The nightcap on Friday night featured the hometown Rutgers Scarlet Knights and a 26-5 Purdue team that has flirted with a top ten ranking all season long.
As Purdue heads to the post-season, without the basketball brand name of conference stalwarts Michigan State and Michigan, the Boilermakers are looking to seize the platform of Madison Square Garden.
Rutgers is playing with house money and the pressure will surely be on the Boilermakers. This Purdue brings back it’s core from a Sweet 16 finish last season sans Caleb Swanigan.
Four seniors look to lead Purdue to unprecedented stardom.
Rutgers needs to play the game in the 60’s, shaking off tired legs from a three-game, three-night stretch. Corey Sanders is their top scoring threat. He needs to put 20+ on the board for the Scarlet Knights to have a chance. Purdue is the third best team in the nation in offensive efficiency and a top-20 defense
The start of the game has teams exchanging scores. Purdue would like to be in control and keep the pro-Rutgers crowd at bay.
As important as a win tonight for Purdue against a team it beat twice and a match-up vs a Penn State team that it beat earlier would be walking into the MSG and capturing the Big Ten crowd. A Purdue run could establish the team as the basketball power in the State.
