Ohio State remains home to host Purdue in another all-important Big Ten contest. We’ve got your preview, prediction, and odds for the game.
It’s the next all-important step in Ohio State’s journey to the postseason, and yet another big matchup. That’s the way things have been in a deep and talented Big Ten. Every week is a battle, and every game has serious implications — most of the time for both teams.
Such is the case in this one. Ohio State and Purdue are both pretty solidly in the NCAA field as of right now, but a loss either team in a downward slide towards the proverbial bubble.
It’s a home affair the Buckeyes simply have to win in order to stay out of danger territory. You have to hold serve at home, and OSU has already lost a pair of games at Value City Arena this year in the Big Ten. It can ill-afford to drop another at this point.
Ohio State basketball bracketology: Where does USA TODAY have the Buckeyes? https://t.co/MWk1swbsew
Wisconsin takes on Purdue in West Lafayette on Friday evening. Badger fans should be familiar with these three opposing players.
After a historically impressive display of shooting in a victory over Nebraska earlier in the week, the next test for Wisconsin (12-7) comes in the form of a Friday evening affair in West Lafayette against Purdue (10-9).
Matt Painter’s Boilermakers are in the midst of a slump, having dropped four of their last five games and two straight, at No. 17 Maryland and at Mackey Arena against No. 21 Illinois on Tuesday. However, there have been some encouraging performances within that stretch: Purdue annihilated No. 8 Michigan State, 71-42, at home on Jan. 12 and gave No. 19 Michigan all it could handle in an 84-78 double-overtime heartbreaker in Ann Arbor three days before that.
Like essentially all of the teams in the Big Ten this season, this is a squad capable of both beating anyone in the conference, especially at home. Make no mistake, the Boilermakers have the personnel in their rotation to make easy work of Wisconsin if the Badgers go out and have one of the trademark abysmal road performances that we have seen from them plenty this year.
With that said, here are the three players on the other side who Badger fans should keep a close eye on throughout Tuesday’s contest.
Trevion Williams – Forward
Current stats: 11.3 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1.4 apg, 56.8 FG%
Dec 4, 2019; West Lafayette, IN, USA; Purdue Boilermakers forward Trevion Williams (50) reacts in a game against the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half at Mackey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Williams has been a revelation for the Boilermakers this season after making a minimal impact as a freshman last year. The 6-9, 270-pound big man out of Chicago has taken a major leap in Year Two in West Lafayette, leading Purdue in both points and rebounds per game despite averaging just 21.2 minutes.
Williams has emerged as one of the top post players in a conference loaded with talent at the position, especially on the glass: he’s pacing the Big Ten in total rebound percentage and is particularly tough to handle on the offensive boards, sitting just behind Rutgers’ Myles Johnson in offensive rebound percentage.
While he’s been solid all season, Williams has really come on strong during the second half, scoring double figures and/or racking up at least seven rebounds in eight of Purdue’s last ten games. He had arguably the top individual performance of Big Ten play to this point in the season on Jan. 9 at Michigan, putting up an absurd stat line of 26 points on 16-28 shooting to go along with a whopping 20 boards in the Boilermakers’ double-overtime loss.
When analysts label a draft class as weak, that often refers to the talent projected early. But there are always good prospects waiting to be found.
When analysts label a draft class as weak, that often refers to the talent projected early. But there are always good prospects waiting to be found.
Every year, there are players who either out of the second round or who went undrafted that emerge as solid rotational options in the NBA.
Below are guys who were not top recruits coming out of high school and have not been included very high on many mock drafts or big boards. Yet in their 2019-20 campaigns, each has shown appealing traits for their draft stock.
GRANT RILLER, CHARLESTON
(Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Guard, 6-foot-3, Senior
Charleston’s Grant Riller is currently averaging 22.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game. The senior has been one of the most efficient and prolific scorers and creators out of the pick-and-roll. As such, his assist rate (31.7 percent) ranks second-best in his conference. When including assists, he is averaging 1.33 points per possession in a set offense. That ranks in the 93rd percentile this season, per Synergy. Despite his 6-foot-3 frame, Riller is shooting 71.6 percent within five feet of the rim and is capable of attacking the basket. He has also drawn 6.8 fouls per 40 minutes, which ranks No. 18 among all NCAA players. Overall, Riller is a high usage point guard who can potentially make an impact off the bench as an elite mid-major prospect.
