Staff writer Michael Osipoff has covered Purdue Basketball for four years for the Gary Post Tribune. His blog, Mike Osipoff: The Wisdom of Oz, covers Purdue football, basketball and much more local sports. We get his take on how much Purdue has missed Robbie Hummel and the contrast in style of play.
Siena Saints Blog: A lot has been made this week of Purdue without Junior Robbie Hummel, how much can you glean from these last five games on how much differently they play (if at all) without Hummel?

Michael Osipoff: Well, it was obvious when Hummel got injured that it was going to dramatically change the outlook for Purdue. But it’s actually been amazing just how much the Boilermakers have struggled without him, particularly offensively and rebounding. Their game in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals against Minnesota, for example, was an absolute disaster. The scoring burden was going to fall on guard E’Twaun Moore and forward/center JaJuan Johnson, two all-conference players, and it hasn’t been easy for them as opposing defenses have focused their attention on them. And Purdue wasn’t a great rebounding team to begin with, and losing the 6-foot-8 Hummel, leaving the 6-10 Johnson and four guards in the starting lineup, has made hitting the glass an even bigger issue for the Boilermakers. Basically, Hummel seems to have been the guy who brought everything together — offense, defense, rebounding.

Siena Saints Blog: Who has to step up for the Boilermakers for them to make up for the loss of Hummel?

Michael Osipoff: Moore and Johnson pretty much have to score in the neighborhood of 20 points each in order for Purdue to be successful. And a third scorer needs to emerge from a group that includes players such as Keaton Grant, Chris Kramer and Lewis Jackson. Grant had a great stretch offensively late in the regular season, but has cooled off since. Kramer, a two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and point guard Jackson aren’t exactly known as scorers, but they have to take — and make — the open shots other teams have given them for Purdue to have much of a chance.

Siena Saints Blog: In this matchup we have two teams that generate a lot of scoring inside, what matchup are you looking forward to watching?

Michael Osipoff: It’ll be interesting to see how Purdue, given its rebounding deficiencies, does in keeping Ryan Rossiter, as well as Alex Franklin, off the glass. Those two guys could have a field day in that area.

Siena Saints Blog: How much of an impact do you give the defenses in this game, Siena’s 1-2-2 and three-quarter court trap vs. Purdue’s tough, physical man-to-man halfcourt D?

Michael Osipoff: Purdue has been susceptible at times to various sorts of pressure, though many of those instances seem to have come before Jackson was hurt; he suffered a left foot injury and missed the first 19 games of the season. With his quickness, Jackson, who has returned to the starting lineup for the last four games, makes the Boilermakers better equipped to handle such defenses, but there still have been occasions when things have gotten dicey for them. Purdue’s defense is pretty nasty, with the hard-nosed Kramer setting the tone. You can get a feel for it on tape, but it could be jarring for some teams, especially those that aren’t accustomed to that style, when the game goes live.

Siena Saints Blog: How do you think Head Coach Matt Painter will choose to attack the Saints on Friday?

Michael Osipoff: Purdue won’t deviate much from its motion offense, which clearly doesn’t run as efficiently without Hummel as the four-man. And the Boilermakers are strictly a man-to-man defense. You more or less know what you’re going to get with them; Painter deeply believes in those principles, learned from former coach Gene Keady, and adheres to them.