High Point vs. Purdue March Madness Preview and Prediction
In the No. 13 vs. No. 4 matchup in the NCAA Tournament Midwest Region, the High Point Panthers face the Purdue Boilermakers in first-round action.
Make VSiN your home for the duration of the NCAA Tournament and beyond. Take advantage of our college basketball betting tools and previews and predictions on every single March Madness game. We have College Basketball Betting Splits from DraftKings Sportsbook and Circa Sports, updated Vegas College Basketball Odds, College Basketball Odds from other states, College Basketball Matchup Data, and more.
Check out Greg Peterson’s Daily College Basketball Lines, Steve Makinen’s Power Ratings Lines, and look at College Basketball Picks from our VSiN Experts.
How to Watch High Point vs. Purdue
When: 12:40 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 20th
Where: Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island
Watch: truTV
Odds for High Point vs. Purdue
(odds current at time of publish)
Spread: Purdue -9.5 (-110), High Point +9.5 (-110)
Total: Over 152.5 (-115), Under 152.5 (-105)
DraftKings Betting Splits | Live College Basketball Odds | High Point vs. Purdue Matchup Preview
High Point vs. Purdue Preview & Prediction
Purdue is back in the NCAA Tournament, but the question remains—what version of Matt Painter’s Boilermakers will show up? After an incredible season last year that ended in a national championship game loss to UConn, Purdue enters this year’s tournament without Zach Edey, fundamentally changing their approach. This team thrives on elite shooting, ranking in the top 10 nationally from beyond the arc and top 40 inside it. They move the ball well, limit turnovers, and have a strong non-conference résumé with wins over Alabama and Ole Miss.
However, their defense—particularly inside—leaves a lot to be desired. Without Edey’s presence, Purdue has plummeted to one of the worst teams in the country in 2P% defense, ranking in the 340s nationally. They do defend the perimeter well, but if teams can get inside, they can exploit the Boilermakers. This makes Purdue one of the more high-variance teams in the field, capable of outscoring opponents in shootouts but vulnerable if they can’t get stops.
High Point, making its first NCAA Tournament appearance as a Division I program, is an intriguing Cinderella candidate. The Panthers dominated the Big South and boast one of the most efficient offenses in the country, ranking top 20 in 2P%, top 50 in 3P%, and excelling at taking care of the ball and rebounding. However, their résumé lacks quality wins, with zero Quadrant 1 games and only one Quadrant 2 game. They’ve yet to be tested against high-major competition.
The key to this game is whether High Point can exploit Purdue’s weak interior defense or, if forced outside, whether they can knock down enough 3s to keep up. Purdue is vulnerable, but their high-powered offense gives them a significant edge. This matchup has the potential for fireworks, but unless High Point shoots at an elite level, the Boilermakers should move on.
Estimated Score: Purdue 81, High Point 72
For expert predictions, go to our college basketball best bets page.
