The Northwestern Wildcats are the Cinderella story of the college basketball season and we haven’t even reached the NCAA Tournament. In less than two seconds, decades of basketball frustration were wiped away and Wildcats all but assured themselves a first-ever trip to the Big Dance with an invigorating win over Michigan on Wednesday. Of course nothing is guaranteed, but a win over the Purdue Boilermakers on Sunday would secure an at-large bid.
At 4:30 p.m. ET, tune into CBS for live television coverage of this NCAA basketball game on Sunday, March 5, 2017, at Welsh-Ryan Arena. We'll have NCAA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the college basketball Sunday schedule.
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Forgive the Boilermakers if they haven’t quite recovered from the party that took place in Mackey Arena on Wednesday night. It was a festive atmosphere with confetti falling and players cutting down nets, reminiscent of a NCAA Tournament championship game. It was close to that for Purdue. The Boilermakers clinched the Big Ten regular season title with the victory, and they knocked off the defending champions Indiana to get it. It was a nice bounce back effort after losing to Michigan and needing overtime to overtake Penn State.
Feeling the pressure of securing their first ever trip to the NCAA Tournament, the Wildcats had been struggling. After bolting out of the gate with 18 wins in their first 22 games, they hit a wall that started with a loss at Purdue on Feb. 1. NU was 2-5 SU and ATS since that game, but the Cats momentarily ended the slide and set a program record with their 21st victory by beating Michigan on Wednesday night. NU improved to 14-3 SU and 8-6 ATS at home this season and will be an underdog in their gym against No. 16 Purdue.
Player to Watch
Caleb Swanigan is a legitimate NBA prospect, he probably wins the Big Ten Player of the Year and he’s on the short list of candidates for the national player of the year. He’s also the reason why the Boilermakers are the Big Ten regular season champs. In the title clinching game, Swanigan scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, the 12th time this season he’s recorded a 20-10 double-double. He’s also recorded the most double-doubles of any Big Ten player in the past 30 years.
Swanigan was a matchup problem for the Wildcats in the first meeting with his size and athleticism. The smaller NU players had a tough time containing him down low and Swanigan went for 24 and 16 while playing 33 minutes of the Boilermakers 80-59 victory.
Last Meeting
The Wildcats were the surprise of the Big Ten and College basketball when they headed to West Lafayette for a showdown with Purdue last month. The Cats were 18-4 overall and 7-2 in league play, but many felt the bubble was going to burst any time. Those so-called experts were right on this night. After sneaking into the top-25, the Wildcats were pounded by the vicious inside-outside game of Purdue. The Boilermakers shredded NU’s three-point defense by hitting 12 of 23 from distance and Swanigan did his usual work inside to the tune of 24 points and 16 rebounds.
Playing without leading scorer Scottie Lindsey, the Wildcats were no match. Bryant McIntosh did his best to keep NU in the game by scoring 22 points, but he was the only player to score in double figures. Northwestern shot a woeful 35 percent from the floor and made just 2 of 14 three-pointers while suffering their worst defeat of the season, 80-59.
Free College Basketball ATS Picks
The Wildcats are a good story surprising many with their 21-win season to date. The program has grown considerably under Chris Collins and they may have had their breakthrough moment with a victory over Michigan that could wrap up the first NCAA Tournament bid in school history. But the Wildcats just don’t have the talent to match that of Purdue.
With Swanigan having a big advantage down low and Vince Edwards lighting it up from outside, the Boilermakers should win this game. There could be a slight hangover from their title clinching win and the Cats are sky high after their buzzer beater, but Purdue has too much for the Wildcats to overcome. The game will be closer than the 21-point margin in the first meeting, but the Boilermakers will escape with the cover win.
College Basketball Odds: Purdue 74, Northwestern 66
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