GAMEDAY INFORMATION -- GAME 22
[2] Purdue (19-2, 8-2) vs. Northwestern (15-5, 6-3)
Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024
6:30 p.m. ET | West Lafayette, Indiana
Mackey Arena (14,876)
TELEVISION: BTN (Kevin Kugler, Robbie Hummel, Andy Katz)
RADIO: Purdue Global Radio Network (Rob Blackman, Bobby Riddell)
THE NOTES TO KNOW
• The No. 2-ranked Purdue Boilermakers begin a big week in its quest for a Big Ten regular-season championship, starting with a contest against surging Northwestern at Mackey Arena on Wednesday night. The Boilermakers and Wildcats sit in second and third respectively in the Big Ten standings. In addition, the Boilermakers are looking for their sixth straight win and nation's-best 20th win of the season.
• Entering Tuesday night's action around the country, Purdue is tied with Houston, Grand Canyon and McNeese State for the nation's lead with 19 victories. A win over Northwestern would give Purdue 20 wins, the first team in America to reach that plateau. A year ago, Purdue was the first major-conference team to reach 20 wins (third overall behind Florida Atlantic and College of Charleston).
• Wednesday's game marks the first game of the second half of Big Ten play for the Boilermakers. Purdue will now have six home games in its final 10 contests after having just four in its first 10 games.
• Following its loss to Nebraska on Jan. 9, Purdue has averaged 86.6 points per game in its five straight wins, while shooting 49.8 percent from the field and 42.2 percent from 3-point range. Purdue's offensive efficiency in that span is 129.7 (129.7 points / 100 possessions). During that span, Zach Edey is averaging 27.0 points and 14.8 rebounds, while Lance Jones (15.2), Fletcher Loyer (11.2) and Braden Smith (10.0 PPG, 8.2 APG) are all averaging in double-figures.
• In 19 Purdue wins, opponents are averaging just 66.6 points per game and shooting 28.4 percent from long distance. In Purdue's two losses, opponents average 90.0 points and shoot 55.8 percent from 3-point range. Purdue is -9.50 in turnover margin per game in its two setbacks.
• Purdue has won 11 straight home games, the longest streak in the Big Ten by a game over Wisconsin (10). During the 11-game streak, Purdue has outscored its opponents by 275 total points, an average margin of victory of 25.0 points per game. During the streak, only three games have been decided by 12 or fewer points. Purdue has shot 51.8 percent from the field and 43.0 percent from 3-point range during the streak. Purdue is the only Big Ten team to be unbeaten at home in all games played this year.
• With The Paint Crew in attendance, Purdue is 64-6 (.914) against Big Ten teams since the the 2014-15 season. If you exclude the 2019-20 season (we know you can't), Purdue is 59-2 (.967) with The Paint Crew in attendance against Big Ten teams (Ohio State - 2018; Indiana - 2023).
• Purdue ranks in the NCAA's top 20 in wins (1st), offensive efficiency (2nd), 3-point percentage (5th), rebound margin (6th), assists per game (7th), scoring margin (8th), defensive efficiency (13th), scoring offense (15th), assist / turnover ratio (16th) and fewest fouls per game (16th)
• Purdue leads the country in quad-1 wins (7) and quad-1 and 2 wins combined (12). No one in the country has more than 10 Q-1 and Q-2 wins.
• Since the start of last season, Purdue is 48-8, the fifth-most wins nationally, while the eight losses are the second fewest behind Houston (6). The eight losses during that span have come by 1, 5, 6, 14, 8, 5, 4 (OT) and 16 points. Thirty-five of the 48 wins have come against teams ranked in the KenPom top-100, including 25 against teams ranked in the top-50.
• Purdue's schedule is currently the toughest in the country, ranking No. 1 in SOS by the NCAA NET team sheets, KenPom.com and ESPN. The Boilermakers have faced teams ranked No. 3, 4, 8, 13, 17, 27, 41 and 47 in NET, with additional games coming against 11 (2x), 14, 25 and 60.
• Purdue was voted No. 2 in the AP Top 25 poll on Monday, for the third straight week. With its No. 2 ranking this week, Purdue has now been ranked in the top 5 of the AP poll for 29 straight weeks, the longest-active streak in America by 17 weeks (UConn - 12). It has been ranked in the top 3 in 23 of those 29 weeks. The 29 weeks of being ranked in the top 5 ties the longest streak by a Big Ten team in the last 45 years.
