It’s day three of the Big Ten Tournament and the 9th seed Rutgers Scarlet Knights are gearing up to take on the 1st seed Purdue Boilermakers. Rutgers earned their spot by defeating the 8th seed Michigan Wolverines in the second round, while Purdue closed out their season with a win over Illinois. The two teams have only faced off once this season, with Rutgers winning by one on the road. The winner of this game will go on to play the winner of the Ohio State/Michigan State game on Saturday.
Rutgers has a strong defense, with two All-League defenders and ranking 3rd in the nation in defensive efficiency. However, their offense ranks 172nd in the nation in efficiency. They’re currently projected to be an 11th seed in the play-in tournament for the Big Dance. Rutgers’ star players include senior guard Cam Spencer and 6’11 junior Clifford Omoruyi.
Purdue, on the other hand, looks to win the conference tournament after taking the regular season title with a 15-5 league record. They have the top ranking in the Big Ten and the 6th overall ranking by KenPom. Their dominant offense and defense have propelled them to be projected as a 2nd seed in the NCAA Tournament. Zach Edey, who was just named Big Ten Player of the Year, leads the team with his impressive 7’4 frame and averages of 21.9 PPG and 12.8 RPG.
This game is sure to be a clash of titans, with Rutgers’ strong defense going head-to-head with Purdue’s dominant offense. Tune in at 12:00 ET on the Big Ten Network to see who comes out on top.
-Money Mav
No comment yet, add your voice below!