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INDIANAPOLIS − Don’t be surprised if what Utah State is doing offensively sounds eerily familiar, purdue basketball fans.
Aggies coach Danny Sprinkle admitted Saturday afternoon where he found some of the team’s offense.
“A lot of our offensive sets, for example, we stole a lot of sets from (Matt) Painter and his staff,” Sprinkle said.
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then a march madness The second round matchup will see two teams that should know what they’re up against in that regard.
Purdue will try to reach the Sweet 16 for the second time in three years and seventh time since 2009 as it faces a Utah State team that averages 80 points per game and has scored at least 87 four times in its last five games.
How will Utah State defend Zach Edey?
The one thing the Aggies can’t replicate is facing a 7-4, 300-pound force.
Zach Edey is coming off Friday’s 30-point, 21-rebound performance against Grambling State.
The strategy?
Scratch, scratch, pray.“I don’t think anyone has seen anything like Zach Edey,”
Try to make Edey as uncomfortable as possible.
“There’s no perfect way to handle it,” Utah State guard Ian Martinez said. “We just have to go out there and challenge him and not give him anything easy. He’s going to have to work for everything he wants.”
Former Purdue PG Johnny Hill on Utah State coaching staff
Former teammates PJ Thompson and Johnny Hill now face each other.
Thompson and Hill were teammates at Purdue during the 2015-16 season. Thompson now coaches Purdue’s offense. Hill is on the Utah State coaching staff.
For Hill, it’s no surprise that Thompson has earned Matt Painter’s trust to run the team’s offensive plays.
“When you go from playing to doing whatever you’re doing, it’s like a new identity,” Hill said. “It’s fantastic to see. It’s going to be phenomenal. Everyone who is there on that topic understands it and sees it.”
Names to know
For Purdue: Zach Edey (24.6 points, 12.0 rebounds, 2.2 blocks); Braden Smith (12.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.6 steals); Lanza Jones (12.1 points); Fletcher Loyer (10.4 points).
For the state of Utah: Great Osobor (17.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.5 blocks); Ian Martínez (13.4 points); Darius Brown II (12.4 points, 6.6 assists).
Purdue vs Utah State Prediction in March Madness
Both teams have shown that they can score consistently at a high rate.
The matchup to score is Edey and Osobor on the boards. The winner on those missed shots will likely make the difference here.
Prediction: Purdue 83, Utah State 75
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.
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