Purdue Boilermakers vs Toledo Rockets Picks and Predictions December 29th 2024

Facing Toledo, No. 21 Purdue Out to Halt Rare 2-Game Skid

No. 21 Purdue aims to apply the brakes on a two-game skid when it hosts Toledo on Sunday in a nonconference game in West Lafayette, Ind.

The Boilermakers (8-4) are returning home after coming up short in a pair of neutral-court contests against Southeastern Conference opponents. They dropped a 70-66 decision to then-No. 17 Texas A&M in the Indy Classic on Dec. 14 and an 87-69 setback to then-No. 2 Auburn in the Battle in Birmingham on Dec. 21.

Purdue head coach Matt Painter expressed both the value and challenges of playing a tough schedule early in the season.

“You want to play a great schedule to figure your team out, figure out what you need to work on, but you also want to win,” Painter said. “So we’ve done it the three previous years and were undefeated in all three nonconferences and played a lot of difficult people. I don’t want to go away from that standard. This is where we are. Deal with it. Get better as a coach, get better as a player, get better collectively as a team.”

While these losses stung, they offered lessons for the Boilermakers. Purdue’s struggles highlight that the team is still working to transition from being a “good team” into a “great team,” Painter noted.

Purdue’s Bright Spots Amid Challenges

Despite the recent setbacks, Purdue has seen significant contributions from its bench. Guard C.J. Cox recorded a career-high 16 points against Auburn, marking his third double-digit scoring performance in four games.

“It’s hard to be consistent with inconsistent minutes,” Painter acknowledged. “So, for those guys to be in there and get some confidence … that’s what we need.”

Meanwhile, forward Trey Kaufman-Renn has been a model of consistency, scoring in double digits in all 12 games this season. Kaufman-Renn’s presence continues to provide the Boilermakers with a dependable offensive option as they navigate this challenging stretch.

The Boilermakers are banking on their strong performance at Mackey Arena, where they are 6-0 this season, to help them regain momentum and confidence.

Toledo’s Struggles Continue

On the other side, Toledo (6-5) enters Sunday’s matchup after losing four of its last five games. The Rockets’ lone win during this stretch came against NAIA opponent Defiance on Dec. 7.

Toledo struggled mightily in its most recent contest, shooting just 29.6 percent from the field and losing the rebounding battle 50-29 in a 78-49 blowout loss at then-No. 15 Houston on Dec. 18.

Head coach Tod Kowalczyk voiced his disappointment about the team’s current trajectory.

“I’m disappointed where we’re at right now,” Kowalczyk said recently. “We’re a better team than we’ve been playing.”

Despite their struggles, the Rockets have some standout players. Freshman guard Sonny Wilson leads Toledo with 15.2 points and 3.3 assists per game, while junior Sam Lewis adds 13.9 points and a team-high 4.9 rebounds. Lewis has been particularly productive of late, posting 21 and 14 points in his last two games, respectively.

Who will claim the title? Find out in College Basketball Championship Odds!

A Chance for Redemption

Sunday’s game presents Purdue with an opportunity to right the ship and build momentum heading into the Big Ten conference schedule. For Toledo, it’s a chance to measure itself against a ranked opponent and potentially spark a turnaround.

Purdue’s home crowd, combined with the team’s ability to learn from adversity, could prove to be the difference-maker as the Boilermakers seek their ninth win of the season.