• Edey needs three blocked shots to become the third player in NCAA history with 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 200 blocks and to shoot at least 60.0 percent from the field (Patrick Ewing, David Robinson).
• Purdue begins the second half of Big Ten play on Wednesday when Northwestern visits Mackey Arena. A win over Northwestern would give Purdue a 9-2 Big Ten start for the fifth time under Matt Painter, including four times in the last seven seasons (2022-23, 2018-19, 2017-18, 2007-08).
• Purdue is now 19-2 (or better) through 21 games for the second straight season and for the third time in the last seven seasons (also 2017-18 season). It marks the first time in school history that Purdue has been 19-2 or better in consecutive seasons.
• Purdue owns a nation's-best 13 wins over the NCAA NET top-100 teams. Purdue has five wins over teams ranked in the NET top 16.
• Over the last three seasons, Purdue owns a 58-6 (.906) record during the months of November, December and January, including a 40-3 (.930) mark over the last two seasons.
• Purdue is 17-0 this season when holding foes to 79 or fewer points. When opponents reach 80-plus points, Purdue is 2-2.
• During its current five-game winning streak, Purdue has trailed for a total of 10 minutes and 42 seconds and by no more than 4 points (Iowa) -- all coming in the first 10 minutes of the respective game.
• Four teams have yet to lose a Big Ten home game -- Wisconsin (5-0), Nebraska (5-0), Northwestern (4-0) and Purdue (4-0). Purdue's two league road losses are to teams (Northwestern, Nebraska) that have yet to lose a Big Ten home game and Purdue plays at Wisconsin on Sunday.
• In each of the last 11 games, the halftime margin has been at least 11 points (last time in single-digits was Alabama on Dec. 9, 2023). Purdue has led by at least 11 points in 10 of the games, while Nebraska led by 11 points against the Boilermakers. Purdue has led by at least 13 points in each of the last five games, including 20-point halftime leads in three of the contests.
• In Purdue's last two games against Northwestern (both losses on the road), Purdue has shot just 10-of-41 (.244) from long distance and had 33 turnovers compared to just 12 for the Wildcats.
• A win over Northwestern would give Purdue its third winning streak this season of at least six games. Purdue has only done that twice before in a season (1986-87, 1994-95).
• Zach Edey can set the following school records against Northwestern: consecutive games scoring in double-figures (73rd) and double-doubles (54th). He is also in range of 200 career blocks and 1,100 career rebounds. If he reaches 10 points against Northwestern, it will be his 99th career double-figure scoring game. E'Twaun Moore holds the record with 116.
• Over the last two games against Northwestern, Zach Edey is averaging 29.5 points and 11.0 rebounds per game.
• Zach Edey has drawn 707 fouls in career, including 181 this sesaon. He ranks first nationally in fouls drawn / 40 minutes this season (9.2). Kylen Milton of Arkansas Pine Bluff is second at 8.4 per game.
• Braden Smith surpassed 300 career assists in the win over Rutgers, now with 301 assists. He leads all sophomores (or younger) in career assists with 301. Coincidentally, second on the list in Colgate sophomore Braeden Smith (274).
• Based on a 38-game season, Braden Smith is on pace for 461 points, 208 rebounds and 268 assists. Since the 1947-48 season, only BYU's Kyle Collinsworth, UCLA's Lonzo Ball, Cal's Jason Kidd and Michigan State's Magic Johnson have had 450 points, 250 assists and 200 rebounds in a season.
THE SERIES WITH NORTHWESTERN
• Wednesday's meeting with Northwestern marks the 183rd meeting between the two teams, with Purdue holding a 134-48 series lead.
• Northwestern, however, has won two straight meetings and is looking for its first season sweep of the Boilermakers since the 2013-14 season -- the last time it won two games in a row.
• Prior to Northwestern's current stretch, Purdue won 11 games in a row from the 2014-15 to 2021-22 season.
• The last two Purdue setbacks to Northwestern came on the road when the Boilermakers were ranked No. 1 in the country. However, under Painter, Purdue is 12-4 when ranked against Northwestern, including 8-1 in Mackey Arena.
• Purdue has won six straight games against Northwestern in Mackey Arena, by an average of 12.5 points per game.
