Houston is the public side even though this is basically a semi-home game for the Boilermakers. However, Purdue has struggled all season against teams with above average big man. The Cougars have an experienced team to go along with the number one scoring defense in the country. Purdue is near the bottom of country in defending inside the arc and around the rim, 341st in the nation. The Cougars are also one of the best in the country in forcing turnovers and have a much improved offense as compared to last season.

Year of the chalk. But outside of that, this Houston team matches up really well against Purdue, they should bully them down low. Purdue's biggest weakness is their 2-point defense, allowing as high as 91% this year with stretches of 69%. Houston should win the rebounding battle, put back offensive boards, and compliment it with their three point game to go over this number.

Blessed with shooting accuracy from deep but not great quickness, Matt Painter's main dagger-throwers Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith usually hold the key for Purdue. Loyer and Smith, however, were collectively neutralized on more than once this season, as quickness is not their forte, and we wonder about their abilities to get clear looks against a jarring Houston that has lead the country in scoring defense for much of the season (58.4 ppg). Here's the other difference with this Cougar edition compared to recent Kelvin Sampson versions that have slipped in the Dance; UH leads the nation in three-point accuracy (39.8%), after hitting around 34% from deep in recent seasons. Sampson's best chance to finally win it all? Play Houston (NCAA at Indianapolis)

When Purdue’s offense is rolling, much of its success is based around a two-man game with Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn. Unfortunately in Houston the Boilermakers are facing one of the best pick-and-roll defenses in the entire country, with the Cougars not only getting stops at high level but forcing turnovers in those situations. And Houston not only has a matchup advantage against one of Purdue’s best offensive weapons but also the personnel to exploit what’s been a leaky interior defense throughout the second half of the season. LJ Cryer, Milos Uzan and Houston’s bigs should be able to get good looks at the rim and as long as they can convert it’s a game that the Cougars should be able to control.

Purdue was one of the best shooting teams in the country at 48.8% and hitting 38.5% of the three-point shots. They also don't turn the ball over much. Houston, on the other hand, creates turnovers with a tenacious defense and allows only 58.4 points a game, which is tops in the nation. They only give up 19.7 field goals a game, and they allow 38.4% shooting. Great offense versus a great defense. Purdue beat High Point and McNeese State to make this Sweet 16 but they lost six of their last 11 games. Houston has won their last 15 in a row and covered their last four. Houston covers.

Houston can suffocate you defensively and Purdue's shooting tends to be very hit or miss. Next weekend could be quite different than some of their recent displays. They will have to fight for their shots much more against this tall and athletic opponent and over time their 3-point shooting away from home has suffered. Boilers under in 3 of their last 4 and 9 of their last 12 road/neutral games. Boilers play at a slog's pace (298th in KenPom pace) and Cougars make them look like track stars (359th). Don't expect a lot of second chance shots for Boilers. This should be an old-school game, played in the low 60s.