PURDUE @ MICHIGAN STATE (MSU -4.5, 148.5)
CBB ODDS, CBB PREDICTIONS, CBB PREVIEWS
BOILERMAKERS @ SPARTANS
It’s a game of monumental importance tonight in the Big Ten. No. 13 Purdue is headed to East Lansing, Michigan, with the Big Ten regular-season title at stake. Following consecutive losses, the Boilermakers, currently in third place, are striving to up their game to level up with Michigan and Michigan State.
Purdue recently suffered a narrow loss against the Wolverines by a score of 75-73 and another loss at home to Wisconsin by a final of 94-84. This unfortunate series of events caused Purdue to drop six spots in the AP Top 25 poll. The Boilermakers maintain a slight lead over Michigan State, currently ranked No. 14.
Coach Matt Painter of the Boilermakers has expressed concern over the team's defensive shortcomings. The team struggled against Wisconsin, who were on absolute fire, shooting at 61.5 percent from the field while turning the ball over just three times.
Painter emphasized the need for a defense that contests shooters, especially against teams that shoot really well. Fortunately for Painter and his Boilermakers, the Spartans are one of the worst long-range shooting teams in the country. Michigan State ranks 356th in three-point field percentage shooting just 29.1 percent from behind the arc.
Despite the recent setbacks, the Boilermakers showcased remarkable talent in Trey Kaufman-Renn, who churned out a 30-point performance against Wisconsin. Kaufman-Renn, Purdue’s leading scorer, has scored 22 or more points in five straight games.
Michigan State, on the other hand, will have to tackle Purdue's seasoned guards, Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer. Recently, Spartans' head coach, Tom Izzo, overtook Bob Knight to become the Big Ten's all-time record holder for conference wins. Izzo surpassed the record following the Spartans' 79-65 victory against Illinois.
With a 20-5 record, the Spartans are now concentrating on retaining their lead over the Boilermakers and overtaking Michigan to secure first place in the Big Ten standings. Izzo’s team has tremendous offensive balance. Nine different players have led the team in scoring this season. In the win over Illinois, it was Jaxon Kohler who took the spotlight with a 23-point, 10-rebound performance.
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COACH RICK FREE PICK:
TREY KAUFMAN-RENN UNDER 20.5 POINTS
Kaufman-Renn is Purdue’s leading scorer. He averages 19.4 points per game and lately he’s been on one. He has 22 or more points in five straight games and he’s gone Over this number in each of his last three road games. But, prior to those three, Kaufman-Renn failed to score more than 20 points in 14 straight road games. In his last 17 road games, Kaufman-Renn has averaged just 10.9 ppg. Michigan State is one of the best defensive teams in the nation holding opponents to 67.5 ppg. The Spartans will make it tough on Kaufman-Renn tonight and keep him Under this number.