[2] Purdue (19-2, 8-2) vs. Northwestern (15-5, 6-3)
Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024
6:30 p.m. ET | West Lafayette, Indiana
Mackey Arena (14,876)
TELEVISION: BTN (Kevin Kugler, Robbie Hummel, Andy Katz)
RADIO: Purdue Global Radio Network (Rob Blackman, Bobby Riddell)
THE NOTES TO KNOW
• The No. 2-ranked Purdue Boilermakers begin a big week in its quest for a Big Ten regular-season championship, starting with a contest against surging Northwestern at Mackey Arena on Wednesday night. The Boilermakers and Wildcats sit in second and third respectively in the Big Ten standings. In addition, the Boilermakers are looking for their sixth straight win and nation's-best 20th win of the season.
• Entering Tuesday night's action around the country, Purdue is tied with Houston, Grand Canyon and McNeese State for the nation's lead with 19 victories. A win over Northwestern would give Purdue 20 wins, the first team in America to reach that plateau. A year ago, Purdue was the first major-conference team to reach 20 wins (third overall behind Florida Atlantic and College of Charleston).
• Wednesday's game marks the first game of the second half of Big Ten play for the Boilermakers. Purdue will now have six home games in its final 10 contests after having just four in its first 10 games.
• Following its loss to Nebraska on Jan. 9, Purdue has averaged 86.6 points per game in its five straight wins, while shooting 49.8 percent from the field and 42.2 percent from 3-point range. Purdue's offensive efficiency in that span is 129.7 (129.7 points / 100 possessions). During that span, Zach Edey is averaging 27.0 points and 14.8 rebounds, while Lance Jones (15.2), Fletcher Loyer (11.2) and Braden Smith (10.0 PPG, 8.2 APG) are all averaging in double-figures.
• In 19 Purdue wins, opponents are averaging just 66.6 points per game and shooting 28.4 percent from long distance. In Purdue's two losses, opponents average 90.0 points and shoot 55.8 percent from 3-point range. Purdue is -9.50 in turnover margin per game in its two setbacks.
• Purdue has won 11 straight home games, the longest streak in the Big Ten by a game over Wisconsin (10). During the 11-game streak, Purdue has outscored its opponents by 275 total points, an average margin of victory of 25.0 points per game. During the streak, only three games have been decided by 12 or fewer points. Purdue has shot 51.8 percent from the field and 43.0 percent from 3-point range during the streak. Purdue is the only Big Ten team to be unbeaten at home in all games played this year.
• With The Paint Crew in attendance, Purdue is 64-6 (.914) against Big Ten teams since the the 2014-15 season. If you exclude the 2019-20 season (we know you can't), Purdue is 59-2 (.967) with The Paint Crew in attendance against Big Ten teams (Ohio State - 2018; Indiana - 2023).
• Purdue ranks in the NCAA's top 20 in wins (1st), offensive efficiency (2nd), 3-point percentage (5th), rebound margin (6th), assists per game (7th), scoring margin (8th), defensive efficiency (13th), scoring offense (15th), assist / turnover ratio (16th) and fewest fouls per game (16th)
• Purdue leads the country in quad-1 wins (7) and quad-1 and 2 wins combined (12). No one in the country has more than 10 Q-1 and Q-2 wins.
• Since the start of last season, Purdue is 48-8, the fifth-most wins nationally, while the eight losses are the second fewest behind Houston (6). The eight losses during that span have come by 1, 5, 6, 14, 8, 5, 4 (OT) and 16 points. Thirty-five of the 48 wins have come against teams ranked in the KenPom top-100, including 25 against teams ranked in the top-50.
• Purdue's schedule is currently the toughest in the country, ranking No. 1 in SOS by the NCAA NET team sheets, KenPom.com and ESPN. The Boilermakers have faced teams ranked No. 3, 4, 8, 13, 17, 27, 41 and 47 in NET, with additional games coming against 11 (2x), 14, 25 and 60.
• Purdue was voted No. 2 in the AP Top 25 poll on Monday, for the third straight week. With its No. 2 ranking this week, Purdue has now been ranked in the top 5 of the AP poll for 29 straight weeks, the longest-active streak in America by 17 weeks (UConn - 12). It has been ranked in the top 3 in 23 of those 29 weeks. The 29 weeks of being ranked in the top 5 ties the longest streak by a Big Ten team in the last 45 years.
