Klemet: Purdue needs to “fight back” against Michigan State
ISL Correspondent
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The lasting impression from the Spartans and Boilers January 5th meeting in East Lansing – besides MSU’s 23 point win – was a “punch” or “no punch,” depending on your angle, that Michigan State sophomore Branden Dawson “threw” or “or did not throw” at Purdue big man Travis Carroll.
While the incident was a black eye for the game, it also was representative of the two teams that day. The Spartans were the aggressor and Purdue presented no resistance.
The Boilers have shown flashes of greatness this year, especially freshman A.J. Hammons, but their inconsistency makes them vulnerable. To battle veteran teams like Michigan State, Purdue needs to attack early and often. They must feed Hammons, who is averaging 21 points, ten rebounds, and three blocks in the last three games. That means no rushed or forced shots and a commitment to protecting the ball.
That won’t be easy. The Spartans come to West Lafayette with two large and skilled big men – Derrick Nix and Adreian Payne. Both present a unique set of challenges. Nix is a big body that can control the paint with his size. Payne, who has developed an outside jumper, uses his athleticism to create easy baskets and disrupt shots on the other end.
The Boilers also need freshman guard Ronnie Johnson to duplicate his Tuesday night performance against Penn State when he scored a career high 16 points and committed just one turnover.
He too will be tested against a backcourt that is evolving from good to very good in Keith Appling and Indiana native Gary Harris.
But, for Purdue to steal a win at home, they need a wild card. D.J. Byrd and Terone Johnson – the veteran leaders – are both in slumps. You can add Anthony Johnson to that group as well. Those three and Carroll, who should have no problem getting motivated, need to find that tenacity that they showed in the Big Ten opener against Illinois. That Purdue team was hungry, determined, and willing to fight.
Since then, whenever they get knocked around, the Boilers struggle to knock back.
There is no better game to start swinging than against a team that has built its program on being physical.
Purdue may not beat the 12th-ranked team in the country, Saturday, but it needs to show it is mature enough to at least stand up to it.
