Predictions: Purdue

Submitted by LS And Play on

The 4 game march to a Big Ten championship begins tonight. Purdue always seems to play Michigan tough, even with inferior competition. Whether they keep it close today probably depends on whether A.J. Hammons shows up or disappears, as he is prone to do. The good guys prevail tonight, 74-62. Predictions?

champswest

February 26th, 2014 at 1:57 PM ^

I think this is the biggest game left on our schedule.  Maybe not the best team, but the biggest game.  Lose this and we are back in a fight with MSU for the title.  Win it and we come home with a chance to win and be one up with only 2 games to go (or more if MSU slips up in the next 2 games).

It would be great to win 3 straight and then hang a banner on Senior night against Indiana.

LSAClassOf2000

February 26th, 2014 at 1:31 PM ^

Here's how TeamRankings would compare Michigan and Purdue:

Offense
Michigan Purdue
Points/Game 75.1   72.7
Avg Score Margin +10.1   +1.6
Assists/Game 14.4   13.0
Total Rebounds/Gm 32.5   39.2
Effective FG % 55.6%   47.4%
Off Rebound % 26.7%   34.9%
FTA/FGA 0.362   0.394
Turnover % 13.1%   14.5%
Defense
Michigan Purdue
Opp Points/Game 65.0   71.1
Opp Effective FG % 49.2%   47.7%
Off Rebounds/Gm 7.5   12.3
Def Rebounds/Gm 22.3   23.7
Blocks/Game 2.6   5.4
Steals/Game 5.2   6.1
Personal Fouls/Gm 14.7   20.3

I will say that they also seem to smite KenPom this time around, instead opting to go with a Vegas Implied 72.5 to 67.5 median projected score. Hopefully, KenPom's representatives will talk to the site owner and the bookie regarding predictions moving forward. 

Saint_in_Blue

February 26th, 2014 at 1:41 PM ^

Michigan - 82

Purdue - 68

 

Or maybe not. I think Purdue has thrown in the towel on their season. Hopefully they allow as many open 3-pointers against us as they did for Sparty.

ClearEyesFullHart

February 26th, 2014 at 1:42 PM ^

1.  No Injuries

2. Victory for Michigan

I don't care if Michigan wins 39-38 on a bad call in triple overtime.  Just give me health and give me victory.

oHOWiHATEohioSTATE

February 26th, 2014 at 1:55 PM ^

after Michigan wins tonight it would be a good time to buy tickets to the game @ Illinois. If you wait until after the Minnesota game prices will increase greatly. Lets invade Assembly Hall next Wednesday!

AR-15

February 26th, 2014 at 2:00 PM ^

Hammons is worth about 10 points on defense with blocks and altering shots. I'm looking for Kobe assists in this instance. And our guys are just better so we win 72-63.

MGoManBall

February 26th, 2014 at 2:15 PM ^

Just don't get beat by one guy who goes off a la

1. Indiana: The Chronicles of Yogi Ferrell

2. Iowa: Why didn't UM land Marble?

3. Wisconsin: Frank Kaminsky averages 13ppg and drops 25 on UM.

 

mgoaggie

February 26th, 2014 at 2:45 PM ^

An actual train is derailed but the park brake thing that always seems to snap off in the movies just happens to also snap off of this train. 14 casualties because of people ignoring the warning of their impending doom, and just want to get a great head-on picture for their Instagram. New safety precautions put in place, but always complained about.

Michigan 71-58

StephenRKass

February 26th, 2014 at 3:05 PM ^

With the win over State, Michigan is now confident, focused on the goal, but also playing loose. I believe they will really score LOTS, but will pull starters largely by the 10 minute point of the 2nd half, allowing Purdue to make the score semi-respectable. (not really, but not curb-stomped as bad as earlier.)

I also think that Michigan is annoyed with being thought a terrible team at the beginning of games, and a terrible defensive game. For this reason, I suspect that will come out with great intensity, and will be highly focused on their own defensive play. If they can ratchet up their defense a bit, and start games better, this bodes well for the Big 10 Tourney and the NCAA Tourney.

sadeto

February 26th, 2014 at 4:45 PM ^

We're due for a letdown, but it is Purdue and they're coming off two bad losses. I would take them with the points, but we'll squeak by with a close win.