No. 8 Purdue begins the pursuit of a 3rd consecutive Huge Ten Convention regular-season title when it hits the highway to face Penn State on Thursday at College Park, Pa.
The Boilermakers (7-1) enter their Huge Ten opener recent off a productive Thanksgiving journey to sunny San Diego, with victories over North Carolina State and No. 23 Ole Miss in a four-team event close to the Pacific Ocean.
The success in California helped to erase any lingering sting from a 76-58 highway loss to then-No. 15 Marquette on Nov. 19.
In an 80-78 victory over Ole Miss on Friday, Purdue led by 17 factors earlier than halftime solely to path by as many as seven factors with below 9 minutes remaining.
The Boilermakers pulled forward once more with 3:03 remaining and received it on a Myles Colvin offensive rebound and putback with below a second left. Colvin scored 20 factors, whereas Trey Kaufman-Renn collected 25 factors and 13 rebounds for his first profession double-double.
Kaufman-Renn not solely was named event MVP, he earned Huge Ten Participant of the Week honors after he averaged 23.5 factors with 10.5 rebounds within the two victories at San Diego. He’s averaging 19.2 factors and seven.1 rebounds on the season, whereas taking pictures 60.4 p.c from the ground.
Purdue coach Matt Painter predicted that Kaufman-Renn can be a prime scorer final yr when the Boilermakers have been making ready for the chance that the 7-foot-4 Zach Edey would go to the NBA. Edey returned and Painter’s prediction got here to the forefront one yr later.
“I used to be like, ‘Hey, it is what I consider you, it is what I’ve seen, and also you’re a man who can actually rating the basketball,'” Painter stated after Friday’s victory.
At 6-8, Kaufman-Renn is not speculated to mimic Edey’s sport, however he’s being requested to play inside extra in an rising small-ball lineup.
“I am simply working in several coverages and nonetheless attempting to determine what coach needs me to do,” Kaufman-Renn stated, based on the Lafayette Journal & Courier. “But in addition, I am simply getting used to that place.”
Penn State (7-1) is off to its personal sturdy begin with its lone defeat on a impartial court docket towards Clemson 75-67 final week at Daytona Seashore, Fla. The Nittany Lions rebounded to earn an 87-64 residence victory over Buffalo on Sunday and are off to their finest begin for the reason that 2019-20 season.
Yanic Konan Niederhauser scored 27 factors towards the Bulls to match a profession excessive and Freddie Dilione V added a career-best 16 factors. Level guard Ace Baldwin Jr. had 10 assists.
Penn State put away Buffalo by taking pictures 70.4 p.c from the ground within the second half whereas going 6 of 9 from 3-point vary after halftime. The Nittany Lions shot 56.5 p.c total within the sport.
“Giving up an excellent shot to get a terrific shot, I assumed we did that,” Penn State coach Mike Rhoades stated after his crew had 23 assists on 35 made baskets. “I assumed within the second half, the ball was actually buzzing and guys did an excellent job of getting one another open pictures.”
Penn State completed within the again half of the Huge Ten standings final season, dropping 95-78 to Purdue on Jan. 13 when the Boilermakers have been ranked No. 1 on the time.
–Discipline Stage Media