• Edey needs three blocked shots to become the third player in NCAA history with 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 200 blocks and to shoot at least 60.0 percent from the field (Patrick Ewing, David Robinson).
• Purdue begins the second half of Big Ten play on Wednesday when Northwestern visits Mackey Arena. A win over Northwestern would give Purdue a 9-2 Big Ten start for the fifth time under Matt Painter, including four times in the last seven seasons (2022-23, 2018-19, 2017-18, 2007-08).
• Purdue is now 19-2 (or better) through 21 games for the second straight season and for the third time in the last seven seasons (also 2017-18 season). It marks the first time in school history that Purdue has been 19-2 or better in consecutive seasons.
• Purdue owns a nation's-best 13 wins over the NCAA NET top-100 teams. Purdue has five wins over teams ranked in the NET top 16.
• Over the last three seasons, Purdue owns a 58-6 (.906) record during the months of November, December and January, including a 40-3 (.930) mark over the last two seasons.
• Purdue is 17-0 this season when holding foes to 79 or fewer points. When opponents reach 80-plus points, Purdue is 2-2.
• During its current five-game winning streak, Purdue has trailed for a total of 10 minutes and 42 seconds and by no more than 4 points (Iowa) -- all coming in the first 10 minutes of the respective game.
• Four teams have yet to lose a Big Ten home game -- Wisconsin (5-0), Nebraska (5-0), Northwestern (4-0) and Purdue (4-0). Purdue's two league road losses are to teams (Northwestern, Nebraska) that have yet to lose a Big Ten home game and Purdue plays at Wisconsin on Sunday.
• In each of the last 11 games, the halftime margin has been at least 11 points (last time in single-digits was Alabama on Dec. 9, 2023). Purdue has led by at least 11 points in 10 of the games, while Nebraska led by 11 points against the Boilermakers. Purdue has led by at least 13 points in each of the last five games, including 20-point halftime leads in three of the contests.
• In Purdue's last two games against Northwestern (both losses on the road), Purdue has shot just 10-of-41 (.244) from long distance and had 33 turnovers compared to just 12 for the Wildcats.
• A win over Northwestern would give Purdue its third winning streak this season of at least six games. Purdue has only done that twice before in a season (1986-87, 1994-95).
• Zach Edey can set the following school records against Northwestern: consecutive games scoring in double-figures (73rd) and double-doubles (54th). He is also in range of 200 career blocks and 1,100 career rebounds. If he reaches 10 points against Northwestern, it will be his 99th career double-figure scoring game. E'Twaun Moore holds the record with 116.
• Over the last two games against Northwestern, Zach Edey is averaging 29.5 points and 11.0 rebounds per game.
• Zach Edey has drawn 707 fouls in career, including 181 this sesaon. He ranks first nationally in fouls drawn / 40 minutes this season (9.2). Kylen Milton of Arkansas Pine Bluff is second at 8.4 per game.
• Braden Smith surpassed 300 career assists in the win over Rutgers, now with 301 assists. He leads all sophomores (or younger) in career assists with 301. Coincidentally, second on the list in Colgate sophomore Braeden Smith (274).
• Based on a 38-game season, Braden Smith is on pace for 461 points, 208 rebounds and 268 assists. Since the 1947-48 season, only BYU's Kyle Collinsworth, UCLA's Lonzo Ball, Cal's Jason Kidd and Michigan State's Magic Johnson have had 450 points, 250 assists and 200 rebounds in a season.
THE SERIES WITH NORTHWESTERN
• Wednesday's meeting with Northwestern marks the 183rd meeting between the two teams, with Purdue holding a 134-48 series lead.
• Northwestern, however, has won two straight meetings and is looking for its first season sweep of the Boilermakers since the 2013-14 season -- the last time it won two games in a row.
• Prior to Northwestern's current stretch, Purdue won 11 games in a row from the 2014-15 to 2021-22 season.
• The last two Purdue setbacks to Northwestern came on the road when the Boilermakers were ranked No. 1 in the country. However, under Painter, Purdue is 12-4 when ranked against Northwestern, including 8-1 in Mackey Arena.
• Purdue has won six straight games against Northwestern in Mackey Arena, by an average of 12.5 points per game.