Rutgers (14-15) at Purdue (20-9)
- When: Mar 4 2025, 7:00 PM
- Where: Mackey Arena, West Lafayette, IN, USA
- Where to watch: Peacock
Big Ten Clash: Purdue Looks to Stay Hot Against Rutgers
Purdue Boilermakers: Building Momentum for the Postseason
No. 18 Purdue has finally snapped out of its rough patch and is looking to string together wins as the postseason looms. The Boilermakers put an end to their four-game losing streak with a 76-66 home win over UCLA, keeping them in a three-way tie for third place in the Big Ten alongside Wisconsin and Maryland. With tournament positioning at stake, Purdue needs another strong performance on Tuesday night.
The recent skid featured three losses to ranked opponents, but head coach Matt Painter remains focused on steady improvement:
“If you stick to what you’re doing and you stay connected and fight, you’re going to grow and get out of some things. Hopefully, we can build and just get better.”
One of Purdue’s biggest weapons is junior point guard Braden Smith, who recently became the program’s all-time leader in career assists (696). Against UCLA, he dished out eight assists to break the long-standing record. Smith leads the Boilermakers in assists (8.7 APG), steals (69), and three-pointers (66), while averaging 16.0 PPG.
However, the biggest scoring punch comes from Trey Kaufman-Renn, who leads the team with 19.6 PPG. With Purdue covering the spread in six of its last eight home games, the Boilermakers will look to keep their dominance going against a Rutgers team they beat 68-50 on the road earlier this season.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights: Trying to Shake Off a Heartbreaker
Rutgers (14-15, 7-11 Big Ten) is coming off one of the most gut-wrenching losses of the season, falling 84-82 at No. 15 Michigan on a last-second, buzzer-beating three-pointer.
The Scarlet Knights had a 74-62 lead with just over 11 minutes left, only to watch it slip away in the final moments. Head coach Steve Pikiell voiced his frustrations postgame, particularly with some questionable calls down the stretch:
“Just devastated for our guys. Played so hard the whole time… A couple of stretch calls, I thought there were travels. We couldn’t get a stop, but I couldn’t be more proud of these guys.”
Rutgers’ leading scorer Dylan Harper (19.3 PPG) and Ace Bailey (18.2 PPG) have been a dynamic duo, but the team has struggled to close out big games. The Scarlet Knights have lost four straight against Purdue, including the 18-point blowout at home in January, when Purdue’s Braden Smith dominated with 16 points and 14 assists.
If Rutgers is going to keep this one competitive, they’ll need to clean up their late-game execution and limit turnovers against Purdue’s high-pressure defense.
Betting Outlook & Prediction
Purdue is 6-2 ATS in their last eight home games
Rutgers has lost four straight against Purdue and struggled to cover vs. top-tier Big Ten teams
Purdue handled Rutgers easily earlier this season
Purdue found its groove again against UCLA and has dominated Rutgers in recent matchups. The Scarlet Knights’ late-game collapses continue to be a concern, especially against a Purdue team that controls the tempo and protects home court well. With Smith facilitating the offense and Kaufman-Renn leading the scoring attack, expect Purdue to pull away in the second half and cover the spread.
Final Pick: Purdue -10.5
Predicted Score: Purdue 80, Rutgers 65
Lean on the Under (152.5) given Rutgers’ offensive inconsistencies
- NCAAB Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
