What’s likely to be a cruel twist to a celebratory start to the Niko Medved at Minnesota, the Gophers come into Mackey Arena on the heels of an upset win over the Hoosiers to move to 1-0 in the Big Ten.
That high might get ruined in West Lafayette tonight as a reeling Purdue team looks to get right after getting blown out at home by Iowa State on Saturday.
The 81-58 upset from the Cyclones to the then #1 Boilers is the worst home loss in history for a #1 seed.
Now Purdue looks to move to 2-0 in the Big Ten for the first time in four seasons while reminding the college basketball landscape that one game won’t define it.
Purdue cruised through its first win in conference against Rugers, at home, following a humbling loss to Iowa State, look for Purdue trying to crush Minnesota.
Upset win gives Minnesota glimpse towards hope
It hadn’t been a clean start to its season. Minnesota, with its new head coach, Niko Medved, came into the IU game with a 4-4 record, losing to Missouri early and then taking a three-game losing streak into the December 3rd match up with Indiana at home.
But Medved’s system is starting to take hold for Minnesota. Something Painter highlighted as a strength of Medved’s teams. Minnesota has played at a glacial place this season, but in the half court the Golden Gophers get to work on its two favorite things: getting to the free throw line and cutting.
Painter, prevewing Minnesota yesterday, mentioned how well Minnesota cuts and that will be Purdue’s priority on defense to try and stay with its collection of cutters as they move to try and get to the rim and open from three.
Cade Tyson putting on a show
Minnesota’s offense runs through Tyson who is one of the nation’s best shooters. At 6-7, Tyson would be dangerous under any condition, but he’s one of the best on the move shooters in the country. He’s able to make shots on the move, both with and without the ball, and carries a lot of water for an offense that doesn’t have a ton of shot makers.
Tyson will be an interesting problem for Purdue. Purdue doesn’t have great length on the wing so it has to put smaller guards/wings on big shooters. That was part of the problem against Iowa Stata when the game got away from Purdue. Milan Momcilovic is a 6-8 shooter and Purdue had no answer for him making some tough jumpers on the perimeter. Momcilovic was able to be comfortable getting shots over whoever Purdue had to put on him.
Tyson will present similar changes with less dangerous options around him. So will Purdue sell out to take Tyson’s jump shot away from him? Or can someone step up on the defensive end.
Tyson is also one of the nation’s best players at getting to the line. Purdue will need to limit that to keep him out of rhythm.
Minnesota will want to grind the game
It was when Minnesota settled IU and got into slow post ups, collections of hand offs, and slow developing rolls to the rim that the Golden Gophers started to take it to the Hoosiers last week. It will need to keep the pace down again against Purdue. Purdue’s also one of the slowest teams in the country, but while maintaining elite efficiency on the offensive end. Minnesota won’t win a track meet with Purdue.
Minnesota will need as few Purdue possessions as possible to have a chance. It will also want to make sure it limits Purdue’s ability to get in transition. Purdue is still an elite team in transition even if it doesn’t get into transition as much.
Minnesota is hoping that the game against Indiana is a sign that Medved’s philosophy on both ends of the floor is starting to reach his players and the Gophers are starting to coalesce on the court.
“I see really good offense and then their defense is really starting to pick up,” Matt Painter said about Minnesota.
Minnesota has struggled to control the three-point line. Teams are making over 37% from three against them but has been surprisingly good rebounding and defending inside the arc. Purdue was just 4 of 18 against Iowa State but is still shooting better than 40% from three on the season.
Other players of note
Isaac Asuma gets Minnesota moving and is a long armed, tough driver of the basketball.
Jaylen Crocker-Johnson is a versatile big capable of stretching the floor and switching on the floor defensively. He’s also the best rebounder for Minnesota and will be tasked with going up against Purdue’s elite size and at times trying to check Trey Kaufman-Renn.
Bobby Durkin is the most likely to go off out of nowhere Gopher. Durkin is another tall wing that’s struggled a bit with his shot, but has the ability to put up points from teh four spot with space.
