Harold Shelton III, BTN Studio Researcher, March 18, 2017

Before No. 4 Purdue battles No. 5 Iowa State in the Midwest Region on Saturday night, BTN researcher Harold Shelton shares with you what the Big Ten regular-season champs have working in their favor and working against them in their matchup vs. the Cyclones.

Watch the Purdue-Iowa State game here.

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Working in Purdue's favor:

  • Ranked 17th in defensive efficiency and 23rd in offensive efficiency.
  • 40.7 percent 3-pt FG (3rd in nation). Iowa State allows teams to shoot 35 percent from 3.
  • They don?t foul (2nd in nation in opponent free throw rate).
  • Caleb Swanigan: 27 double-doubles this season (Most in nation and most by a Big Ten player in a single season)
  • Iowa State is not a good rebounding team, ranking 277th in offensive rebounding and 284th in defensive rebounding.
  • Iowa State doesn?t have a starter taller than 6?8? and it starts a 6?5" power forward.
  • Iowa State allows opponents to shoot 68.5% at the rim, which ranks 340th nationally.

Working against Purdue:

  • Purdue doesn't force turnovers or create havoc defensively, ranking 277th in forcing turnovers, 300th in block percentage and 281st in steal percentage.
  • Despite the Boilermakers' height, they don?t defend the rim well. Opponents make nearly 68% of their shots at the rim, which ranks 330th nationally. Iowa State is sixth nationally at converting at the rim, making 71% of shots at that range, which ranks sixth nationally
  • Purdue isn?t great taking care of the ball, coming in at 155th nationally in turnover percentage and 231st when it comes to opponents stealing the ball. Meanwhile, Iowa State is 26th nationally in steals.
  • Iowa State shoots 40.3% from 3, which ranks 9th nationally.
  • Iowa State doesn?t foul either (9th nationally in opponent free throw rate).
  • Due mostly to Monte Morris, the Cyclones don?t turn it over, boasting the 3rd-lowest turnover percentage in the country (14.3%).
  • Five Iowa State players have made at least 40 3-point FG, including 6?5? power forward Deonte Burton. He could be a matchup nightmare if Purdue decided to go big.