RaceToTheTop

How many free throws does it take for Purdue to win? Answer: more than 41.

Just put all five in the frontcourt so they have to run time.

Suck it, last place Purdue.

Loyer flop.

Huge that it's a two. If not, Smith probable tries to hit the first two and miss the second and look for Edey to get the rebound.

That's a two. Let's see if Big Ten officials have a brain.

Why didn't Edey foul after the turnover? Would have saved Purdue a few seconds. Now....WTF, Preston??? If they review, though.....that's a two point attempt.

LOL at Purdue guards.

DAMN IT

HIT EM BARNHIZER

Northwestern will look to run clock here. Running the clock down and missing isn't the worst thing in the world. Assume Purdue will foul if they can't get a steal right away. Purdue no timeouts left.

Boo overdribbled there.

Zach Edey 20 free throws, Northwestern 20 free throws.

So Northwestern lets TWO passes go to the only guy you have to worry about in the last 3.9 seconds.

What horrible ******* defense by Northwestern.

WTF is Edey doing there passing the ball when Purdue was trying to get it across and call a time out? Lucky that the TO got recognized.

Any conference game that shouldn't end up that close and we win by 12 is certainly a positive. Maryland not playing well right now but the trio of Young, Reese, and Scott are talented. Maryland is really good at home and will accumulate enough wins to make the win look decent on our resume. IU moved to 69 on Pom after the game; we were 80 prior to Harvard and 75 after Harvard. Maryland dropped from #58 to 70.

Will have to watch on DVR later but from watching the score online looked like we were completely dominant for the first 28 minutes and even the offense struggling after that, it never got close to being a game. If you told me IU wins by 13 without X tonight, I’d certainly take it. That’s three halves without X now starting with the second half against Harvard and IU is +27.

6-1, 1-0

Titus is likely the best guess. Goodman I think is out as a possibility.

If you are to spot the rando hitting threes......freshman DeShawn Harris-Smith is 1 of 19 from three this year.

FWIW, their identity hasn't been to be a team that uses the three point shot all that much or effectively and that goes beyond this year. They've made 33% of their threes in each of the last two seasons and average taking about 21 per game. No real knock down volume three point shooters. Donta Scott could be a matchup issue, though, as Reneau will likely draw that assignment and Scott can shoot a little. Young, Reese, and Scott. Reese and Scott v Ware and Reneau is pretty even....I'd be inclined to give IU the edge but Reneau gets in foul trouble pretty easily. Young could be an issue for IU. Would be a really good night for Mgbako to go off because if Geronimo is guarding him, we know how poor a perimeter defender JG is.

I think that Abi Nwabuoko-Okonji and Taurus Jones, both of James Madison, should be targets. Both are in the portal as grad transfers. Abi Nwabuoko-Okonji is a 6'3", 270 pound defensive end who transferred to James Madison from Minnesota. Believe he redshirted at Minnesota. In 2022 at James Madison, he registered 23 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Had a season ending injury at James Madison this year in their opener. Taurus Jones is a bit undersized linebacker at 6'1", 214 pounds, but he led James Madison in tackles in 2022 with 81. Last season he was in and out with injuries.

He did, but I think the portal opened a little later last year and was open for 45 days. I think it's 30 days this year. There is also an April portal window open for 15 days.

Personally, I'm not sure how the impression of IU playing zone could have been negative in the Louisville game. The team that looked uncomfortable during that stretch certainly wasn't IU. I believe it was Louisville 60-55 when IU went to the zone with about 8 minutes left. In the last 8 minutes Louisville only scored 6 points and only managed to get 8 shots up and make two.....one of which was a layup with 4 seconds left. While I know Louisville isn't very good, giving up 6 points in an 8 minute span is pretty darn good against anyone. Would it work against good shooting three point teams? Unless IU improves, I don't think it would be any worse than we've seen from the switching defense we play where the switches aren't clean and we are giving up open looks in man.