Swanigan to face team to which he originally committed
Neither side is taking an emotional stance regarding Caleb Swanigan's change of heart in recruiting
- Michigan State at Purdue, 7 p.m. Tuesday, ESPN
WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue's Caleb Swanigan, a freshman preparing for his first game against Michigan State, answered a question about the Spartans' rebounding like a Big Ten Conference veteran.
“That’s just an Izzo team,” Swanigan said, referring to the Spartans’ longtime coach Tom Izzo. “They always rebound hard, and definitely on the offensive end, because that leads to their 3s. That’s a big emphasis for us.”
He may be a freshman, but Swanigan has an intimate knowledge of what makes up an Izzo team. Purdue's starting power forward originally committed to the Spartans last April.
In the following five weeks, before the 2015 Indiana Mr. Basketball from Homestead decommitted and ultimately chose the Boilermakers, he played in open gyms in East Lansing. Another member of that Michigan State recruiting class, freshman Deyonta Davis, also was Swanigan’s AAU teammate.
Were Tuesday’s game played at a hostile Breslin Center, Swanigan’s emotions might be higher. But he’ll be in a friendly Mackey Arena, and he’s downplaying any personal stake.
“I’m trying to just go into it like any other game and to make sure I’m focused and get the win after having a really tough loss against Maryland,” Swanigan said. “Just trying to correct things from that game. I feel like it’s a good game to come back after losing and make a statement.”
Ask a similar question at Michigan State, and you’ll get a similar response. Purdue coach Matt Painter and Izzo have spoken of their civil, perhaps even cordial, exchange when Swanigan changed his mind.
“There will be no, ‘Lets’ go beat Purdue because of Biggie,’” Izzo told reporters Monday. “We want to beat Purdue because we want to beat Purdue.”
Regardless of personal relationships, Purdue needs Swanigan's help to snap a seven-game losing streak against the Spartans.
Swanigan's 9.0 rebounds per game lead all Big Ten players. (Michigan State’s Matt Costello is second at 8.3, though he’s averaging 10.5 in conference play).
Purdue has choked off second-chance opportunities, in part thanks to Swanigan's selfishness on the glass. Maryland managed just four offensive rebounds Saturday, becoming the fifth straight Boilermaker opponent limited to five or fewer.
“That’s what he hangs his hat on,” Hill said of Swanigan’s rebounding. “That’s what he really wants to make his mark on is rebounding the ball, and from day one that’s what you knew about him.
“He’s not overly athletic, but his pursuit for the ball is a lot higher than guys his size. It’s a balance between him wanting it more and that’s just his thing, his niche."
Swanigan’s rebounding has been consistently strong, even when other aspects of his game lagged. Earlier this season, turnovers were a problem. Lately, it’s been shooting — or, more specifically, decision-making from the perimeter.
State of Hoops: Get out your mood rings
Purdue expected Swanigan’s shooting range to be an immediate weapon, and he’s knocked down some big 3s. Going into Big Ten play, he was shooting 34.3 percent from behind the arc.
Yet Swanigan has made only 4-of-21 from 3-point range in league games. Some are good shots that didn’t fall. But a higher number of them than Painter is comfortable with are shots Swanigan shouldn’t be taking — based on score, time situations or the flow of the game.
“As a freshman, sometimes you’re just trying to help guys,” Painter said. “When his feet are set and he’s in rhythm, he’s a good shooter. I’ve gone through periods of time where I’ve watched Ryne Smith struggle shooting the basketball. I’ve watched E’Twaun Moore struggle shooting the basketball. You still want them to shoot the next one.
“It’s something in basketball you have to keep working towards and put in that time and feeling good about yourself. The best thing to do is take ones in rhythm and you’ll shoot a higher percentage.”
Follow Journal & Courier reporter Nathan Baird on Twitter: @nbairdjc
No. 10 Michigan State (20-4, 7-4) at No. 18 Purdue (19-5, 7-4), 7 p.m. Tuesday, ESPN
STORYLINES
• Sure shots: The Spartans are the best 3-point shooting in the Big Ten Conference, just a few percentage points ahead of Indiana. The four highest-volume shooters (Valentine, Forbes, Harris, McQuaid) all shoot 39.4 percent or better. By the way, Michigan State also leads the league in 3-point field goal defense.
• Back strong: Valentine jumped out of as the early Big Ten MVP favorite, prior to his knee injury and Jarrod Uthoff’s emergence. He’s healthy now, though, and has averaged 19.8 points, nine rebounds and 7.3 assists during MSU’s four-game winning streak. However, the Spartans won't have point guard Lourawls "Tum Tum" Nairn, Jr. (foot).
• Boarding house: The Maryland loss marked the first time Purdue didn’t outrebound an opponent. Michigan State is one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the country, let alone the Big Ten. Defensive stops may not come easy, and the Boilermakers must reward themselves on the glass.
— Nathan Baird