Purdue Freshman Braden Smith Delivers Rebound Performance Against Ohio State: ‘That’s Just Who He Is’

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Following Purdue’s first lack of the season to Rutgers, head coach Matt Painter gave his evaluation of Braden Smith’s efficiency fairly bluntly. 

He felt as if it was the freshman guard’s worst sport of the season, and he would want to rebound when the crew tipped off towards Ohio State on the street Thursday evening. 

Smith responded in dominant trend for the No. 1-ranked Boilermakers, taking part in a season-high 38 minutes whereas main the crew in scoring throughout a 71-69 victory over the No. 24 Buckeyes. 

“I believe the coaches simply having that confidence in me, after which the gamers simply telling me to go play my sport and the whole lot will fall into place,” Smith mentioned. “So simply form of listening to them and listening to what they must say was large for me, and it simply form of gave me a confidence enhance.” 

After a gradual begin at Worth Metropolis Area, Smith took over the offense for Purdue. He went 5-of-7 from the sector within the first half, together with 2-of-3 from the 3-point line, whereas including two assists and one rebound with out turning the ball over. 

Smith’s lone help within the opening interval got here throughout a 9-0 run that made it a 33-33 sport with 1:22 left to play earlier than halftime. He capped the crew’s three consecutive 3-pointers on a fastbreak that pressured the Buckeyes to name a timeout. 

Purdue, after trailing by as many as 12 factors within the first half, went into the break behind by simply three factors. Smith was the catalyst for erasing the deficit, scoring a team-high 12 factors earlier than the second half. 

“Should you had been watching them and did not know something about them, you’d by no means assume they had been freshmen,” Purdue senior guard David Jenkins Jr. mentioned of Smith and fellow first-year guard Fletcher Loyer. “You’ll by no means assume that. Their poise, they appear like vets on the market.” 

Scoring slowed for Smith within the second half, who linked on solely certainly one of his three shot makes an attempt. Nonetheless, the rising star notched one other 4 assists and got here down with three rebounds with out ever coming off the ground. 

Smith drilled his third and ultimate 3-pointer of the sport to spark a 10-0 Purdue run, which resulted in a 52-46 benefit with 13:10 left within the second half. It was the crew’s largest lead within the contest. 

Of Smith’s 4 assists within the ultimate interval, three resulted in 3-pointers. The Boilermakers completed the sport capturing 13-of-31 from deep, a season-high. 

After struggling in a matchup with the Scarlet Knights on Monday, Smith shook off the poor efficiency and tied junior heart Zach Edey with a team-high 16 factors towards the Buckeyes. He completed with six assists and 4 rebounds.

“Properly that is who he’s, he is aggressive,” Painter mentioned. “He is like Fletch. These guys are very clever in regards to the sport for true freshmen they usually imagine in themselves. Generally once you wrestle, you want that. 

“Everybody goes to wrestle in some unspecified time in the future whether or not that is their capturing or their play or no matter. You simply wish to see folks reply and get again on the market and compete.” 

Associated tales on Purdue basketball

• David Jenkins Jr. Discovering Comfortability in Position at Purdue: Purdue guard David Jenkins logged 9 factors on 3-of-4 capturing, together with 3-of-3 from the 3-point line to assist the crew in a 71-69 victory over Ohio State on the street. He earned the possibility to start out within the second half and performed a complete of 19 minutes. CLICK HERE 
• Kevin Durant Reacts to Purdue’s Win Over Ohio State: Brooklyn Nets celebrity Kevin Durant reacted to Purdue basketball’s 71-69 win over Ohio State on Twitter. The Boilermakers defeated the Buckeyes on the street on a 3-pointer within the ultimate minute of play. CLICK HERE
• Purdue Edges Ohio State on Late 3-Pointer: Purdue freshman guard Fletcher Loyer scored all 11 of his factors within the second half, together with the game-winning 3-pointer to take down Ohio State on the street. The Boilermakers completed the sport with a season-high 13 made photographs from deep. CLICK HERE
• Purdue, Ohio State Picture Gallery: Following a loss, No. 1 Purdue basketball rebounded with a 71-69 street victory over No. 24 Ohio State. Here is our picture gallery from the sport in Worth Metropolis Area. CLICK HERE

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