Maryland and Purdue met back on Dec. 6, 2018, in what was each team’s second Big Ten conference game. Purdue wound up winning the game 62-60 in a defensive battle. Since then, both teams have been among the best teams in the conference, as Purdue and Maryland are currently in second and fourth place, respectively.
To learn more about the red-hot Boilermakers, we spoke to Bailey Chambers of the Purdue Exponent. Our conversation has been edited lightly for clarity.
Since Maryland and Purdue’s first meeting on Dec. 6, how has the Boilermaker’s season progressed?
Since our first meeting, Purdue has changed a lot as a team. That win on Dec. 6 came as Purdue’s lone win in a five-game stretch and it looked as if the Boilermakers wouldn’t contend with the top teams in the Big Ten at the time. Purdue’s role players were playing really inconsistently and the team had to constantly rely on huge performances from star guard Carsen Edwards. Now the narrative has changed. The offense is clicking and the team has won 11 of its last 12 games. Freshman center Trevion Williams has really emerged as a great option inside, and senior guard Ryan Cline has really stepped up and is shooting a high percentage. Essentially the team chemistry has really improved.
This year all of Purdue’s losses have come away from home. What is different about Purdue when not playing at Mackey Arena?
Basically, there’s a certain magic that playing in Mackey brings to the team. It is truly one of the loudest atmospheres in college basketball, and I think it gets in the heads of opposing teams when they play here. Also, the crowd really motivates Purdue to play with a certain energy that its doesn’t have on the road. Away from Mackey, I think Purdue’s opposition plays with much more confidence than it would at Purdue, and the teams are able to stick to their respective game plans more effectively, leading to more success.
Purdue has won eight straight games, and 11 of its last 12. What has changed for the Boilermakers over this run?
Just like I said in my first answer, I think the Boilers are doing an incredible job of sharing the basketball and getting everyone involved on the offensive end. That and the fact that Williams and Matt Haarms are able to come up big night in and night out on the boards mean Purdue has been able to come away with consistent success.
Purdue has one of the best offenses in the country (No. 4 in offensive efficiency on KenPom, 3rd in scoring in the Big Ten). What makes Purdue’s offense so hard to stop?
I think the fact that the Boilers have one of the best shooting backcourts in the nation with Edwards and Cline and a front court with tremendous length which has really improved this year with Williams and Haarms is what makes Purdue’s offense so hard to stop. If the guards aren’t shooting well, the bigs are more likely picking up the slack. If the bigs are having a rough game, the guards are probably shooting well. It’s the talent at every position that really makes Purdue such a challenge for opposing defenses.
Purdue wins if…
Purdue wins if it’s able to control Bruno Fernando. The defensive performance, especially from Nojel Eastern, will be key in getting Purdue into a position to win the game.
Maryland wins if…
Maryland wins if Purdue isn’t able to knock down shots and plays flustered in a tough road environment. We’ve seen that movie before this year in Boiler losses at Michigan and Michigan State. Also, if Purdue relies too heavily on Edwards for scoring that could be a major issue.
