Latest news with #Cluff
Indianapolis Star
6 days ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
Purdue basketball's season was ended by a missed rebound; Cluff, Jacobsen are here to fix that issue
WEST LAFAYETTE − Oscar Cluff caught a pass on the block, then went to work with a bevy of post moves that helped him average 17.6 points per game at South Dakota State last season. The result on Sunday during Purdue basketball practice at Cardinal Court was Daniel Jacobsen blocking Cluff's shot. "He's so long," Cluff said of Jacobsen. "One of the biggest things for me is I've never played with someone that tall. When he just stands there with his hands up, it's almost damn near above the rim." The two would embark on several more low-post battles throughout Sunday's practice, during which they showcased how they'll likely help in areas the Boilermakers lacked a season ago. The image of how last season ended − a missed defensive rebounding opportunity and Houston scoring at the rim to end Purdue's NCAA Tournament run in the Sweet 16 − encapsulated two weak areas for the Boilermakers in a matter of heartbreaking seconds. Re-live Purdue's run to the Final Four with our commemorative book Purdue allowed nearly 11 second-chance points and more than 30 points in the paint per game on average last season. On nine occasions, teams scored at least 15 second-chance points. Ten times, an opponent scored at least 38 points in the paint. More: Purdue basketball looks forward to center who 'opens up some things' returning stronger from injury More: Oscar Cluff was destined to be a boilermaker. His world tour found Purdue's 'basketball heaven' From JaJuan Johnson to AJ Hammons to Matt Haarms, Isaac Haas, Caleb Swanigan, Trevion Williams and Zach Edey, Purdue has had years of luxury knowing it owned an advantage at the rim. Last season, following Jacobsen's injury, the team relied mostly on a pair of 6-foot-9 players, Trey Kaufman-Renn and Caleb Furst, in the frontcourt and sparingly tried its hand with 7-foot-2 Will Berg, who transferred to Wichita State in the offseason. "There was just too many plays at the rim last year, no matter who was there," coach Matt Painter said. "That is first and foremost for us to do a better job of not allowing so many plays at the rim." With the rim-protecting Jacobsen returning healthy after breaking his tibia one minute into the season's second game and with the addition of Cluff, who averaged 12.3 rebounds per game last season and is lauded for ball screen defense, those issues should be solved. "Both of those guys are going to help us a lot," sophomore guard Gicarri Harris said. "I think Oscar was the second-best rebounder in the country last year. I can already tell in our practices, he's been getting so many offensive rebounds and giving us another possession. "Daniel has been working hard, and he can dominate the post." There are other pluses to the center combination as well. Both are capable outside shooters, which theoretically would allow Trey Kaufman-Renn to move to the four and give him more space to operate in the post, where he was one of college basketball's most efficient players last season. Last season, Kaufman-Renn was Purdue's only true offensive threat in the post. With Jacobsen and Cluff, there are at least three currently, and their varying skillsets allow the Boilermakers' offensive diversity that it lacked on the block in the post-Edey era. Both are lob threats, which Purdue thrived on during the two years Edey played alongside point guard Braden Smith. "I think we're really versatile," Jacobsen said. "We can guard. We can score. We can play in a lot of different ways, and I think that is going to allow us to have a lot of success." Plenty of promise, but there have also been early challenges. Cluff was late joining the Boilermakers while home in Australia during the summer. He showed up out of shape compared to his new teammates. Jacobsen, while he did get back in game flow playing for Team USA's gold medal-winning U19 Fiba World Cup team, still has just one true college basketball game under his belt, though he did have 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks in a win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to open last season. While sidelined with an injury last season, Jacobsen watched as teams at times exposed Purdue's lack of size. And Cluff, who had to be a scorer for South Dakota State last season, knows at Purdue he's a valuable piece, but not the marquee player, to a hopeful championship puzzle. "I know they are the guys and I want to come in and help do whatever I can contribute," Cluff said. "Whatever that is. Find my place on the team, which is the biggest thing, and I obviously want to learn a lot from them as well."
