22
Nov
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Don't Mess with the Cluff: Oscar makes a statement
Oscar Cluff #45 of the Purdue Boilermakers jogs up court during the NCAA basketball between the Purdue Boilermakers and the Evansville Purple Aces at Mackey Arena on November 4, 2025 in West Lafayette, Indiana. Photo: Michael Hickey/Getty Images
In true Aussie style, Oscar Cluff showed he's not someone to mess with in college hoops
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Oscar Cluff has already proven he's one of the best bigs in NCAA basketball but he might be one of the toughest too.
In typical Aussie fashion, the Sunshine Coast product didn't take a step back when Memphis' Aaron Bradshaw flopped before going after Cluff in Purdue's 80-71 win over the Tigers in the Bahamas on November 21.
With Memphis leading the undefeated Boilermakers, Bradshaw attempted to get to the low post, where he was met with a slight bump from Cluff. The 216cm, 103kg big man then took an unceremonious dive worthy of an Emmy Award - not an Oscar though because his landing just smelt of someone playing for a foul.
Where is the code big men used to play by in elite level basketball? Kudos to the officials by the way who saw it and didn't blow their whistle.
But then Bradshaw jumped to his feet, clearly nothing was wrong with him, and proceeded to get in Cluff's face and a slight physical altercation ensued. If he thought the double-double machine was going to take a step back, clearly Bradshaw doesn't know where Cluff is from.
The Aussie stood his ground and like his play this season has, as well as the form of Purdue has, Cluff made a statement. And perhaps just as kmuch as his on-court form has shown, this showed me how much Cluff is ready for the big time and can help take the Boilermakers to the promise land this season.
And he got the better of the match-up anyway. Cluff played 34 minutes and had 11 points and seven rebounds as Purdue came back to record a nine-point win and go 5-0 on the season.
Bradshaw on the other hand, he only played nine minutes as the Tigers went to 1-3 on the season.
Cluff, a senior, is averaging 11.4 and 10.2 rebounds per game under legendary coach Matt Painter and along with fellow Aussie and Florida Gators centre, Alex Condon, is showing the big man stocks for the green and gold are strong.
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