The Purdue Boilermakers are set to face off with the Yale Bulldogs in the 2021 NCAA Division 1 Basketball Tournament. This is a highly anticipated matchup, and college basketball fans will be eager to see who comes out on top.
Purdue has seen some impressive results throughout their season and looks to be a strong contender in the tournament. In this article, we will take a look at what to expect from this matchup, as well as how to watch the game.
How to Watch Purdues NCAA Tournament Game Against Yale
The Purdue Boilermakers’ football season is off to a promising start. Purdue has won four out of five games, with the lone loss coming against Notre Dame. The Boilermakers have compiled impressive victories against Nebraska, Penn State and Illinois, as well as an impressive win against TCU on the road. With one game left in the regular season and bowl eligibility solidified, the team will look to finish strong against Yale.
Purdue’s freshman quarterback Jack Plummer has been a pleasant surprise for the program this season. Plummer has completed 58 percent of his passes for 1,961 yards with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions, leading the team to an 11th-best 315.3 passing yards per game average. The offense has also made good use of running backs Zander Horvath and King Doerue who have combined for 1,371 yards rushing with 12 touchdowns. The defense has performed its part as well allowing just 19 points per game (third best in Big Ten).
The Boilermakers have all their primary goals in reach: bowl eligibility is already secured and they still have an outside chance making it into Big Ten Championship Game if they can win out and get some help along the way. However, their last regular season game will be a difficult one – Yale is undefeated on the season so far and boast one of the most explosive offenses in all college football averaging 38 points per contest behind quarterback Kurt Rawlings who leads FCS in passing touchdowns with 24 heading into this matchup with Purdue.
Purdue’s key players
University of Purdue’s Boilermaker’s key players to watch for during their upcoming match against Yale are quarterback Elijah Sindelar, receiver Rondale Moore, lineman Anthony Watts, and running back King Doerue.
Elijah Sindelar took the reins as the starter at quarterback the last two seasons after a highly successful career at Riverside High School in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He racked up nearly 4,000 passing yards with 37 touchdowns in 2018. Sindelar threw for 3,203 yards and 21 touchdowns through 11 games last season and he’ll be ready to take on Yale once again this Saturday.
Elijah’s go-to target since his arrival has been sophomore receiver Rondale Moore – a top recruit following high school ball in New Albany, Indiana. Last year Rondale hauled in 114 catches to break multiple team records while racking up 1,258 receiving yards. He also became only the sixth player in NCAA history to post at least 1,000 receiving yards as well as rush for 350 yards or more – MOOREriding with 128 rushing yards scored over four games on offense and special teams combined. Rondale has already broken various BTN records while proving himself as another key contributor on Purdue’s offense.
The Boilermakers have also found success from grad transfer Anthony Watts who put together several dominant performances along Purdue’s defensive front in 2019. He collected 77 total tackles with 12 contribute to a loss A versatile lineman who can play both end positions or interior line spots will be tested against college favorites Yale Saturday evening.
Lastly King Doerue was offered scholarships from some of the nation’s most prestigious programs following 2 impressive seasons of football at Austin (TX) Lake Travis High School where he faced numerous Division I opponents on both sides of the ball . Sophomore running back Doerue is an all-purpose player that earned serious recognition during his debut season at Purude posting 743 rushing yards and 5 TD while flashing receiving ability out of the backfield that make him an important player against Yale Saturday evening led by formidable QB Kohl Congresson.
Purdue’s Strengths and Weaknesses
The Purdue Boilermakers enter the matchup with Yale having earned an 8-4 record so far this season. This record consists of a notable 6-2 against Big Ten opponents, which includes wins over top 25 teams such as Ohio State and Iowa. The Boilermakers have also taken on challenging non-conference opponents such as Tennessee and Texas, but have come out of these games unsuccessful turns out these losses.
Purdue’s strengths reside in their experienced offense. Led by Rondale Moore, who has earned Big Ten’s Receiver of the Year the past two seasons, the Boilermakers have been one of the most vibrant offenses in college football this season. Quarterback Aidan O’Connell has also had success this year, throwing for 3,014 yards and 26 touchdowns while limit his turnovers to eight interceptions. The rushing attack has failed to make an impact this season but it could play a bigger role against Yale’s defense where they rank 31st nationally in rush defense (144 yards per game).
The Boilermaker’s weaknesses lie on defense that ranks 47th nationally in both points allowed (25 per game) and yards allowed (381 per game). Purdue has had trouble defending against the pass with opponents averaging 266.8 yards through the air each game giving them a ranking of 70th nationally. They however bring experience to this challenge with key contributors like linebacker Derrick Barnes returning from last year’s team when they gave up only 22.6 points on average across all 13 games played that season. Meanwhile, Purdue does fare better against stopping the run ranked 29th in rushing yards allowed at 116 each game allowing them to potentially slow down Yale’s balanced offensive attack.
