Basketball Previews - Central Connecticut State (Wednesday, 7pm, BTDN) and Rider (Sunday, 7pm, BTN)

To keep our sanity this basketball season (at least for the non-conference season), we're going to double up some of the previews and recaps.  Over the next week, the Boilers face two small conference teams in games they have absolutely no excuse losing.  Hopefully we get to see some blowouts.

Up first tonight are the Central Connecticut State "Don't Confuse us with Duke" Blue Devils.  Unfortunately for us fans who don't like paying twice for things that we're already paying for, the game isn't on BTN but rather the crappy (scammy) Big Ten Digital Network. We railed about this sleazy cash grab last season, so stay tuned to our comments section where we'll try to post a link to watch the game for free online about 15 minutes before tip off.

Ooh, I'm scared!

Quick, give me the quick details on why Purdue will beat these guys:
With AJ Hammons back and the tallest Devil at 6'8", the Boilers should be able to dominate.  Of course, we said the same thing last week.  CCSU's best scorer is 6'1" guard Kyle Vinales who had 30 points in a loss to Yale last week. Vinales almost transferred last season, and when your all-time leading scorer is looking to move up to programs like Kent State, La Salle, Buffalo, and Detroit, it means you have a long way to go as a basketball program.

Look for the Boilers to start out playing with a lot more intensity and cohesion than the last game, and doing so will likely see them build a big lead by halftime.

Our picks:
There's no betting line for this game, because if you know enough about CCSU to make an educated bet, you have a gambling problem.  We'll make one up: 14 points.

Erik: Purdue 84 - CCSU 71

Kirk: Purdue 80 - CCSU 65

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Next Sunday the Boilers will face-off against the Rider "We Don't Like the Letter O" Broncs.  Fortunately that one will be on BTN.

Hope they shoot their eyes out and not the lights out

Quick, give me the quick details on why Purdue will beat these guys:
Rider's played once already and lost by 14 to Lehigh behind 39% shooting from the field and a lot of free throws.  The Boilers should expect to dominate, get to the line a lot, and if Lehigh can score 92 points on the Broncs, it's be pretty sad not to break 80.  Rider fields a larger team than CCSU, but that doesn't mean they're more talented, although they may put up more points that the Devils, being a bit more balanced and used to tougher competition.

Our picks:
There isn't a line yet, but we'll update this once that changes.  If they never make one, we'll say 14 points again.

Erik: Purdue 86 - Rider 69

Kirk: Purdue 90 - Rider 70

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