Purdue’s frontcourt got a major facelift this season, and it’s already paying dividends on the defensive end. After losing 7-foot-4 freshman Daniel Jacobsen just two games into last year-and never really replacing the rim protection that Zach Edey once provided-head coach Matt Painter didn’t leave anything to chance heading into 2025-26. Instead of banking solely on Jacobsen’s return, he hit the Transfer Portal and landed 6-foot-11 Oscar Cluff to reinforce the interior.
And it’s worked. Purdue went from opponents shooting nearly 70% at the rim last season to a more manageable 64% this year, according to CBBanalytics.com.
Even more telling: teams are simply attacking the paint less. The Boilermakers’ size is forcing offenses to rethink their approach.
But here’s the catch-when you go all-in on size and drop coverage, you’re going to have a blind spot. And that blind spot?
It’s exactly where Nebraska thrives.
Purdue’s Size Meets Its Match in Nebraska’s Spacing
Painter’s defensive blueprint revolves around drop coverage, especially with his trio of bigs-Jacobsen, Cluff, and 6-foot-9 Trey Kaufman-Renn-logging a combined 66 minutes per game. It’s a system that protects the rim and limits second-chance points, but it also puts a lot of pressure on the perimeter. That’s where things get tricky.
Braden Smith, Purdue’s undersized but skilled point guard, can struggle to fight through screens and contest shots on the perimeter. That’s a tough combo when your defense is already sagging back to protect the paint.
The result? Opponents are launching threes at a high clip-26.8 per game, to be exact, the third-most in the Big Ten-and they’re starting to fall.
Over the last five games, opponents are hitting 37.6% from deep. That’s a red flag for a team that’s dropped three straight in conference play.
Enter Nebraska, a team built to exploit exactly that. Fred Hoiberg’s squad isn’t just shooting threes-they’re living by them.
But what makes the Cornhuskers so dangerous isn’t just the volume, it’s the versatility. Sure, Pryce Sandfort is the headliner, constantly moving off screens to create space, but it’s the frontcourt that really stretches defenses thin.
Rienk Mast (6-foot-10) and Braden Frager (6-foot-7) both average around five three-point attempts per game, and they’re not just pick-and-pop threats-they’re mobile, skilled shooters who demand attention far from the basket.
Rienk Mast’s Timing Couldn’t Be Better
For Nebraska’s five-out system to work, the bigs have to hit shots. That’s the trade-off.
And for a stretch, Rienk Mast just wasn’t. After torching Michigan State for six threes back on January 2, Mast went cold.
He missed Nebraska’s January 27 loss to Michigan with an illness and looked a step slow in a rough 2-for-10 outing against Illinois on February 1. His legs weren’t under him, and it showed.
But Saturday’s 80-68 win over Rutgers may have marked the turning point. Mast poured in 26 points on 11-of-20 shooting, and while he went just 1-for-4 from deep, it was the kind of assertive, inside-out performance that Nebraska needs from its senior big man-especially with Purdue looming.
If Mast can find his rhythm from three, it’s going to force Cluff and Jacobsen to defend in space, which is exactly where they’re least comfortable. Purdue’s size is a weapon near the rim, but when you pull those bigs away from the basket, you take away their biggest strength. And that’s how Nebraska flips the matchup.
High Stakes in Lincoln
Let’s be clear-Nebraska’s not sweating Selection Sunday. They’re a lock for the NCAA Tournament.
But if they want to stay in the thick of the Big Ten title race and keep their Final Four hopes alive, they need another marquee win. Tuesday night’s clash with Purdue is their last big swing at a statement victory.
And the timing couldn’t be better. Mast looks like he’s shaking off the slump, the Huskers are dialed in from deep, and Purdue’s perimeter defense is showing cracks. It’s a classic clash of styles-size vs. spacing, drop coverage vs. five-out-and it’s the kind of game that could shift the conversation around both teams heading into March.
For Purdue, it’s a chance to prove their interior-focused identity can hold up against elite shooting. For Nebraska, it’s an opportunity to show that their spacing and versatility aren’t just a gimmick-they’re a legitimate threat to anyone, even the Big Ten’s biggest bruisers.