Texas A&M-CC Islanders vs. Purdue Boilermakers Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 4th 2024
Preview and Prediction
In a time where the most crucial phrases in collegiate basketball are transfer portal and the most significant abbreviation is NIL, No. 14 Purdue is approaching things in the traditional manner.
As the Boilermakers gear up for their season opener in West Lafayette, Ind., against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, their entire 18-man roster consists of players who have not previously worn another team's uniform. And there is one notable player who is no longer a part of the Purdue team.
"Nothing alters," stated experienced coach Matt Painter, who is entering his 20th season as the program's leader. "People may think you need to have a grand plan all the time, but the game itself does not change. You must have players who work well together. You must take care of the ball. You must rebound. You must execute plays and strategies that expose the defense's weaknesses and play to your team's strengths."
It may not be as effortless for Purdue, who competed for the national championship in April and fell to two-time title holders, Connecticut.
That was the final collegiate game for 7-foot-4 center Zach Edey, who graduated after winning back-to-back National Player of the Year awards.
However, the Boilermakers still have three returning starters from their 34-win team, including point guard Braden Smith (12 points per game, 7.5 assists, 5.8 rebounds) and sharpshooting guard Fletcher Loyer (10.8 ppg, 44.4 percent from beyond the arc).
In the frontcourt, 6-9 Trey Kaufman-Renn (6.4 ppg) is expected to see an increase in scoring opportunities. Last season, he demonstrated his ability to take advantage of teams when they focused on Edey, scoring 23 points in a January victory over Illinois and 18 points in a blowout against Utah State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
"We believe that we can be a formidable defensive team, and we also believe that we can adapt to different offensive styles," Painter declared.
While Purdue strives to maintain their status as a contender for the national championship, the Islanders aim to compete for a Southland Conference title after finishing with a record of 21-12 in coach Jim Shaw's first year. This was achieved despite losing 92 percent of the previous season's production.
Shaw has four returning starters and three other key contributors, hoping that his team can take the next step and secure the program's third NCAA Tournament appearance in four years.
"We have a few more players who can create their own shots and make plays," he stated. "However, our frontcourt must continue to rebound effectively for us to be successful."
The standout player is 6-8 senior Garry Clark, who was named to the first-team all-Southland after averaging 13.2 points and 8.1 rebounds per game while leading the league in field goal percentage (53.2).
"He is an exceptional young man who knows how to score and rebound on both ends of the court," Shaw praised Clark.
Guard Jordan Roberts, along with forwards Owen Dease and Stephen Giwa, also return to the lineup. Sixth man Dian Wright-Forde (10.4 ppg) may potentially step into a starting role after finishing second on the team in scoring.
This will be the first meeting between Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Purdue.
Texas A&M-CC Islanders vs. Purdue Boilermakers Recap NOV 4TH 2024
Fletcher Loyer scored 21 points and Braden Smith dished out 15 assists on Monday night as No. 14 Purdue fended off Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the second half for a season-opening 90-73 win in West Lafayette, Ind.
Trey Kaufman-Renn added 15 points for the Boilermakers, who also got 14 off the bench from Myles Colvin. Daniel Jacobsen, a 7-4 freshman center stepping in for the departed Zach Edey, contributed 13 points and seven rebounds as Purdue canned 56.4 percent of its field goal attempts. Smith chipped in 12 points and eight boards.
Four players scored in double figures for the Islanders, led by Owen Dease's 20 points. Garry Clark added 14, while Isaac Williams netted 12 points and Dian Wright-Forde kicked in 10. They tallied 19 points off 16 Boilermaker turnovers.
Purdue never trailed but couldn't relax until the final three minutes. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi cut a 16-point halftime deficit to 70-67 when Clark sank a 3-pointer with 6:42 remaining. The Boilermakers pulled away by going inside, getting a dunk from Jacobsen and a layup from Kaufman-Renn to start a game-ending 20-6 burst.
Purdue earned a 39-27 advantage on the glass and also made 10 more free throws (17) than the Islanders shot (7).
Starting life without the two-time consensus national Player of the Year Edey, now a rookie in the NBA with Memphis, Purdue rolled through the first half. It shot well and forced Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to hit less than 40 percent from the field.
The Boilermakers snapped a 17-17 tie at the 10:35 mark when C.J. Cox drilled one of their nine 3-pointers in the half. Colvin drained one of his four 3-pointers with 5:54 left to up the margin to 10 for the first time at 33-23.
Colvin's dunk in transition with 12 seconds remaining pushed the advantage to 18 before Williams made a layup just before the horn. Still, Purdue went to the half with a comfortable 49-33 lead.
The Boilermakers displayed excellent ball movement, drawing assists on 16 of their 17 made field goals.