Penn State Lions vs Purdue Boilermakers Picks and Predictions December 5th 2024

No. 8 Purdue Faces Tough Big Ten Opener at Penn State

No. 8 Purdue begins its quest for a third straight Big Ten Conference regular-season title with a challenging road game against Penn State on Thursday in University Park, Pa.

The Boilermakers (7-1) come into the game riding the momentum of a successful Thanksgiving trip to San Diego, where they defeated North Carolina State and No. 23 Ole Miss in a four-team tournament. The strong showing helped Purdue bounce back from a tough 76-58 loss to then-No. 15 Marquette on Nov. 19.

Purdue’s Stars Step Up

In their 80-78 victory over Ole Miss on Friday, the Boilermakers overcame a seven-point deficit with under nine minutes remaining to secure the win. Myles Colvin sealed the game with a clutch offensive rebound and putback in the final second. Colvin finished with 20 points, while Trey Kaufman-Renn had a breakout performance, tallying 25 points and 13 rebounds for his first career double-double.

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Kaufman-Renn earned tournament MVP honors and was named Big Ten Player of the Week after averaging 23.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in San Diego. The 6-foot-8 forward is emerging as a key offensive threat, averaging 19.2 points and 7.1 rebounds while shooting 60.4 percent from the field this season.

“I was like, ‘Hey, it’s what I think of you, it’s what I’ve seen, and you’re a guy who can really score the basketball,'” Purdue coach Matt Painter said about Kaufman-Renn’s potential.

Kaufman-Renn’s ability to play inside in a small-ball lineup adds a new dimension to Purdue’s offense, complementing the presence of 7-foot-4 center Zach Edey.

Penn State’s Promising Start

Penn State (7-1) is off to its best start since the 2019-20 season. The Nittany Lions rebounded from a 75-67 loss to Clemson in Daytona Beach, Fla., with an 87-64 home victory over Buffalo on Sunday.

Against Buffalo, Yanic Konan Niederhauser matched his career high with 27 points, while Freddie Dilione V recorded a career-best 16 points. Point guard Ace Baldwin Jr. dished out 10 assists as Penn State shot 70.4 percent in the second half, including 6 of 9 from beyond the arc.

“Giving up a good shot to get a great shot, I thought we did that,” Penn State coach Mike Rhoades said. “In the second half, the ball was really humming, and guys did a good job of getting each other open shots.”

The Nittany Lions have been efficient offensively, boasting 23 assists on 35 made baskets against Buffalo. They hope to maintain that cohesion against a Purdue team known for its defensive discipline.

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A Familiar Foe

Purdue and Penn State met once last season when the Boilermakers, ranked No. 1 at the time, cruised to a 95-78 victory on Jan. 13. The Nittany Lions will look to flip the script as they face a Purdue squad that is finding its stride after a brief stumble.

With both teams showcasing strong starts, this Big Ten opener promises to be a compelling battle.