Purdue Basketball Maryland Preview

Jahmir Young, Julian Reese, and Donta Scott take the spotlight in a big win over UCLA. Young's 37-point game is impressive.

The game on December 22nd was all about Jahmir Young, Julian Reese, and Donta Scott. Young put up an impressive 37 points, 3 assists, and 7 rebounds, with Reese and Scott playing their roles as sidekicks. The offense was centered around Young, a 3-level scorer who can drive to the rim, pull up from mid-range, and shoot from deep. Scott, a strong player on the wing, contributed 17 points and matched Young with 9 free-throw attempts. Reese, a bit of a wildcard, had a quiet game against UCLA but has the potential to be an opportunistic scorer.

Maryland's offense is built around driving towards the basket, as they struggle with shooting from deep. They make up for this with a strong offensive rebounding rate. On defense, they are better, with a squad of long-limbed athletes who make it difficult for opponents to shoot. Their turnover percentage is a concern for Purdue, as they can control the tempo and turn the ball over effectively.

The game plan for Maryland is to move the ball, control the tempo, and get Young matched up against Loyer late in the game. Their defense will focus on clogging the paint, making entry passes difficult, and limiting Purdue's efficiency. It will be a test for Purdue's backcourt, especially for Braden Smith, who will need to go up against Young, a 3-level scorer similar to himself.

Overall, Purdue is favored to win, but it's expected to be a tough game. If Purdue shoots well, Maryland won't be able to keep up. However, if Purdue struggles to shoot, Maryland has the potential to pull off an upset.