Purdue Boilermakers vs Yale Bulldogs Picks and Predictions November 11th 2024

No. 14 Purdue Aims for a Statement Game Against Yale

The Purdue Boilermakers may be off to a 2-0 start, but head coach Matt Painter isn’t exactly thrilled with his team’s early performances. As the No. 14 Boilermakers prepare to host Yale on Monday night in West Lafayette, Indiana, they’re looking for a much sharper effort to satisfy their demanding coach.

Coach Painter Pushes for More

Despite winning their first two games by an average margin of 19.5 points, Purdue’s head coach Matt Painter wasn’t overly impressed. In Friday’s 72-50 victory over Northern Kentucky, Painter made it clear that he expects better communication and energy from his squad.

Guard Fletcher Loyer shared Painter’s message after the game, saying, “He kind of ripped us a little bit, but it’s simple stuff. It’s just talking to each other. We talk off the floor so we can talk on the floor. And he always says, ‘If you’re doing it, you’re saying it.’”

For Loyer, who is leading the Boilermakers with an 18.5 scoring average and shooting an impressive 70% from beyond the arc, keeping the team positive and communicative is key. “Just keep talking to each other, and ultimately that leads to success,” Loyer added.

Key Players Stepping Up for Purdue

While the Boilermakers haven’t played to their full potential, several players have shown early promise. Trey Kaufman-Renn has been a force inside, averaging 14.5 points and pulling down 7.0 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, point guard Braden Smith has been the engine of Purdue’s offense, averaging 11.5 points and a team-high 11.0 assists per game.

However, the Boilermakers are facing a bit of adversity as starting center Daniel Jacobsen sustained a knee injury just one minute into the game against Northern Kentucky. His availability for Monday’s game is doubtful, with Will Berg likely stepping into the starting role.

Yale Looking to Rekindle March Madness Magic

On the other side, the Yale Bulldogs are trying to recapture some of the magic they found in last season’s NCAA Tournament. Yale, which stunned fourth-seeded Auburn as a 13th seed last March, enters Monday’s game with a 1-1 record after splitting their first two matchups.

Yale’s star guard, John Poulakidas, has picked up right where he left off last season. Poulakidas, who famously dropped 28 points in the upset over Auburn, is averaging 20.0 points through the first two games this season. In Yale’s recent 91-79 loss to Illinois-Chicago, he led the way with 21 points.

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Coach James Jones, now in his 24th season, knows that replicating last year’s success is becoming increasingly difficult due to shifts in college athletics, such as the NIL deals and the transfer portal.

“I don’t know how feasible it is to continue the success we have nationally in the league, given the new structure of things, where everybody is being paid except for our guys,” Jones explained. “Five years from now, is an Ivy League team going to be able to go to the NCAA Tournament and beat an Auburn team? I don’t know.”

A Tough Test for Both Teams

Purdue has their sights set on a bigger challenge later this week against No. 2 Alabama, but they know they can’t afford to overlook Yale. The Bulldogs are no strangers to big games, and while they’ve struggled against Purdue in the past, including a 78-56 loss in their last meeting during the 2022 NCAA Tournament, they have the potential to surprise.

For Purdue, Monday’s game is a chance to polish their play before facing tougher competition. For Yale, it’s an opportunity to test themselves against a high-caliber opponent and see if they can channel their March Madness spirit.

Will Purdue rise to their coach’s challenge and deliver a more inspired performance, or will Yale prove that last season’s Cinderella story wasn’t a one-time affair? Either way, it’s set to be an intriguing matchup that could set the tone for both teams moving forward.