WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The No. 7-ranked Purdue Boilermakers return to Mackey Arena after an unexpected break, looking for their second win in a row as Nebraska visits Mackey Arena for the first time in almost three calendar years. The Boilermakers were scheduled to play at Michigan on Tuesday, but that game was postponed due to healty and safety protocols within the Wolverines' program.
The Boilermakers enter with a 13-2 overall record, while Nebraska is 6-11 overall. The Huskers have never won in Mackey Arena (9-0).
The contest will be televised on FS1 with Brandon Gaudin and Nick Bahe on the call. On the radio waves, Rob Blackman and Bobby Riddell will be courtside on the 22-station Purdue Radio Network and online on the Varsity Sports Network (app). Live stats will be provided on StatBroadcast.com and updates will be provided on Purdue's official Twitter account (@BoilerBall).
THE NOTES TO KNOW
1) Purdue has started 2-2 or better in Big Ten play in 15 of the 17 years under Matt Painter. The lone years it didn't were 2005-06 and 2020-21.
2) Since Feb. 1, of last season, Purdue and Loyola Chicago are the only teams without a double-digit loss. Purdue's six losses since Feb. 1, of last year have come by 1, 3, 9 (ot), 9 (ot), 2 and 5 points.
3) Purdue is ranked No. 7 in this week's AP Top 25 poll. The Boilermakers are 19-5 all-time when ranked No. 7, having won 12 straight games.
4) Purdue has won 13 straight regular-season games in games played on the weekend (Friday, Saturday, Sunday).
5) Zach Edey, Jaden Ivey and Trevion Williams were named to the Wooden Award midseason watch list last Wednesday. Purdue was the only school with three players named (Duke, Gonzaga, UCLA had two).
6) Students have returned, which means The Paint Crew has as well. Purdue is 76-8 since the start of the 2014-15 season with The Paint Crew in attendance. If you disregard the 2019-20 season (9-5), Purdue is 67-3 in the other years (losses to Villanova, Ohio State, North Florida).
7) Mason Gillis is averaging 7.5 points per game, but is scoring at a 2.05 points per shot clip. The Boilermakers are averaging 1.52 points / possession when Gillis is used, good for the 100th percentile. He is the only player nationally with 80-plus points on 40 or fewer shots.
8) Painter's next conference win will be his 200th win in league play. He owns a 199-112 record in league play (182-111 at Purdue; 17-1 at SIU).
9) Matt Painter needs three wins to tie Ward "Piggy" Lambert (371) for second place on the Purdue career victories list. With the win over Penn State, Painter tied Michigan State's Jud Heathcote for seventh (182) on the all-time Big Ten wins list.
THE SERIES WITH NEBRASKA
• Friday's contest with Nebraska kicks off a busy stretch for the Boilermakers as it plays the first game of a four-game stretch in nine days. Purdue will travel to Illinois on Monday, face Indiana on Thursday and then Northwestern on Sunday.
• Purdue owns a 17-6 record against Nebraska, including a 7-0 mark at Mackey Arena. Purdue has won the nine games by an average of 14.9 points per game and all but one of the seven wins have come by double-digits.
• Purdue has scored at least 74 points against Nebraska in seven of the last eight meetings.
• Purdue is the Big Ten's all-time winningest program and now needs just seven wins for 1,000 Big Ten regular-season conference wins. Purdue would be the first team to accomplish that feat.
The Boilermakers enter with a 13-2 overall record, while Nebraska is 6-11 overall. The Huskers have never won in Mackey Arena (9-0).
The contest will be televised on FS1 with Brandon Gaudin and Nick Bahe on the call. On the radio waves, Rob Blackman and Bobby Riddell will be courtside on the 22-station Purdue Radio Network and online on the Varsity Sports Network (app). Live stats will be provided on StatBroadcast.com and updates will be provided on Purdue's official Twitter account (@BoilerBall).
THE NOTES TO KNOW
1) Purdue has started 2-2 or better in Big Ten play in 15 of the 17 years under Matt Painter. The lone years it didn't were 2005-06 and 2020-21.
2) Since Feb. 1, of last season, Purdue and Loyola Chicago are the only teams without a double-digit loss. Purdue's six losses since Feb. 1, of last year have come by 1, 3, 9 (ot), 9 (ot), 2 and 5 points.
3) Purdue is ranked No. 7 in this week's AP Top 25 poll. The Boilermakers are 19-5 all-time when ranked No. 7, having won 12 straight games.
4) Purdue has won 13 straight regular-season games in games played on the weekend (Friday, Saturday, Sunday).
5) Zach Edey, Jaden Ivey and Trevion Williams were named to the Wooden Award midseason watch list last Wednesday. Purdue was the only school with three players named (Duke, Gonzaga, UCLA had two).
6) Students have returned, which means The Paint Crew has as well. Purdue is 76-8 since the start of the 2014-15 season with The Paint Crew in attendance. If you disregard the 2019-20 season (9-5), Purdue is 67-3 in the other years (losses to Villanova, Ohio State, North Florida).
7) Mason Gillis is averaging 7.5 points per game, but is scoring at a 2.05 points per shot clip. The Boilermakers are averaging 1.52 points / possession when Gillis is used, good for the 100th percentile. He is the only player nationally with 80-plus points on 40 or fewer shots.
8) Painter's next conference win will be his 200th win in league play. He owns a 199-112 record in league play (182-111 at Purdue; 17-1 at SIU).
9) Matt Painter needs three wins to tie Ward "Piggy" Lambert (371) for second place on the Purdue career victories list. With the win over Penn State, Painter tied Michigan State's Jud Heathcote for seventh (182) on the all-time Big Ten wins list.
THE SERIES WITH NEBRASKA
• Friday's contest with Nebraska kicks off a busy stretch for the Boilermakers as it plays the first game of a four-game stretch in nine days. Purdue will travel to Illinois on Monday, face Indiana on Thursday and then Northwestern on Sunday.
• Purdue owns a 17-6 record against Nebraska, including a 7-0 mark at Mackey Arena. Purdue has won the nine games by an average of 14.9 points per game and all but one of the seven wins have come by double-digits.
• Purdue has scored at least 74 points against Nebraska in seven of the last eight meetings.
• Purdue is the Big Ten's all-time winningest program and now needs just seven wins for 1,000 Big Ten regular-season conference wins. Purdue would be the first team to accomplish that feat.