Image Source: Casey Bartley
Key Takeaways
- The Washington Huskies are set to face the #5 Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena on Wednesday night
- Washington’s offense relies heavily on attacking the rim, with two big guards in Wesley Yates and Desmond Claude, and a versatile big in Hannes Steinbach
- The Huskies struggle with three-point shooting, making under 32% of their shots, and have limited options for open shooters
- Wesley Yates is out indefinitely with a wrist injury, leaving the team without its leading minute getter and second leading scorer
- Washington’s roster has been plagued by injury issues, with starting center Lathan Sommerville also potentially unavailable for the game
Introduction to the Matchup
The Washington Huskies, with a record of 9-5 (1-2), are heading into Mackey Arena to take on the #5 Purdue Boilermakers, who boast a impressive record of 13-1 (3-0). As Matt Painter, the Purdue coach, noted, "Washington will and wants to get to the rim at all times." This approach is a key aspect of the Huskies’ offense, which relies on its size and versatility to constantly attack the rim. With two big guards in Wesley Yates and Desmond Claude, and a versatile big in Hannes Steinbach, Washington poses a significant challenge for the Boilermakers’ defense.
Washington’s Offense
As Painter pointed out, Washington’s offense is "one of the nation’s least three-point obsessed" teams. Instead of relying on three-point shots, the Huskies focus on driving to the hoop and using their physicality to score. This approach has led to Washington being one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the country, making under 32% of their shots. As the article notes, "Washington’s offense doesn’t generate looks for open shooters, instead focusing on driving to the hoop and physicality." This makes it difficult for the Huskies to create scoring opportunities, especially when faced with a strong defensive team like Purdue.
Injury Concerns
The Huskies are facing significant injury concerns, with Wesley Yates out indefinitely due to a wrist injury. As the article states, "Wesley Yates had wrist surgery a week or so ago and the Huskies leading minute getter and second leading scorer is now out without a return date in sight." This is a major blow to the team, as Yates is a key player who has been instrumental in the Huskies’ success. Additionally, starting center Lathan Sommerville has missed the last three games and may not be available for the game against Purdue. As the article notes, "It’s likely an undermanned Huskies team will have to try to take down the #5 Boilers who are playing its best basketball of the season."
Purdue’s Advantage
Purdue, on the other hand, is playing some of its best basketball of the season. The Boilermakers are one of the nation’s best rebounding teams, and their defense has taken a major turn in the positive over the last few weeks. As the article states, "Purdue’s task will be to keep its defensive principles in tact as they try and keep a bigger Huskies team out of the paint and off the offensive glass." With the support of the home crowd at Mackey Arena, Purdue has a significant advantage over the Huskies. As the article notes, "Purdue gets the backing of Mackey Arena and the Huskies come into West Lafayette a hobbled pack of Huskies."
Conclusion
The matchup between Washington and Purdue is set to be a challenging one for the Huskies. With their limited three-point shooting capabilities and significant injury concerns, Washington will need to rely on its size and versatility to try and take down the #5 Boilermakers. As the article states, "Instead, Claude will have to assume the role as primary ball handler and scorer with assistance from double-double machine Hannes Steinbach." With Purdue’s strong defense and rebounding capabilities, it will be a tough task for the Huskies to come out on top. As Matt Painter noted, "Washington will and wants to get to the rim at all times," but it remains to be seen whether they will be able to do so against a strong Purdue team.
https://www.hammerandrails.com/mens-basketball/57524/game-preview-washington-at-5-purdue