Purdue Boilermakers vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights – NCAA Basketball Preview – March 4, 2025
Purdue hosts Rutgers at Mackey Arena on March 4 at 7:00 PM ET. Purdue is 20-9 overall and 12-6 in the Big Ten, while Rutgers sits at 14-15 with a 7-11 conference record. Purdue won the last meeting 68-50 on January 9.
The Boilermakers are looking to build momentum after snapping a four-game losing streak with a win over UCLA. Rutgers is coming off a tough 84-82 loss to Michigan, where they let a 12-point lead slip away in the final minutes. Both teams are fighting for positioning in the Big Ten Tournament as the regular season nears its end.
Purdue Preview – Can They Keep the Momentum?
Purdue ended a tough four-game losing streak with a 76-66 win over UCLA. During the losing streak, they faced three ranked opponents, making it a difficult stretch. The Boilermakers are now tied for third in the Big Ten and are looking to improve their seeding.
Braden Smith leads the team with 16 points per game while also averaging 8.7 assists and 2.4 steals. He recently became the school’s all-time leader in career assists, passing Bruce Parkinson. Trey Kaufman-Renn is the team’s top scorer at 19.6 points per game, and he put up 29 points in their last outing.
Purdue averages 76.9 points per game and shoots 44.8% from the field. Defensively, they allow 70 points per game and have struggled to stop teams in recent matchups. They are strong at home, holding a 13-2 record at Mackey Arena this season.
Rutgers Preview – Can They Bounce Back?
Rutgers had a chance to beat Michigan but let the game slip away in the final moments. The Scarlet Knights had a 12-point lead with 11 minutes left but lost on a buzzer-beater. They are now in a four-way tie for 11th place in the Big Ten.
Dylan Harper leads Rutgers with 19.3 points per game, while Ace Bailey adds 18.2 per game. Lathan Sommerville scored a career-high 17 points against Michigan and has been stepping up late in the season. Rutgers is averaging 71.2 points per game while shooting 44.8% from the field.
Defensively, Rutgers allows 75.6 points per game and struggles with perimeter defense. They rank 263rd in opponent field goal percentage and will need a strong effort to contain Purdue’s shooters. On the road, Rutgers is 3-7 this season and has lost four straight games against the Boilermakers.
Betting Prediction
Purdue is a strong home team and has the offensive advantage in this matchup. They won the last meeting by 18 points and have the depth to take control again. Rutgers has been inconsistent and struggles on the road.
The spread should favor Purdue, and they have a good chance to cover. The last game between these teams finished under the total, and Rutgers’ struggles on offense could lead to another low-scoring game.
Pick: Purdue Boilermakers -8.5, Under 143.5
This should be a pretty interesting Big Ten affair on Tuesday. Enjoy the game, as we get closer to the conference tournament and then the NCAA Tournament!
