I'll ride with Malta (@ you saying Purdue will beat Dook) and go with 7-4 in favor of the ACC.
Do y'all really think Purdue is that good? cause I have yet to buy into them as a top 10 squad.
Purdue has the toughness and home court advantage that'll put them over the top. We both take alot of 3's and are guard/wing oriented sothat'll cancel each other out.
Miami won't lose at home and you honestly think Illinois will beat Clemson?
I don't buy Miami... ever.And Illinois is a favorite by Vegas.. 2 points i believe.. I don't know if that's more a jab atClemson or more a praise of the Illini, but they seem to feel the same way that I do... That Clemson isn't good enough to go into a place like Illinios andget a road victory, even if Illinois is down.
I'm sorry to all my Big 10 fans but regardless of whether you win it this year, the ACC-Big 10 challenge should be scrapped and pit the ACC up against the Big East. Take the top 12 teams from the past year in the Big East and put them up against the ACC.
I agree- the big ten has fallen off a lot on the whole as a conference, especially the last 5 years. I'm not really a fan of the conferencethough, so you're not really talking to me. Personally, i find big ten basketball a little mind-numbing at times. Not one team wants to push the ball...like.... ever.There's something to be said for that style ofbasketball, but 9 straight weeks of it can be a bit draining.
I like these conference challenges, but this one has just gotten stale considering the big ten will probably never win it.
after Maryland's weekend..
December 2, 2008
[h1]SCOUTING REPORT: Duke vs. Purdue[/h1]
Brian McLawhorn
Devils Illustrated Publisher
Talk about it in Devil Insider
Duke (7-0) vs. Purdue (5-1)
When: 9:00 P.M. ET
Where: Mackey Arena, West Lafayette, Ind.
TV: ESPN
Radio: Duke Radio Network
Series: Duke trails 4-1.
Last Meeting: Nov. 29, 2003, Duke 68, Purdue 78.
Purdue Head Coach
Matt Painter is in his fourth year as head coach of Purdue and his fifth overall. During his time in West Lafayette, Painter has become one of the hottest coaches in the game, posting back-to-back 20+ game win seasons after winning just nine games in his first season at Purdue. Throughout his time at Purdue, Painter has registered 61-41 record.
Prior to taking over the post at Purdue, Painter served as associate head coach for the Boilermakers for one season. Before taking on that position, Painter was head coach at Southern Illinois, where his team recorded a 25-5 record. Overall as a head coach, Painter is 86-46.
Probable Starters
G - Chris Kramer - 6-3, 207 - (4.8 pts., 2.7 apg.)
G - E'Twaun Moore - 6-4, 188 - (16.7 pts., 5.3 reb., 4.0 apg.)
G - Keaton Grant - 6-4, 208 - (8.5 pts., 3.0 reb.)
F - Robbie Hummel - 6-8, 212 - (14.2 pts., 6.2 reb.)
F - Jajuan Johnson - 6-10, 215 - (9.8 pts., 3.2 reb.)
Top Reserves
F - Nemanja Calasan - 6-9, 247 - (10.7 pts., 4.8 reb.)
G - Marcus Green - 6-6, 222 - (6.7 pts., 5.0 reb.)
G - Lewis Jackson - 5-9, 165 - (4.3 pts., 3.3 apg.)
G - Ryne Smith - 6-3, 173 - (1.3 pts., 0.8 reb.)
[table][tr][td][/td] [td][/td] [/tr][tr][td][/td] [/tr][tr][td]Robbie Hummel[/td] [/tr][/table]All Eyes On ...
Robbie Hummel - The 6-foot-8 sophomore is to Purdue what Kyle Singler is to Duke. Simply put, he is a do-everything type of player and in most cases would create major mismatch problems for opponents. He can beat his opponents in multiple ways, and does a great job taking care of the basketball. Mistakes from this talented second-year player are few and far between, which makes him even that much more dangerous. For the season Hummel has connected on 45 percent of his three-point attempts, while making 50 percent of his overall field goal tries. From the free-throw line, Hummel is lights out, as he has converted all 17 of his tries this season. Much like Singler, Hummel is not a one-dimensional player. He rebounds well (6.2 per game), can distribute the ball fairly well and is an above average defender. Add all of that up, and Purdue has the Big Ten Conference preseason Player of the Year.
