While No. 8 Purdue and Ohio State are coming off losses, they still have goals in front of them when they convene on Sunday in Columbus, Ohio.
The Boilermakers (22-6, 12-5 Big Ten) have their eyes on a top-four finish going into the conference tournament. However, they find themselves in fifth place after a 76-74 home loss to No. 13 Michigan State on Thursday.
Nebraska and Michigan State are tied for second with 13-4 conference records with Illinois (13-5) a half-game back. The top four teams receive triple byes into the tourney.
“Most disappointing for us is you’re trying to jockey for that triple bye. Now you’re playing fewer games,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said. “Last year was the first time in 10 years that we didn’t get there.
“That’s important leading up to the NCAA Tournament because you want to be a little more pristine, like three games in three days instead of four games in four days. It’s not the end of the world but that’s what you’re jockeying for.”
Purdue likely will need to win out beginning with its game versus the Buckeyes (17-11, 9-8 Big Ten) who are in a more dire situation. While Painter can talk about the NCAA Tournament with certainty, Ohio State is wobbling on the bubble.
A 74-57 setback at Iowa on Wednesday marked the first time the Buckeyes lost two straight games this season. It also left them with a 1-10 record against Quad 1 opponents.
Ohio State is in ninth place in the Big Ten, one game back of Iowa (10-7) for the double bye which goes to teams seeded five through eight.
In order for the Buckeyes to upset Purdue, they must get a full team effort. Playing without center Christoph Tilly (ankle) against Iowa — his status for Sunday’s game is unknown — the Buckeyes did not get much out of Bruce Thornton.
Thornton did not score in the first half, during which Ohio State found itself trailing 37-23 at intermission. His first points came with just over 12 minutes left in the game. He had 10 points, half his season average.
“He’s got to be aggressive, stay aggressive,” Ohio State coach Jake Diebler said. “We moved him around a little bit. I thought he passed up some opportunities in the first half to attack. Did a much better job getting the ball in the paint in the second half.”
The Buckeyes are looking for consistency but Diebler said that has been difficult because players have been in and out of the lineup due to injuries.
“We’ve got a little time now to have some great prep heading into our next game and hopefully we can get healthier and get some time to practice some of these lineups that we’re having to play,” he said.
Purdue’s Braden Smith, who has totaled 1,004 assists, needs four more to pass Long Island’s Jason Brickman for fourth on the NCAA all-time list.
“(Smith’s) a fabulous player. He’s great,” Painter said. “He’s put a lot of time into it and sacrificed a lot. Basketball’s an important piece in his life. I’m honored to coach him and he’s been great for us, fabulous, and done a lot for this university.”
