Indiana basketball facing Purdue team with new offensive dynamic. Its ability to hit 3s: ‘That’s the biggest challenge’

Indiana basketball welcomes in a familiar Purdue team to Assembly Hall on Tuesday for what is its biggest matchup of the season. But, despite numerous faces that were on the roster a season ago — there’s a new dynamic for Purdue that has elevated its offensive production. Something that Indiana has struggled defending.

Shooting 3s.

Purdue comes into Tuesday ranked 9th in the country in three-point percentage at 39.8 percent on the season. It’s a part of the offense that it didn’t have a season ago, shooting just 32.2 percent on the season.

It starts and ends with Purdue’s backcourt — one of the most improved in the country. And now Indiana basketball looks to attack one of its biggest defensive liabilities head on.

“I think they shot low 30s from the three. They’re shooting 39 this year. That’s the biggest challenge,” Indiana basketball head coach Mike Woodson said on Monday. “You’re going to have to guard the three-point line and still deal with (Zach) Edey.”

While Zach Edey is as dominant — if not more — as ever, his scoring isn’t the biggest threat to Indiana. Purdue’s backcourt of Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer come in shooting above 40 percent from three this year.

Braden Smith shot 37.6 percent last season. This year he’s at 48.2 percent.

Fletcher Loyer shot 32.6 percent a season ago. Now, he’s at 40.8 percent.

They’ve both combined to have 17 games with multiple 3s made and five games when both have had multiple 3s in the same game.

Despite the higher percentage, it’s not because the offense is set up any different. The shots are just going in this year.

Last season 38.4 percent of its shots attempts came from three. This season, 37.3 percent of its shot attempts are 3s.  Last year, however, 28.2 percent of the total points came off of 3s (269th nationally). This season its at 31.1 percent (157th).

Purdue is hitting 8.8 3s per game overall and 9.2 in conference games.

That new dynamic has allowed for multiple different lineups to work effectively — contributing to its second-best offensive efficiency rating in the country at 123.6.

“I just think the shooters have allowed them to do a lot of that in terms of playing two bigs,” Woodson said. “Both bigs are very demanding on the block. (Trey) Kaufman is tough on his block when he catches the ball. He’s very aggressive in terms of scoring the basketball, and he’s a hell of an offensive rebounder. So it hasn’t hurt them at all because they’ve got some guys on the perimeter that make some shots for them.

“That’s the key to any team. You make shots in life, you look good. Life is great if you can make them.”

Indiana, however, is defending the three much better in conference play. It currently ranks 1st in Big Ten games in three-point field goal defense — with opponents shooting just 24.6 percent on 3s and getting just 24.3 percent of their points from three (second-best defense in the Big Ten).

What’s even better? Purdue’s ability to rebound the ball if those 3s are misses. Purdue has an offensive rebound rate of 36.6 percent, 19th in the nation. That is increased to 40.5 percent in league games.

Indiana’s rebounding has been an issue all season, giving up 12 offensive rebounds per contest — 319th in the country.

“Well, you’ve got to block out. That’s just basic basketball. When the shot goes up, we’ve got to put bodies on people,” Explained Woodson when asked about the rebounding struggles. “I don’t think our guards have done a great job this year in getting back in. We challenge three-point shots, we’re trying to head up the floor, and a lot of times when those long shots are taken, they’re long rebounds, and we’re just not picking some of those up.

“I think Malik (Reneau) has got to get better and Mack (Mackenzie Mgbako) has got to get better in terms of helping us rebound. I think (Kel’el) Ware’s done a hell of a job rebounding the basketball, and he can’t do it by himself. We’ve got to do it as a team and as a unit. We’re going to have to do it tomorrow night because they’ve got a big team and they’re scrappy and they rebound the ball.”

So, while the guards ability to hit shots will determine the outcome of the game, how will Indiana basketball defend Purdue? Well, a lot will be determined by Kel’el Ware’s ability to slow down Edey. And, Ware’s increased motor is something that will be challenge head on in this matchup.

“Well, it’s the second effort,” Woodson said of Ware. “When we first got him, that didn’t even exist in terms of him making second and third efforts to try to go get the basketball. A lot of it was he just hadn’t been taught and pushed to do it. I mean, it’s like night and day from the time we got him to where he is today in terms of going hard and understanding that you just can’t take possessions off.

“From where he was, man, he’s come a long way, and it’s kind of nice to see because a lot of people just didn’t expect that because he hadn’t played.”

At the end of the day, Edey will likely ‘get his’, but it’s about making life difficult on his touches and limiting the amount of open looks Indiana gives Purdue’s guards.

Indiana is facing a tremendous opportunity head on.

“He’s getting more touches, probably more than he got last season. He’s a load. I mean, I don’t even know how to explain it,” Woodson said of Edey. “He’s a big guy that’s very skilled and tough to deal with. So we’ve got to go in there and battle, guys, for 40 minutes and see what happens.”

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