Purdue HC Matt Painter on Rutgers: 'Can't Grow Freshmen if They Can't Keep Them'
Purdue head coach Matt Painter opened up about the issue that Rutgers faces by playing a lot of freshman.DECEMBER 3 • FOX SPORTS
Last Night in College Basketball: Ranked Matchups Galore, and a Syracuse Upset
Duke, North Carolina, and UConn all win close ranked games, Syracuse gets the upset, Braden Smith has the prettiest pass of the night and mo...DECEMBER 3 • FOX SPORTS
Tariq Francis - Nullified vs. Purdue Francis amassed five points (2-5 FG, 1-1 3Pt) and three rebounds in 19 minutes during Tuesday's 81-65 loss to Purdue.
Impact Francis' transition to high-major basketball has been largely smooth, but he was completely stymied against Purdue. The guard only attempted five shots, his lowest total of the season. He was also held without an assist for the first time this year. Again, Francis has been a key piece for Rutgers, but the Scarlet Knights just aren't built to topple a team as loaded as Purdue right now.
DECEMBER 3 • ROTOWIRE
Dylan Grant - Quiet on glass in loss Grant notched 13 points (5-10 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT), two rebounds and one steal over 24 minutes during Tuesday's 81-65 loss to Purdue.
Impact Grant averaged 6.6 rebounds coming into Rutgers' Big Ten opener, but the forward wasn't able to do much of anything on the glass as Purdue's Trey Kaufman-Renn gobbled up rebounds all night. Grant has been solid for the Scarlet Knights and has clearly taken a big step forward in his sophomore year. Still, Rutgers looks rather hapless right now sitting at 5-4.
DECEMBER 3 • ROTOWIRE
Gicarri Harris - Continues solid play off bench Harris posted 11 points (4-5 FG, 3-4 3Pt), two rebounds, two assists and one steal in 21 minutes during Tuesday's 81-65 win over Rutgers.
Impact Harris has now scored in double figures in two straight outings. The sophomore guard's role has increased in the past two games, as he's played over 20 minutes in each contest. He's been efficient and well-rounded in that span, hitting 9-of-13 shots from the floor with eight total rebounds, four assists and four steals. Purdue hasn't exactly faced a murderers' row of opponents recently, but Harris is proving that he can be a valuable commodity.
DECEMBER 3 • ROTOWIRE
Braden Smith - Fingerprints all over Rutgers win Smith contributed 16 points (5-11 FG, 4-8 3Pt, 2-2 FT), three rebounds and eight assists in 35 minutes during Tuesday's 81-65 victory over Rutgers.
Impact After he only took four shots in a blowout win over Eastern Illinois, Smith was more assertive in the Boilermakers' Big Ten opener. He canned four triples en route to his highest point total since Nov. 16 against Akron when he also dropped 16 points. He continues to be a highly skilled passer, as his eight dimes once again easily led the way for Purdue. Even when Smith has an off night shooting the basketball, there's so many other ways he can help his team win.
DECEMBER 3 • ROTOWIRE
Trey Kaufman-Renn - Double-double vs. Rutgers Kaufman-Renn totaled 19 points (7-11 FG, 5-7 FT), 13 rebounds, three assists and one steal over 31 minutes during Tuesday's 81-65 win over Rutgers.
Impact After two straight quieter games on the glass, Kaufman-Renn was once again a menace on the boards with 13 rebounds. Couple that with a highly efficient 63 percent shooting from the field, and he logged his fourth double-double of the year as the Boilermakers eased past Rutgers. Kaufman-Renn isn't quite scoring at the clip he did last season, but he's been more efficient from the field and has been more of a handful on the glass.
DECEMBER 3 • ROTOWIRE