Scouting the Boilermakers
E'Twaun Moore - Yet another talented sophomore, E'Twaun Moore has been huge for Purdue early in the season. He enters tonight's contest averaging 16.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and four assists per game from his guard position. Moore is a threat to drive to the basket and shoot from long-range, making him one of the more difficult players to defend. He's not a great long-range shooter, but he has the ability to be a legitimate weapon if he finds his rhythm. So far this season he is connecting on 37 percent of his three-point attempts and 49 percent overall. He is a pretty solid defender and has been known to cause fits for his opponent, whether it be from his ability to block shots or anticipate well and get the steal.
Jajuan Johnson - Purdue's big man in the middle isn't the most physical player in the world, but he's athletic and very active. In 20 minutes of action, Johnson has proven to be very efficient, as he averages 9.8 points and 3.2 rebounds each night out. He looks for high percentage shots and more often than not he knocks them down, and if he doesn't make the shot, he's very good about drawing fouls. Once on the line, he's connecting on 72 percent of his attempts, making him a legitimate offensive weapon for the Boilermakers. Having said that, his biggest impact can come on the defensive end of the floor. He leads the team with 1.8 blocks per game, but will likely see that number increase the more he learns and grows comfortable in his role. He generally does a good job staying out of foul trouble, which shows he's plays under control.
Keaton Grant - Grant, a junior, usually doesn't put huge numbers on the board, but what he does bring to the table is a load of intangibles. He is a hardworking guard that will do whatever he can to help his team. He loves the long-range shot, however, he hasn't faired too well in that area this season, as he's made just 36 percent (12-of-33) from behind the arc. Despite his struggles on offense, he has still managed to average 8.5 point per game, giving Purdue a lift when they need it. He does a pretty good job defending the ball, and rebounds fairly well from his guard position.
[table][tr][td][/td] [td][/td] [/tr][tr][td][/td] [/tr][tr][td]E'Twaun Moore[/td] [/tr][/table]Chris Kramer - The junior guard likely won't give Purdue much in the way of points, but what he will do is provide the Boilermakers with nearly 29 minutes of full effort on both ends of the floor. He does a good job of protecting the ball and avoiding mistakes. He's not a player that will rack up huge numbers in any statistical category, but his presence will be felt in nearly every aspect because of how hard he works and plays. He is not much of a threat to shoot from long-range, but he will drive to the basket and look to get fouled at any opportunity. Defensively, he's one of Purdue's best. He does a great job of putting pressure on the ballhandler and has a knack for creating turnovers. He leads the team in steals with 12 for the season, and will look to increase on that number tonight against Duke.
The Bench
Head coach Matt Painter has the luxury of going four deep into his bench and he will look to each of those players for double-digit minutes against Duke. His most productive reserve is Nemanja Calasan, Purdue's lone big man off the bench. He is third on the team in scoring, and boasts the team's highest field goal percentage at nearly 56 percent. Another solid contributor off the bench is 6-foot-6 guard Marcus Green. He averages 6.7 points per game, but is third on the team in rebounds with five per contest. He gives Purdue another athletic wing to put on the floor that has the ability to create mismatches. Lewis Jackson, a shifty point guard, has also given the Boilermakers some very strong minutes of play over the course of the season. He is second on the team in assists with 3.3 per game and is a good defender, as he ranks second on the team with seven steals. Rhyne Smith will also get some spot minutes in order to preserve Purdue's preferred pace.
Analysis and Prediction
Duke is a perfect 9-0 all-time in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and this season they may be faced with their biggest test yet. If there has ever been a team that mirrors the Duke Blue Devils, the Purdue Boilermakers could certainly be that squad. Much like Duke, the Boilermakers are a guard heavy team with limited size in the post. Its top player is an athletic big man that can take you inside or out, and is a strong defender on both the perimeter and in the post. They have scrappy guards willing to put it all on the line for a lose ball or a rebound. They simply play the game hard, and don't take anything for granted on the floor.
In fact, these teams are so similar in makeup, this game could ultimately play out like a heavy weight fight between two of the best in the business.
Blue Devil head coach Mike Krzyzewski said last week that Purdue was a team he felt would be in to the end this season. And with the personnel and depth they bring to the court, they certainly could be a team that goes deep into the NCAA Tournament.
