Clemson, who recently defeated No. 4 Kentucky this week, was the opponent of Penn State’s lone loss this season. When the Nittany Lions host No. 8 Purdue on Thursday to begin Big Ten play, they will have another opportunity to demonstrate that their stellar 7-1 start to the season is real.
Inside the Bryce Jordan Center, the game, which will feature two radically different styles of play, will take off at 6:30 p.m. on FS1.
Last season, Purdue lost to UConn in the championship game and finished as the national runner-up. As consistent Big Ten and NCAA competitors, the Boilermakers set the standard for where second-year PSU coach Mike Rhoades wants his squad to finish. He described the match as a step up for the Nittany Lions in terms of weight class.
Their culture is winning. Regardless of who they play against, they have a certain manner of doing things. They advanced to the national championship game as a result. This week, Rhoades stated, “That’s what we’re chasing right now.” That kind of approach and culture are what we wish to pursue. However, it also lets us see where we stand in relation to such programs and cultures.
Rhoades stated that he understands a Matt Painter-coached team won’t defeat itself on any given night, but he still expects Purdue to have high-IQ guys, good guard play, and a more physical style than you might anticipate.
Preseason Big Ten player of the year Braden Smith, a junior guard who averages 12.8 points and a conference-high 9.1 assists per game, leads the Boilers. Junior forward Trey Kaufman-Renn is a breakout player to watch, while junior Fletcher Loyer adds 13.8 points per night with 58.6% shooting from beyond the arc. The 6-9 Kaufman-Renn has taken over in the paint with 19.1 points per game and 7.1 rebounds since 7-4 big man Zach Edey left the NBA.
In the early part of the season, Purdue only ranks 124th in the nation with 78.8 points per game, while Penn State, with its third-best 91.3 points per game and 10th-best 10.8 steals per game, will undoubtedly want to pick up the pace. However, with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.62, which is 30th in the NCAA, and an average of just 11 turnovers, the Boilermakers are adept at holding onto the ball.
Regardless of who we play against, we want to keep playing at [our] speed. “And I felt that we just continued playing at that pace in a couple of the games,” Rhoades said. We had the advantage even when we played at our own speed against Clemson. In a game like that, we simply didn’t do it enough.
For genuine, just be us. Ace Baldwin Jr., the star point guard, stated, “Be us, our style of play.” Don’t alter anything. Simply remain loyal to who we are.
Rhoades and company have now spent a year in the Big Ten and have a better understanding of what to anticipate from a conference that emphasizes physical play. Although Rhoades doesn’t see it that way, Penn State may face a harsh reality in such an early-season test given that Purdue has long been the gold standard.
The Nittany Lions would have defeated a top-10 team for the first time since defeating No. 4 Maryland in 2019 if Penn State prevailed. Additionally, Penn State’s 8-1 start would be their greatest since their 12-1 start in the 2014–15 campaign.
I’ve said it before: The best teacher is experience. “Holy cow,” Rhoades remarked, “you look at the Big Ten schedule, the entire list.” But that’s what you agreed to. That’s what I agreed to. Though I’ve always taken things one day at a time and one game at a time, I’m thrilled about it.
“It’s all about improving,” Rhoades continued. Additionally, you will continue to improve and have a great year if you can get better early in the year. That’s what we want.
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Max Ralph
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