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WHO: #7 Seed Purdue Boilermakers (19-9, 10-8 Massive Ten)
WHEN: Friday, March 3 at 5:30 PM CT
WHERE: Goal Heart (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
TV: Massive Ten Community
RADIO: Hawkeye Radio Community | Sirius/XM 109 or 196
MOBILE: www.foxsports.com/cellular
ONLINE: www.foxsports.com/reside
FOLLOW: @IowaAwesome | @IowaWBB | @IowaonBTN

Purdue is perhaps taking part in for its NCAA Match life. On Tuesday, ESPN had Purdue listed because the final staff to obtain a bye into the NCAA Match. If true, that will imply Purdue is 5 spots from the bubble and sure secure after its victory over Wisconsin within the Massive Ten Match.

However there’s no assure that ESPN is correct. The Choice Committee in its first two High 16 reveals differed from ESPN’s initiatives in some notable methods. The Committee’s final High 16 launch appeared to put greater emphasis on a staff’s most up-to-date outcomes. That may very well be dangerous information for Purdue, because it misplaced to a nasty Minnesota staff and bought blown out by Indiana in 2 of its final 3 common season video games.

A loss to Iowa wouldn’t damage Purdue’s resume by itself. However a win right here would nearly actually assure that Purdue will see its title within the bracket on Choice Sunday, secure from the play-in video games. Due to that, we should always anticipate Purdue to present Iowa its easiest shot Friday evening.

Full disclosure: I began scripting this preview Thursday morning. On the time, I felt comparatively assured in a Purdue victory. For a lot of the Purdue-Wisconsin recreation, nonetheless, I puzzled if that point was going to be wasted.

Wisconsin dominated the sport early and led 30-12 within the second quarter. Purdue began to determine issues out and got here again within the second and third quarters, however didn’t really take the lead again till 4 minutes to go within the 4th quarter. Then with 10.8 seconds left, Wisconsin’s Maty Wilke buried a 3 to present the Badgers a 55-54 lead. It regarded momentarily like Wisconsin would steal the sport again.

However on the opposite finish, Purdue’s Jayla Smith bought open for a 3 and hit the largest shot of her profession to date to place Purdue up 57-55 with 4 seconds to play. Wisconsin bought one closing shot on the buzzer, however it was quick and Purdue escaped the upset.

Iowa beat Purdue 83-68 when the 2 groups met within the common season on December twenty ninth in Iowa Metropolis. Iowa seized management of the sport within the second quarter and held a 44-23 lead at halftime. Purdue battled again within the third quarter and bought as shut as 11 earlier than Iowa pulled away once more.

Caitlin Clark had a reasonably pedestrian recreation by her requirements, scoring 24, grabbing 6 rebounds, and dishing 4 assists. McKenna Warnock had considered one of her greatest video games of the season with 19 factors and 9 rebounds. Monika Czinano took simply 8 pictures within the recreation and scored 12.

The large story from the Purdue recreation was the emergence of Hannah Stuelke. Stuelke scored 11 factors and grabbed 10 rebounds in lower than 11 minutes of recreation time.

Given how way back the sport was, I’m unsure there’s a lot we are able to take away from it apart from that Stuelke’s athleticism may very well be an X-factor within the rematch.

Like many Massive Ten groups, Purdue’s offense charges forward of its protection. Its offense charges sixtieth nationally in factors per 100 possessions, whereas its protection ranks a hundred and fiftieth in opponent’s factors per 100 possessions. Purdue performs at a comparatively sluggish tempo (132nd nationally) so tempo might additionally have an effect on the sport.

Offensively, Purdue’s 53.2% taking pictures from 2 ranks thirteenth nationally. The Boilermakers additionally shoot nicely from the free throw line, however aren’t pretty much as good from three (97th nationally). Purdue additionally doesn’t seize many offensive rebounds, as its offensive rebounding price ranks 289th.

Purdue is a significantly better defensive rebounding staff rating seventy fifth. Purdue’s different defensive metrics are pretty unimpressive. The Boilermakers don’t get many steals, power many turnovers, and don’t block many pictures. Their opponents shoot fairly nicely from each two and three.

Purdue is a bit unusual in that its main scorers common the third, fifth, and sixth most minutes on the staff.

That begins with guard Lasha Petree, who averages 15.0 ppg on 46% taking pictures from 2 and 37.7% taking pictures from 3, however who solely performs 23.7 minutes per recreation.

Ahead Caitlyn Harper averages 10.9 ppg and three.9 rpg. She shoots 61.8% from 2 and 34% from 3, however like Petree she solely averages 24.4 minutes per recreation.

Guard Abbey Ellis is Purdue’s closing double-digit scorer averaging 11.2 ppg. She shoots 54.8% from 2, 39% from 3, and an impressive 90.8% from the road.

Purdue’s minutes chief (30.2 per recreation) is Jeanae Terry. She doesn’t rating a ton (6.7 ppg), however does common 7.6 rpg, 6.5 apg, and a couple of.3 spg.

Be able to face Purdue. Iowa has confronted entice video games for a lot of the season, however that is clearly one other one. The Hawks are coming off of an emotional victory over #2 Indiana on a last-second buzzer-beater from Clark. In the event that they win this recreation, a rematch with a Maryland staff that embarrassed Iowa simply final week looms.

Purdue is a possible NCAA Match staff itself and has a ton to play for. Iowa can’t afford to bask within the glory of the Indiana win or to look forward an excessive amount of to Maryland.

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