Newsweek
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Woman Sees Stray Cat in Yard, Husband Discovers Her Elaborate Safety Plan
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A man's recent homecoming took a hilariously predictable turn when he discovered his wife's elaborate mission to rescue a stray cat. In a video on TikTok, the man captured the moment he discovered her meticulous plan designed to lure the cautious cat indoors—complete with food bowls aligned in a path to their house. Christopher Cluff, 37, spoke to Newsweek about the animal-rescuing antics of his wife, Brittany, and how it keeps things exciting in their growing family. "One hour after my wife saw a stray cat across the never stop," Cluff captioned the video, which shows the trail of treats leading to their house. There, Brittany waits patiently with more food and a cozy cat bed, ready to welcome their newest family member. Photos from Christopher Cluff's TikTok video of his wife luring a stray cat. Photos from Christopher Cluff's TikTok video of his wife luring a stray cat. @ Cluff revealed that this particular endeavor began when they heard a small kitten in their garage trying to get to their dog food. "That's when 'mission cat retrieval' started," he said. "My wife and our daughters eventually were able to lure her back." The cat, who was just a baby, arrived underfed. Cluff's wife's profound compassion for animals, especially rescues, runs deep. He said that her passion began with her first dog, a German shepherd named Fofo. "Her parents wanted to buy her a puppy after their family dog passed, but she fell in love with a full-grown German shepherd at the shelter," he said. Despite her parents' concerns about adopting an adult dog, Brittany would sit in front of her kennel and refuse to take no for an answer. Brittany's dedication to Fofo was unwavering; she "spoiled that dog through medical issues, injuries, cancer, blindness and old age. She lived to be 16 years old, and she loved sitting in the back seat of her car while Britt gave her McDonald's," he said. The couple met at 16, married at 19, and soon began expanding their animal family. Their move to a five-acre property in Tennessee provided "the green light for her to start ramping up the animal collection" which now includes six dogs, three cats, five pigs, 24 chickens, and a tarantula. Cluff said he's pretty sure that won't be all. The cat from the video, named Binx, is now firmly in her forever home. "She's very spoiled," Cluff confirmed. Despite his own cat allergies, the couple has adapted by purchasing special food that makes cats produce less allergens. Binx, who is now "terrified of the outdoors," enjoys a life of luxury, being slightly overweight and sleeping in the couple's bed. And Cluff, despite feigning annoyance in the video, actually cherishes his wife's animal-loving nature. "This just confirms for me what I've always wanted in a partner," he said. "She's literally everything I ever wanted. I wouldn't change anything."
USA Today
31-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
USA TODAY shares early prediction of Auburn's Final Four game with Florida
USA TODAY shares early prediction of Auburn's Final Four game with Florida Does USA TODAY's Jeremy Cluff think Auburn will get revenge on the Gators in the Final Four? The Florida Gators stunned Auburn on Feb. 8 in Neville Arena, as the Gators' 90-81 win snapped the Tigers' 14-game win streak. The two SEC powers will meet again in the Final Four this Saturday in San Antonio, and one USA TODAY reporter expects history to repeat itself. Jeremy Cluff of the Arizona Republic recently shared his prediction for Saturday's SEC Final Four showdown, giving the Gators the edge with a projected score of 82-77. Cluff says that a few storylines led him to choose Florida to win Saturday's contest. "This is a matchup between SEC conference rivals. Florida is a 2.5-point favorite in this game and owns a 1-0 advantage over Auburn on the season, having beaten the Tigers in Alabama on Feb. 8, 90-81, when Auburn was ranked No. 1 in the country. Florida has won 10 straight games. Johni Broome's injury looms large for the Tigers in this matchup. No matter what, the SEC will come out a winner in this game. Florida will continue its impressive run." The then-No. 1 Tigers fell to Florida in the regular season due to poor free-throw shooting (14-of-23) and allowing Florida to score 17 points off eight turnovers. Four Florida starters reached double-digits in points while two reached the feat for Auburn. The Tigers will look to use strong defense in Saturday's rematch while finding their stride offensively. The Tigers and Gators square off in the Final Four on Saturday, April 5, at 5:09 p.m. CT at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
