VHS Grad's Purdue Team to Play #1 Seed in NCAA Tournament
The University of Connecticut has been a powerhouse in the past two decades in the world of college basketball. On Thursday, the (#5) Purdue Boilermakers will try to pull the upset over the Huskies.
Purdue, led by stellar sophomore trio of E'Twuan Moore, JaJuan Johnson, and Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year Robbie Hummel, will try and take down the UCONN Huskies led by AJ Price and Hasheem Thabeet, two players who will likely be lottery picks in June's NBA draft.
UCONN has dominated thus far in the NCAA tournament with a 56 point victory over 16th ranked Chattanooga and a 26 point victory over 8th seed Texas A&M. Purdue, who squeaked out victories over the University of Northern Iowa and Washington, will play a different style of game than any team UCONN has faced in the tournament, as Purdue is arguably the best defensive team left in the field of 16.
Key Match-ups
Chris Kramer vs. AJ Price
Chris Kramer (6'3, 207 lbs.) - 5.2 ppg, 3 rpg, 2.5 apg
AJ Price (6'2, 181 lbs.) 14.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.8 apg
UCONN's AJ Price is on a tear as of late, totaling 33, 20, and 27 points in his last three games. However on Thursday, Price will have to face reigning Big Ten Defensive player of the year in Chris Kramer. Kramer, whose style of play is akin to being the type of player who you want on your team, but never to play against you, will provide a physical, defensive presence that Price has not seen yet this year. Kramer, on the other hand, will likely do his best to wear out Price out on the offensive and defensive ends to try and tire and frustrate Price early and often. If Kramer has stay out of file trouble, look for this to be the key match-up of the game.
JaJuan Johnson vs. Hasheem Thabeet
JaJuan Johnson (6'10, 215 lbs.) - 13.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, .6 apg
Hasheem Thabeet (7'3, 263 lbs.) - 13.7 ppg, 10.7rpg, 4.4 bpg
The Battle of the Big Men will be another key match-up in the Sweet 16 match-up. JaJuan Johnson is Purdue's hottest player, earning the sophomore Big Ten First Team honors this season. Thabeet, however has improved his game dramatically from last year, culminating in a game against Big East rival Seton Hall in which he knotted 25 points, 20 rebounds, and 9 blocks. Thabeet will likely be the second big man taken in the NBA draft this upcoming June, as his defensive ability makes him a blue-chip professional prospect. Johnson, who is used to giving up some size against bigger Big Ten big men, will have his hands full with the 7'3 center from Connecticut.
Robbie Hummel vs. Jeff Adrien
Robbie Hummel (6'8, 212 lbs) - 12.4 ppg, 7 rpg, 2 apg
Jeff Adrien (6'7, 243 lbs) - 13.9 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 1.6 apg
Purdue's marquee player in Robbie Hummel has struggled all season with a stress fracture in his back after being stepped on during the Purdue-Duke game. Purdue's disappointing fifth seed in the tournament this season can partially be attributed to Purdue's 1-3 record without Hummel. The former VHS grad will have his hands full with UCONN's unsung power forward in Jeff Adrien. Adrien is a force down low, picking up the slack offensively for the more-heralded Thabeet. This is best exemplified by scoring 23 points in UCONN's Round of 32 game against Texas A&M, when Thabeet was limited to just 6 points in 20 minutes due to foul trouble.