Yale Bulldogs
The Yale Bulldogs will be facing off against the Purdue Boilermakers in their NCAA tournament game. This matchup between two experienced teams is sure to be an exciting one.
Here we will talk about the Yale Bulldogs, what they bring to the table, and what we can expect from their performance.
Overview of Yale’s Season
Yale Bulldogs were ready for a statement season with their NCAA tournament bid in the bag, but their 2020-21 campaign got off to a rocky start with a 63-60 loss against preppy Moorehead State. However, the Bulldogs quickly found their groove and went on to claim an impressive 16-8 record in the Ivy League.
The team’s success was largely thanks to its star-studded lineup of Paul Atkinson, Azar Swain and Jordan Bruner who put up a combined total of 44.5 points per game while leading the league in rebounding (25.1). The trio hauled in nearly 35% of all offensive boards and played vital roles on both ends of the court. Additionally, AJ Edwards helped fire up Yale’s defense as he recorded 1.7 blocks and 1 steal per game throughout the season.
Yale’s effective ball movement also proved key this season as they achieved 12 assists per contest in conference play which helped fuel their impressive shooting performance of 45% from deep (38th nationally). There were times where this fluid offense had trouble taking care of the ball – averaging 13 gave balls per tilt – which meant plenty for opponents to take advantage of. Yet Tate Jones powered his way through such problems with his clever 3 point plays (41% from three) to ensure Yale completed the regular season at 16-8, tied 2nd place with Princeton atop the Ivy League standings; thus setting them up nicely for an early March Madness push against Purdue!
Yale’s Key Players
With a 5-5 record, the Yale Bulldogs have been gradually improving throughout the season. Preparation is key as they go into their last game of the regular season against Purdue. With a win, they will qualify for post-season play and hope to gain momentum in that effort.
To earn victory this Saturday, Coach Tony Reno has identified a few players he needs to count on:
Offense:
– Quarterback Kurt Rawlings is the starter who can break out of pressured situations by throwing on the run. He’s also capable of running and can gain valuable yards of his own if needed.
– Running back Zane Dudek is renowned for his power runs through defensive lines and has compiled 745 yards rushing and six touchdowns this season. Look for him to be an integral part of any success Yale finds on offense this weekend.
– Wide receiver JP Shohfi gained 877 receiving yards in just nine games this year; he’s an integral factor in third down conversions as well as being able to keep plays alive with his speed and athleticism.
Defense:
– Linebacker Matthew Oplinger leads the team not only with 64 tackles but also with four forced fumbles, a forced fumble recovery, two interceptions, one sack and 10 pass breakups so far this season. Keeping him in check should be one of Purdue’s top priorities Saturday afternoon if they want any hope at victory.
– Defensive backs safety Hayden Carlson and cornerback Jason Leoni have consistently created some real chaos against opposing offenses; between them they’ve generated three interceptions and seven pass breakups so far in 2019. If Yale can squeeze turnovers out of them then it will give them opportunity to drive onto scores more often than not on game day versus the Boilermakers.
Yale’s Strengths and Weaknesses
Yale has enjoyed a tradition of success in the Ivy League and is one of the most dominant college football programs in the nation. The Bulldogs have won 17 conference championships, including a current streak of 10 straight titles. Led by head coach Tony Reno, this program is one that puts an emphasis on fundamentals and consistency from year to year.
Offensively, Yale has been prolific in recent years thanks to an experienced offense led by junior quarterback Kurt Rawlings. Rawlings has thrown for over 7,000 yards and 53 touchdowns during his three seasons with the team and is often seen as an MVP candidate for the Ivy League. The Bulldogs also have a dangerous receiving corps, with wide receiver Christopher Williams-Lopez leading the way with 789 yards and eight touchdown receptions last season alone.
Yale’s main weaknesses come on the defensive side, where their defense can be inconsistent at times. Last season saw them surrender more than 25 points per game while only averaging 17 points of their own per game. A lack of depth across their defensive frontline will hurt them against Purdue’s prolific offensive attack led by David Blough. The Bulldogs need to be stout against Blough if they want to pull off a major upset on Saturday night.
Matchup Analysis
Purdue and Yale will face off in an intriguing second round NCAA tournament matchup. Both teams boast impressive resumes and will be looking to make a deep run in the tournament. This game will surely be an interesting one as both sides match up well.
Let’s take a closer look at this matchup and break down the key points to consider when deciding who to cheer for.
