WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - After a big win over No. 20-ranked Ohio State on Wednesday, Purdue looks to keep the momentum going in its final non-conference game of the season, coming against Notre Dame in the Crossroads Classic in Indianapolis.
Purdue is looking to sustain its success in its final Big Ten tuneup entering a difficult stretch. Purdue's next five opponents are Notre Dame (2-3), Iowa (6-0), Maryland (4-2), Rutgers (5-0) and Illinois (5-2) with four of the games coming away from Mackey Arena. The Boilermakers have won two straight and are looking to avenge two previous losses this year (Clemson, Miami) to ACC foes.
THE KEY TALKING POINTS
1) Purdue is 2-7 in the Crossroads Classic and looking for its second win against Notre Dame (1-3) in the event.
2) Head coach Matt Painter won his 50th game against a nationally-ranked team on Wednesday against Ohio State. He is 50-83 against ranked teams, including a 20-19 record since the start of the 2016-17 season. Of his 50 wins against ranked teams, 20 have come in the last 4+ seasons.
3) According to KenPom.com, Purdue ranks 299th in experience (1.11 years). Indiana is the next least-experienced team in the Big Ten (1.26).
4) In its five wins, Purdue is shooting 50.4 percent from the field and has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.36 (98 / 72). In its two losses, Purdue is shooting just 39.8 percent from the field, has attempted 21 free throws and has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 0.61 (22 / 36).
5) Purdue's junior class is averaging 55.5 points per game over the last two games, accounting for 75.5 percent of Purdue's scoring.
6) Trevion Williams is averaging 23.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game over the last two games, shooting 19-of-30 (.633) from the field.
7) Purdue is 32-7 (.821) in the month of December since the 2015-16 season.
8) Purdue has outscored every team in the paint except one (Miami) this season. Purdue is averaging 32.3 points in the paint.
9) Purdue has held its opponents to just 48 offensive rebounds (6.9 per game), resulting in 32 second-chance points (4.6 per game).
10) Over the last five games, opponents are shooting just 25-of-110 (.227) from long distance. No opponent has made more than eight triples.
10) Purdue is 44-1 since the start of the 2017-18 season when shooting at least 48 percent from the field (Virginia; 2019 Elite Eight).
11) Purdue has won 102 straight games when scoring at least 90 points, spanning over 33 years (last loss: Nov. 24, 1987, to Iowa State).
12) Sasha Stefanovic has made at least four 3-pointers nine times during his career. Purdue is 7-2 when he reaches that mark.
13) When Eric Hunter Jr. leads the team in assists during his career, Purdue is 11-3; when Aaron Wheeler scores 10+ points, Purdue is 9-1.
Purdue is looking to sustain its success in its final Big Ten tuneup entering a difficult stretch. Purdue's next five opponents are Notre Dame (2-3), Iowa (6-0), Maryland (4-2), Rutgers (5-0) and Illinois (5-2) with four of the games coming away from Mackey Arena. The Boilermakers have won two straight and are looking to avenge two previous losses this year (Clemson, Miami) to ACC foes.
THE KEY TALKING POINTS
1) Purdue is 2-7 in the Crossroads Classic and looking for its second win against Notre Dame (1-3) in the event.
2) Head coach Matt Painter won his 50th game against a nationally-ranked team on Wednesday against Ohio State. He is 50-83 against ranked teams, including a 20-19 record since the start of the 2016-17 season. Of his 50 wins against ranked teams, 20 have come in the last 4+ seasons.
3) According to KenPom.com, Purdue ranks 299th in experience (1.11 years). Indiana is the next least-experienced team in the Big Ten (1.26).
4) In its five wins, Purdue is shooting 50.4 percent from the field and has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.36 (98 / 72). In its two losses, Purdue is shooting just 39.8 percent from the field, has attempted 21 free throws and has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 0.61 (22 / 36).
5) Purdue's junior class is averaging 55.5 points per game over the last two games, accounting for 75.5 percent of Purdue's scoring.
6) Trevion Williams is averaging 23.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game over the last two games, shooting 19-of-30 (.633) from the field.
7) Purdue is 32-7 (.821) in the month of December since the 2015-16 season.
8) Purdue has outscored every team in the paint except one (Miami) this season. Purdue is averaging 32.3 points in the paint.
9) Purdue has held its opponents to just 48 offensive rebounds (6.9 per game), resulting in 32 second-chance points (4.6 per game).
10) Over the last five games, opponents are shooting just 25-of-110 (.227) from long distance. No opponent has made more than eight triples.
10) Purdue is 44-1 since the start of the 2017-18 season when shooting at least 48 percent from the field (Virginia; 2019 Elite Eight).
11) Purdue has won 102 straight games when scoring at least 90 points, spanning over 33 years (last loss: Nov. 24, 1987, to Iowa State).
12) Sasha Stefanovic has made at least four 3-pointers nine times during his career. Purdue is 7-2 when he reaches that mark.
13) When Eric Hunter Jr. leads the team in assists during his career, Purdue is 11-3; when Aaron Wheeler scores 10+ points, Purdue is 9-1.