Purduce vs Xavier – Game Preview

Sean Miller leads the Xavier team, including ten new players, to Mackey Arena for Purdue’s last Gavitt Games contest on Monday night.

With transfers and freshmen making up the squad, Xavier is a talented but inexperienced team still working on finding its rhythm on the court.

Miller, in his second year at Xavier, was previously fired from Arizona amidst an FBI investigation.

Xavier secured victories in its first two contests, defeating Robert Morris 77-63 and Jacksonville 79-56 last week. The team is ranked 39th in Kenpom, boasting the 37th best offense and 43rd best defense based on metrics from this season and last. However, Xavier is missing three key players expected to make an impact, likely out for the season.

In its first game, Xavier struggled with turnovers and perimeter shooting, hitting only 27.5% from three-point range.

Lance Jones was brought to Purdue by Matt Painter to ensure that no one feels comfortable when they have the ball on the court. This has been a focus in summer practices.

Coming off its second win of the season, Purdue’s defense was labeled as ‘just alright’ by Painter after the Morehead State game, a sentiment he did not retract after reviewing the game tape.

Xavier enjoys playing at a fast pace, currently ranking 52nd in the country. Dayvion McKnight poses a challenge for Purdue as an adept lead guard capable of penetrating the defense and creating opportunities.

Both Purdue and Xavier have struggled with turnovers and three-point shooting in their first two games of the season.

Coach Sean Miller has urged his players to avoid settling for poor jump shots, as Xavier is shooting just over 27% from three. McKnight will be an interesting match-up for Purdue point guard, Braden Smith, who has been a consistent pressure force in the backfield for Purdue.

Desmond Claude is the sole returning player racking up minutes for Sean Miller’s Xavier team this season. The sophomore has had a strong start, scoring 25 and 12 points in the first two contests.

Claude, a 6’6″ scorer, poses a challenge for Purdue as a versatile threat, capable of scoring inside and outside. This will be a test for Purdue, particularly for Lance Jones and Fletcher Loyer, who have been tasked with defending Claude.

Purdue’s emphasis in practice has been on handling McKnight and preventing Xavier from setting up their offense early.

Purdue’s performance will likely center around the continued dominance of Zach Edey. This poses a challenge for Xavier, as they don’t have the size to match up with Edey.

Painter has emphasized that Purdue has prepared for various defensive strategies against Edey and is ready for any approach Xavier may take.

Edey remains focused on the next game and the team’s success, looking to prove himself against a quality opponent.