Head-to-head History
Heading into the season, it will be important to look back at the head-to-head history between Purdue and Yale. Most recently, in the 2018-19 season, Purdue won both games against Yale by margins of 18 and 15 respectively. Over the course of their last 14 meetings, Purdue has won 12 times while Yale has won twice. In those 14 contests there were two neutral court matchups (resulting in a split) and 12 home games for each team (resulting in a 10-2 advantage for Purdue).
In terms of scoring, Purdue leads the series 2291 to 2061 with an average margin of victory of over seven points. The Boilermakers also hold an edge in rebounding with a +13 differential (652 vs 639). Turnovers are nearly identical over the course of this series with a total deficit of only four for Yale. This matchup looks to be lethal offensively as both teams average over 75 points per game while Purdue averages just slightly more than their counterpart at 76 points per game compared to 75 points from Yale. Furthermore, both teams have tremendous talent as evidenced by their 11 combined all-conference selections from last year’s regular season.
Purdue’s size and experience could potentially give them an edge when facing off against Yale this season but one can only speculate how well each team’s top talents translate across from one program to another. As with any matchup of this caliber, it will come down to which team maximizes its potential on both sides of the ball during any given matchup between these two storied programs.
Statistical Comparison
In the upcoming matchup between Purdue and Yale, we take a closer look at some of the key stats their respective teams have posted this season. By examining each squad’s strengths and weaknesses, we can gain an insight into which team is likely to emerge as victorious on game day.
Purdue: Purdue boasts an impressive 7-2 record and averages 71.9 points per game while allowing 66.6. The Boilermakers rank 9th in the nation in offensive efficiency, 14th in defensive efficiency, and 9th overall in field goal percentage (.471). On the boards, they are averaging 34 rebounds per match; 11.7 per game coming from offensive rebounds alone.
Yale: Yale is currently 4-4 for the season and has averaged 65 points per game while allowing 69 points on defense. The Bulldogs have worked hard to increase their rating as an efficient offense, managing to improve by about 1 point every year since 2015–16 season (currently standing at 109.7). However, they still rate lower than Purdue in most offensive categories including field goal percentage (.430) and 3-point percentage (.327). Their defense isn’t any better either; they’ve allowed opponents to shoot .443 from the field this season compared to Purdue’s .405 average, thus leaving them with a mediocre defensive rating of 104.3 – 11 points lower than that of Purdue’s 115 overall defensive rating thus far this year.
Keys to the Game
As Purdue faces off with Yale in the upcoming game, there are several key factors to be aware of that may affect the overall outcome.
Offense: Both teams possess high-powered offenses, which means it’s going to be an exciting game for viewers to watch. Purdue relies heavily on its passing attack, while Yale combines rushing and passing for their offensive strategy. Whichever team is able to maintain ball control for longer periods of time is likely to pull out a victory.
Defense: Defense will certainly play a major role in this matchup as well. Purdue’s defense is strong, but they may struggle against Yale’s efficient rushing attack. Meanwhile, Yale’s defense must be prepared to face Purdue’s strong air assault as well as their dynamic special teams play.
Special Teams: Special teams play can also make or break a game, and this showdown looks like it could come down to field goals and punts. Which team will be able to capitalize on key plays late in the game? Keep an eye on these players as they could prove to be difference makers in the final score.
Turnover ratio: As both teams battle for possession throughout the game, whichever team is able turn their offensive opportunities into points while limiting their opponents may come out ahead in this matchup. The ability of each team’s defense will go a long way towards determining which squad has supremacy over turnovers throughout the match up.
How to Watch
Purdue and Yale will be facing off in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday. The game will feature two talented teams eager to make a statement in March Madness. Fans around the world are looking forward to the big game.
If you’re planning to watch, here’s how to make sure you don’t miss a minute of the action.
TV and Streaming Information
The Purdue Boilermakers and Yale Bulldogs will clash in the NCAA Tournament first round on Thursday, March 21. The game is scheduled to start at 8:15 PM ET and will be televised nationally on CBS.
If you can’t get to a television, you can use your computer or mobile device to stream the game via the ESPN app. Eligible subscribers may also access it with their cable credentials. Have a subscription to an over-the-air antenna? Check your local listings for availability.
Other streaming options include YouTube TV and Hulu with Live TV, both of which come with a 1-week free trial period. FuboTV, Sling TV and Vidgo are all offerings that could potentially carry the game as well (but don’t come with free trials).
For those of you travelling abroad or just wanting college basketball coverage around the clock, look into packages available through NBA League Pass International or NCAA March Madness Live, both of which offer streaming of select games for eligible subscribers.
