Upon Further Review: Purdue’s win over Penn State
Following each Purdue basketball game this season — or at least most — GoldandBlack.com will take a closer look back at some finer points in our long-standing Upon Further Review series. Today, the top-ranked Boilermakers’ 95-78 win over Penn State. This is really only the first half.
(Quick note: We did not ignore the Nebraska loss. Just travel.)
PURDUE DEFENSE
This is just outstanding defense by Zach Edey matched up with a guard.
Techical stuff: This is not a full switch. It’s a “veer,” meaning that when the ball reaches a certain spot in ball-screen offense, that triggers a switch with the big (followed, ideally but not always, by an opprtunity to switch back). The spot on the floor may be different every game. Here, the elbow seems to be the pressure point.
Also here’s very good drop D by Edey.
Ethan Morton was quietly very good on defense. Here’s a late shot-clock effort against Kanye Clary. Note the high-five from the head coach afterward.
BLOB OFFENSE
What a great a well executed play here by Purdue in-bounding from the baseline, running a complex action that spits Fletcher Loyer straight into an open three.
PURDUE OFFENSE
Purdue killed Penn State in transition, hammering its press, but also showing off the uniqueness of Zach Edey‘s rim-running ability.
Purdue’s wings are really showing up lately, too, as throw-ahead three-point threats.
NIT PICKING A BLOWOUT WIN
This was Zach Edey‘s game, but Purdue missed him a number of times. When it watches film, Lance Jones will see a few opportunities here that came and went.
MISC
• This sure looks like a designed press-break play meant to create exactly what happens here, the throwback to the inbounder completely unaccounted for.
• More outstanding execution here on a play attributable largely to Penn State’s fear of Braden Smith. The ghost screen by Lance Jones to start the play is probably meant to create some confusion for the defense as Camden Heide begins his route to become the “indirect” on the ball screen from Edey.
Speaking of respect for Smith, not sure I’ve ever seen a defender try to commit targeting while hard-hedging a screen. What is this guy doing?
• Just the way Edey changes the landscape of the floor just by pivoting into a handoff …
• Myles Colvin made some shots, but in the context of his development, this was his best play of the game by a mile.
Speaking of development, though, Colvin simply has to do a better job against the dribble. The initial breach here is what pulls Jones off his man and into scramble mode, then pulls Edey out of rebounding position.
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