html

Author :

Publish date : 2025-12-04 23:58:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.