Purdue at Ohio State 1/19/21 - College Basketball Picks & Predictions

The Purdue Boilermakers travel on the road to Value City Arena to take on the #15 Ohio State Buckeyes. Purdue has won three in a row, two of those coming on the road with wins over Michigan State and Indiana and the most recent an 80-72 home win over Penn State to improve to 9-5 on the year. Ohio State has won three straight as well, beating Illinois on the road their last time out to improve to 11-3 on the year. 

Purdue has had their struggles offensively at times this season but they’re averaging 71.7 points per game ranking 190th in the country in scoring offense. The Boilermakers are shooting 45.3% from the field and 35.7% from three, the 96th best mark from three in the country. But when they get hot, they’re a tough team to stop like against Indiana when they shot 64.7% from three in a 12-point win. 

It starts with big-man Trevion Williams, he worked his way into the starting line up this season and is the x-factor player this year nearly averaging a double-double with 15.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. Fellow junior Eric Hunter has missed time this year but is healthy and averaging 10.7 points and a team-high 3.6 assists per game. 

Ohio State has dealt with a ton of roster turnover this season with a ton of key losses to both the transfer portal and graduation. Junior guard Duane Washington leads the new-look roster and has been a significant piece this season averaging 15.4 points and 2.6 assists per game, both team-highs. In the paint its sophomore forward E.J. Liddel is second on the team in scoring with 14.3 points and a team-high 6.8 rebounds per game. 

The Buckeyes are solid defensively allowing 67.6 points per game ranking 120th in the country in scoring defense, opposing teams are shooting 41.2% from the field and Ohio State is 63rd in KenPom adjusted defense. Purdue is allowing 66.8 points per game ranking 97th in scoring defense. Opponents are shooting 41.6% from the field and 30.7% from three, both ranking in the top-100, and the Boilermakers are 27th in KenPom adjusted defense.