Where: United Center – Chicago, IL
When: 1:40pm EST
Records: OSU 28-3 (15-1); Boilermakers 21-10 (9-7)
Opponent: The Boilers extended their winning streak to 4 with a 74-55 spanking of Iowa in the 2nd round of the Big Ten Tourney. All Big Ten 1st teamer Carl Landry led Purdue with 20 points and 11 boards while David Teague posted 15 points and 8 rebounds and Tarrance Crump came off the pine to score 13 points. Crump averages just 5.6 points per game but he has reached double figures (12, 11) in both of this season’s previous match-ups against OSU. Landry also reached double figures in both games (13, 16) however Greg Oden’s presence in the lane has forced Landry to focus more on scoring from the perimeter. Beating Iowa might have gotten Purdue off the bubble but a win over OSU would lock up a spot in the dance.
Buckeye Breakdown: OSU beat Michigan 72-62 on Friday marking their 3rd straight against the maize and blue and their 15th in a row overall. OSU’s last loss came over two months ago at Wisconsin. Greg Oden came up big with 22 points and 8 rebounds while Ron Lewis scored 16 and Mike Conley posted 13 points and six assists. The Buckeyes won both regular season meetings against the Boilers including a 78-60 blowout that stopped Purdue’s 12 game home winning streak at the end of January.
Notes: OSU is a 5 ½ point favorite. With Oden starting to get loose and Mike Conley at the controls, I say lay the 5 ½ and get ready for a neutral floor rematch with Wisconsin Sunday at 3:40pm.