DANIEL OTURU, MINNESOTA
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Center, 6-foot-10, Sophomore
Minnesota big man Daniel Oturu is averaging 19.1 points and 12.2 rebounds per game. He has the best defensive rebound percentage (27.2 percent) in the Big Ten Conference. Meanwhile, he is averaging 3.0 blocks per game as well and his block percentage (9.4 percent) ranks third-best in the conference. On the offensive side of the ball, Oturu has connected on 80-of-98 (81.6 percent) attempts within five feet of the basket. That currently ranks as the third-best (minimum: 80 FGA) among all college basketball players. He has also shown some improvement as a potential pick-and-pop option at the next level. There is enough upside on both offense and defense to make him a draftable player potentially even in the first round, especially with his size.
JARED BUTLER, BAYLOR
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Guard, 6-foot-3, Sophomore
The Baylor Bears are off to an electrifying start to the season with an 11-1 record, including wins over Arizona and Villanova. The program has been led by sophomore guard Jared Butler, who has scored 17.3 points per game. Overall, Butler can shoot well off the catch or the dribble. The sophomore has scored up 2.9 three-pointers per game while shooting 42.2 percent from long range. There is serious 3-and-D potential, too, as he put up 1.5 steals per game and the Bears have a Top 10 defense in the NCAA. If his team keeps it up, there is a chance he plays his way into first-round consideration.
ELIJAH HUGHES, SYRACUSE
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Wing, 6-foot-6, Junior
Syracuse wing Elijah Hughes has put up 19.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. He has mostly been used as a spot-up shooter this season, where he is averaging 1.12 PPP – which ranks 84th percentile, via Synergy. Hughes is also 24-for-29 (82.8 percent) on attempts within five feet, which ranks at No. 13 among all players with as many opportunities. Considering his playmaking numbers and rebounding ability, he brings a bit of everything needed to eventually crack a rotation in the NBA. Hughes currently falls No. 97 on ESPN’s big board and No. 92 on The Athletic’s with plenty of time still to rise.
KERRY BLACKSHEAR JR., FLORIDA
Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
Center, 6-foot-10, Senior
After three years at Virginia Tech including a redshirt season due to injury, Kerry Blackshear Jr. became a graduate transfer for the Florida Gators. Now in his final collegiate campaign, he is putting up 14.9 points along with 9.0 rebounds per game. His defensive rebound percentage (23.7 percent) currently ranks fourth-best among all players in the SEC. One thing to note is that he is 84.4 percent in free throws, which shows some promise for his shooting. Blackshear has taken more three-pointers each season he has played, currently averaging 0.9 per game. Overall, he has been a threat in the pick-and-roll both as a roller and on pick-and-pop plays for Florida.
NATHAN KNIGHT, WILLIAM & MARY
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Center, 6-foot-10, Senior
One of the most underrated players in the country is Nathan Knight, who has averaged 20.1 points per game. Overall, he is averaging 1.12 points per possession. That currently in the 95th percentile among all NCAA players, per Synergy. Only 10 players in the country have scored more field goals (75) within five feet of the basket. But the most important thing to know about the big man is that he leads all D1 players in points scored on pick-and-pop possessions, scoring 3.6 points per game. That is a trait that will undeniably impress scouts and executives considering how often this play is run in the NBA. Meanwhile, Knight has also pulled down 9.9 rebounds per game and his defensive rebound percentage (29.1 percent) ranks twelfth-best among all players in the country.
MALACHI FLYNN, SAN DIEGO STATE
(Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Guard, 6-foot-2, Junior
After 15 games, San Diego State is still undefeated – including four wins against conference opponents. Their best player has been junior guard Malachi Flynn, whose assist rate (30.7 percent) has helped keep them as one of the more relevant teams in the NCAA. His assist-to-turnover ratio (3.3) has been fantastic and he has looked sharp against Top 75 teams. Flynn is averaging 15.9 points per game and is shooting 43.0 percent from 3-point range. He has shown flashes shooting on handoffs and off screens. But his biggest strength has been his ability to help his team score in the pick-and-roll. When including his passes, per Synergy, Flynn ranks Top 25 in total points created in the PnR among all D1 Players.
MALIK FITTS, SAINT MARY’S
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Forward, 6-foot-8, Junior
Saint Mary’s has looked better than expected this season and currently have a Top 10 offense, per Ken Pomeroy. As a team, they have the best three-point percentage in the NCAA. Malik Fitts has helped lead this charge with 15.8 points per game while shooting 41.4 percent from three-point range. He is also grabbing 7.9 rebounds per game with a defensive rebound percentage (24.8 percent) that ranks second-best in his conference.
