WATCH: Matt Painter Previews Game Against Ohio State
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Ahead of a matchup between Purdue basketball and Ohio State on Sunday at Mackey Arena, head coach Matt Painter met with the media to preview a rematch between the Boilermakers and Buckeyes.
Purdue earned a narrow 71-69 win over Ohio State on Jan. 5, as freshman guard Fletcher Loyer delivered the winning 3-pointer in the final minute. However, the team has lost three of its last four games and looks to bounce back in the final four games of the regular season.
Ohio State's loss to Purdue sparked a downfall after starting the 2022-23 season with an 11-3 record. The Buckeyes have lost 12 of their last 13 games, including seven in a row. But with nothing to lose, they are hopeful for a statement win on the road.
"They have really good pieces and they have really good players," Painter said. "And then sometimes you just get into a bad rut. I've been there in this league, and it's just hard because you're looking and you're like 'where's your next win coming from?'
"And then you get into close games and things don't go your way, the breaks sometimes are tough. I always talk about it, we've won this league three times, but I've also been last twice. The last part is not something to put on your Facebook page."
Freshman standout Brice Sensabaugh spearheads an Ohio State team that still ranks top 30 in adjusted offensive efficiency according to the 2023 Pomeroy college basketball ratings despite its struggles. He is averaging a team-high 16.3 points per game and is hitting on 43.2% of his 3-point attempts.
Against Purdue earlier in the year, Sensabaugh scored 21 points on 10-of-17 while playing a season-high 36 minutes. Senior forward Justice Sueing, who ranks second on the Buckeyes in scoring, added 15 points in the matchup.
Both players have the ability to penetrate the defense and create opportunities for themselves in the midrange, something Purdue has struggled with in its recent games.
"Just collectively trying to be with those guys and understand what they're trying to do in their actions, but having that awareness as a team is important, " Painter said. "The other thing that comes is if you're not scoring at the other end, they're building a lot of confidence."
The game is scheduled to tip off at 1 p.m. ET, and it will be televised on CBS. The Boilermakers will be at home for three of their final four games beginning on Sunday.
-----
Related Stories on Purdue Basketball
- Painter Named to Coach of the Year Late Season Watch List: Purdue men's basketball head coach Matt Painter was among 15 coaches named to the 2023 Wener Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year Late Season Watch List. CLICK HERE
- Maryland Coach Says Win Over Purdue 'Was Not a Surprise': "We had three great days of practice," head coach Kevin Willard said after Maryland's 68-54 win over No. 3 Purdue on Thursday. "I knew we were going to win. This was not a surprise to me." CLICK HERE
- Purdue Implodes in Second Half During Loss to Maryland: Maryland buried No. 3 Purdue with a 29-4 run in the second half after a technical foul on junior forward Mason Gillis. The Boilermakers have lost their last three road games, falling to 23-4 overall and 12-4 in Big Ten play. CLICK HERE
- Purdue Falls to No. 3 in Latest AP Top 25 Poll: Purdue dropped to No. 3 in the Associated Press Top 25 college basketball poll following a 64-58 loss to Northwestern. The Boilermakers were one of two conference teams ranked this week. CLICK HERE
-----
Keep up to date on everything at BoilermakersCountry.com by liking and following our Facebook page: Purdue Boilermakers on Sports Illustrated/FanNation.
D.J. Fezler is a staff writer for BoilermakersCountry.com. Hailing from The Region, he is from Cedar Lake in Northwest Indiana and has spent the last two years covering Purdue football and basketball.