The Purdue Boilermakers enter Monday with a 2-0 record after defeating Samford and Morehead State by total scores of 185-102. Xavier is also 2-0 after beating Robert Morris 77-63 and Jacksonville 79-56. 

After a sweet sixteen appearance in 2023, Xavier is looking to rebound in a tough Big East in 2024. The best way for the Musketeers to get that started would be beating third ranked Purdue in West Lafayette, Indiana.  Xavier has a completely different lineup from the sweet sixteen team a year ago, while returning just one starter, Zach Freemantle, who is currently out due to a foot surgery in September.

Through two games for Xavier they have shot 11-40 from three, as Purdue has hit 24-52. If Purdue can continue to force a team like Xavier to force threes, they could be in great shape. While on any given night a shooter can catch fire, you want to force a team like Xaveir to expand their range and take bad three point shots. 

Desmond Claude is the main go-to guy with Quincy Olivari right behind him. Purdue will have to pick up the play on the defensive end to win this game, as Xavier would make Purdue pay for the way they played defense against Morehead State. 

Player to watch : Desmond Claude is a guy Purdue needs to contain as he can score from anywhere on the court. He can play downhill, but he can also slow the game down and back a guard down depending on who Matt Painter decides to put on him. Claude was named to the Big East All-Freshman team last season while averaging 4.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg and 1.9 apg. He is looking to build his case for Big East’s most improved player, and he’s off to a hot start. Through two games, he’s at 18.5 / 2.5 / 2.0. 

Xavier’s leading rebounder might ring a bell. Abou Ousmane transferred to Xavier this year and has averaged 23 minutes per game. Ousmane scored 4 points the last time he played Purdue, on March 19th 2021 when his North Texas Mean Green upset the #4 seed Purdue Boilermakers. Since then, Ousmane has started every game he’s played in, including his first two games at Xavier. This year the 6’10 Ousmane is averaging 10 ppg and 7 rpg.

This game will be the second matchup for the Gavitt Tipoff Games as Michigan heads to St Johns for game number one. 

Xavier has won the last five matchups against Purdue, with the last matchup being in December of 2012 when the Musketeers defeated the Boilermakers 63-57 in West Lafayette.

What will work : As many teams do, Xavier will lack the size to compete with Zach Edey in the paint. Expect to see Edey get more minutes on Monday night, after playing 22 minutes per game through the first two. The less Purdue can turn the ball over, the more likely they are to compete for offensive rebounds. Second chance points will be a big factor in the Boilermaker’s success on Monday night. 

Currently Kenpom has Purdue as the #1 team in college basketball and Xavier ranked at #39. Mackey Arena will be loud Monday night and will play a major factor in Xavier’s first true road game of the season. 

Score prediction : Purdue 82 – Xavier 69

Game Time : 8:30 pm EST. Monday, November 13th, 2023. 

TV : FS1Radio : WAZY 96.5FM

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