Purdue Boilermakers vs Texas A&m Aggies Picks and Predictions December 14th 2024

Texas A&M and Purdue Clash in Guard-Driven Showdown

No. 17 Texas A&M (8-2) faces No. 11 Purdue (8-2) on Saturday afternoon in Indianapolis, with both teams looking to build on strong starts to the season. The matchup will feature standout guards Wade Taylor IV and Braden Smith, whose performances could dictate the outcome of this top-20 showdown.

Aggies Lean on Defense and Rebounding

Texas A&M is riding a four-game winning streak, bolstered by the leadership of Wade Taylor IV. The junior guard leads the team in scoring (16.1 points per game) and assists (4.5), including a 19-point effort in the Aggies’ recent 72-67 victory over Texas Tech. Head coach Buzz Williams praised Taylor’s consistency:
“The way he’s led since Thanksgiving has been as good as I’ve seen in a long time.”

While Taylor is central to A&M’s success, contributions from SMU transfer Zhuric Phelps (13.0 ppg) and Henry Coleman (10.5 ppg, 63.5% FG) have added depth to the offense. However, the Aggies’ shooting struggles are evident, with the team hitting just 41.2 percent from the field and 30 percent from beyond the arc.

A&M makes up for its offensive inefficiencies with elite defense and rebounding. The Aggies rank 10th in Division I with 43.1 rebounds per game and held Texas Tech 17 points under its season scoring average while forcing 18 turnovers.

Senior guard Jace Carter emphasized the team’s defensive mindset:
“We feel like our defense is one of the best in the country.”

Purdue’s Efficiency Hinges on Smith and Kaufman-Renn

Purdue enters the game fresh off an 83-78 victory over Maryland, where Braden Smith showcased his all-around ability with 24 points and 10 assists. Smith is averaging career highs in points (13.2) and assists (8.8), while shooting 42 percent from deep.

Smith’s playmaking complements Trey Kaufman-Renn, who has emerged as Purdue’s leading scorer. Kaufman-Renn averages 18.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, shooting 59 percent from the floor.

The Boilermakers excel offensively, averaging 78.3 points per game while ranking sixth in the nation in 3-point shooting at 40.8 percent. Purdue’s improved ball control was evident in their win over Maryland, where they committed just eight turnovers after a season-high 24 against Penn State.

Head coach Matt Painter highlighted the importance of focus:
“We just have to have a better concentration and a better toughness about us.”

Keys to the Game

Texas A&M Aggies:

• Leverage Defense: Disrupt Purdue’s efficient offense and force turnovers.
• Control the Boards: Use their rebounding advantage to limit second-chance opportunities for the Boilermakers.
• Support for Taylor: Secondary scorers like Phelps and Coleman need to step up to keep pace with Purdue’s firepower.

Purdue Boilermakers:

• Efficient Ball Handling: Maintain low turnover numbers to avoid giving Texas A&M’s defense extra possessions.
• Perimeter Shooting: Take advantage of their 3-point accuracy to stretch A&M’s defense.
• Kaufman-Renn’s Inside Presence: Exploit mismatches in the paint to dominate scoring opportunities.

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Matchup Outlook

This game promises to be a battle of contrasting styles: Texas A&M’s relentless defense and rebounding against Purdue’s offensive efficiency and sharp shooting. The performances of Taylor and Smith will be pivotal, but contributions from role players like Coleman and Kaufman-Renn could tip the scales.

With both teams striving to make a statement before conference play, this top-20 clash is poised to deliver an exciting and closely contested matchup.