Associated Press
16-02-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
South Dakota hosts Cluff and South Dakota State
South Dakota State Jackrabbits (17-9, 8-3 Summit League) at South Dakota Coyotes (16-10, 7-4 Summit League) Vermillion, South Dakota; Sunday, 2 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Jackrabbits -6.5; over/under is 171.5 BOTTOM LINE: South Dakota State takes on South Dakota after Oscar Cluff scored 25 points in South Dakota State's 98-85 win over the Omaha Mavericks. The Coyotes are 12-1 on their home court. South Dakota leads the Summit League averaging 85.4 points and is shooting 45.9%. The Jackrabbits are 8-3 in Summit League play. South Dakota State ranks second in the Summit League scoring 36.4 points per game in the paint led by Cluff averaging 11.3. South Dakota makes 45.9% of its shots from the field this season, which is 4.0 percentage points higher than South Dakota State has allowed to its opponents (41.9%). South Dakota State averages 81.0 points per game, 1.7 fewer than the 82.7 South Dakota allows to opponents. TOP PERFORMERS: Chase Forte is scoring 16.0 points per game with 3.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists for the Coyotes. Isaac Bruns is averaging 17.7 points and 1.5 steals over the last 10 games. Cluff is averaging 17.3 points and 12.5 rebounds for the Jackrabbits. Joe Sayler is averaging 15.4 points over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Coyotes: 7-3, averaging 86.8 points, 30.7 rebounds, 11.0 assists, 8.3 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 46.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 88.3 points per game. Jackrabbits: 7-3, averaging 84.7 points, 35.7 rebounds, 13.9 assists, 4.7 steals and 2.5 blocks per game while shooting 50.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 75.1 points. ___
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
SDSU's Cluff ranks among nation's top rebounders
BROOKINGS, S.D. (KELO) — South Dakota State's Oscar Cluff has made his presence felt down low in his first season with the Jackrabbits and is one of two players in the country averaging more than 12 rebounds per game. At 6-foot-11, Oscar Cluff stands out. The Australian is the only player in the Summit League averaging a double-double with just under 17 points a game, fifth in the conference, and nearly 12 and a half rebounds a night, second best in the nation and nearly five more than anyone else in the Summit. 'Every time someone puts a shot up, my thought is 'I got to get the ball,'' Cluff said. ''I got to get the ball. Like, that's my ball. I got to go get it.'' The big man ranks first in Division I with more than four offensive boards a game. He is also top five nationally in field goal percentage at better than 65%. 'I was just amazed at how he could always know where the basketball is and then get his own rebound if he missed, which obviously stats show he doesn't miss a lot,' SDSU junior forward Matthew Mors said. 'He's been great. Not only is he really good on the court, he's just a great guy off the court as well. He's fun to be around.' SDSU lost all five starters from last season's championship team. Now, Cluff, who is playing at his third college in four years, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Jackrabbits. 'He's really been amazing with our young players, helping them grow,' SDSU head coach Eric Henderson said. 'Then when you talk about his presence right on the floor, he's been superb.' South Dakota State initially recruited Cluff out of community college in Arizona. After the Australian made a stop at Washington State, he determined Brookings was the right spot. 'To be able to bring in a guy like Oscar that is experienced, that plays the way that we do, fits into our system and our style and what we want our program to be about, it's a home run,' Henderson said. Cluff is also a gifted passer and is tied for seventh in the conference with nearly three assists a game. He and the Jackrabbits host first-place Omaha on Thursday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