The matchup between Robbie Hummel and Kyle Singler could be one for the ages, as both players are so similar it's almost scary. Both have the ability to take over a game on both ends of the floor, and with the two likely matching up head-to-head, tonight's contest should be a fun ride all the way to the end.
Singler has a bit of an advantage in terms of strength, so the question will be whether or not Hummel will look to take him off the dribble or attempt to post him up on occasion. Assuming Singler does in fact defend Hummel, he will likely be faced with both aspects of Hummel's game on a consistent basis, but in the end, Singler should get the better of the battle - maybe not in an overwhelming manner, but enough to make the difference.
While the matchup between the two stars is certainly intriguing, the battle between guards will also be fun to watch. Duke boasts a load of guards that can contribute and in many cases lead the way for Duke, but so too does Purdue. Having said that, the Blue Devils appear to have a slight edge at the guard position with the likes of Jon Scheyer, Gerald Henderson, Nolan Smith, Greg Paulus and the freshman Elliot Williams all capable of putting up big numbers.
From a consistency standpoint, Purdue may have the advantage in the post - albeit not a drastic one. Nemanja Calasan could be the difference for Purdue in the post, as he presents a big, strong body that could create problems for a lighter Lance Thomas or a slower, less mobile Brian Zoubek.
With that in mind, however, Thomas and Zoubek have both been good contributors all season long, and after a performance such as the one Thomas put together last week against Duquesne, a Duke advantage in this department isn't hard to fathom.
In the end, this game will likely be an up and down type of contest with a lot of points being scored. The team that can go full speed for 40 minutes will come out the winner in this contest, and with all things considered it should be a game that goes down to the very end.
Though it's tough to pick against Purdue, particularly with them coming off a loss and playing at home, our belief is that Duke enters the game ready to make a statement and pulls off the big non-conference road victory.
The score ...
DUKE 84 - PURDUE 80
Disagree? Agree ?
Nolan Smith, 6-2 guard, Duke
Fr: 14.7 mpg, 5.9 ppg, 1.3 apg, 0.5 steals
Soph: 22.6 mpg, 12.4 ppg, 2.1 apg, 1.4 steals
Skinny: Players usually make this list because a senior who was starting in front of them graduated. This is an unusual case of a sophomore actually taking away the starting spot from an incumbent senior. Smith was able to supplant Greg Paulus in Duke's starting lineup largely because of his superior ability to pressure the ball. Though he isn't as adept as Paulus at running the half-court offense (through the Blue Devils' first seven games, he had just 15 assists to go with 15 turnovers), Smith is enough of an offensive threat that defenses can't leave him alone. If he's able to take that next step as a floor general, Duke will be truly dangerous.
Corey Stokes, 6-5 guard, Villanova
Fr: 18.3 mpg, 6.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 29.6 3FG%
Soph: 27.5 mpg, 11.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 44.1 3FG%
Skinny: I watched Stokes play several times when he was in high school, and I was quite surprised his three-point shooting percentage was so poor last season. You can chalk that up to freshman-itis. Stokes had a hard time adjusting to the intensity and speed of the college game, but when things started to click for him toward the end of last season the Wildcats took off. Stokes averaged 12 points over Villanova's last 12 games, he won a starting spot in the Big East tournament and he scored 20 in the Wildcats' NCAA second-round win over Siena. As you can see, Stokes has kept up his hot shooting this year. If he keeps progressing he will be a big-time scorer in a big-time league.
Jeff Teague, 6-2 guard, Wake Forest
Fr: 29.7 mpg, 13.9 ppg, 2.5 apg, 43.4 FG%, 39.5 3FG%
Soph: 28.6 mpg, 22.4 ppg, 4.4 apg, 49.4 FG%, 57.1 3FG%
Skinny: I'm guessing even Wake coach Dino Gaudio is amazed at how much Teague has improved upon what was already a pretty impressive freshman season. Teague earned his way into the starting lineup last season primarily on the basis of his outside shooting. He has become a more complete player, yet he has still drastically increased his shooting percentages. Teague already has nearly half the number of assists he totaled all of last year. During Sunday night's big win over Baylor, Teague had an off night shooting (1-for-10 from the floor), so he put the ball on the deck and repeatedly drove to the rim, which resulted in 14 free-throw attempts (he made 12). It certainly helps that Wake Forest has a much stronger inside game than it had last year, but don't discount the importance of his increased maturity and confidence. That's what is supposed to happen to a kid when he goes away to college.
