GAMEDAY INFORMATION -- GAME 25
[2] Purdue (22-2, 11-2) vs. Minnesota (15-8, 6-6)
Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024
8:30 p.m. ET | West Lafayette, Ind.
Mackey Arena (14,876)
TELEVISION: BTN (Brandon Gaudin, Robbie Hummel
RADIO: Purdue Global Radio Network (Rob Blackman, Bobby Riddell)
THE NOTES TO KNOW
• The No. 2-ranked Purdue Boilermakers end their season-long, two-game Big Ten Conference homestand when a surging Minnesota squad visits Mackey Arena on Thursday night. It will be the only meeting between the two teams this season, as the Boilermakers look to maintain their lead in the Big Ten standings against a Minnesota team looking for a signature victory.
• Purdue became the first team nationally to reach 20 victories with its 105-96 win over Northwestern on Jan. 31. The Boilermakers are tied for the national lead with 22 victories with UConn (plays Wednesday night), Indiana State, Grand Canyon, James Madison, McNeese State and Samford. Purdue's two losses are tied with UConn and Grand Canyon for the fewest in the country.
• During Purdue's unbeaten Big Ten home slate (6-0), the Boilermakers have averaged 91.3 points per game, while shooting 51.1 percent from the field and 45.8 percent from long distance. Purdue has averaged 21.2 assists per game and boasts a 2.12 (127 / 60) assist / turnover ratio.
• Purdue's eight straight wins are tied for the sixth-longest streak in the nation and second among major-conference programs (UConn - 12).
• Purdue has won 20 games under Matt Painter in 14 of his 19 seasons with at least 25 wins in 10 of them. Purdue is looking for its third straight season of at least 29 victories.
• Since the start of the 2021-22 season, Purdue is 42-3 in home games falling to Rutgers (2023), Indiana (2023) and Wisconsin (2022).
• Over the last three years, Purdue has already won 80 games overall. The school record for wins in a three-game span is 83 (2016, 2017, 2018).
• Purdue's schedule ranks as the most difficult in the country by a wide margin and its non-conference foes currently lead the Southern Conference by 2 games (Samford), the Ohio Valley by 3 games (Morehead State), the SEC (Alabama), the PAC-12 (Arizona) and the Atlantic Sun (Eastern Kentucky). Marquette (Big East) and Gonzaga (WCC) and are currently in second place in their respective conferences. Four of Purdue's non-conference opponents (Marquette - 8; Morehead St. - 7; Samford, Arizona - 5) have active win streaks of five or longer.
• In addition, Purdue leads the country in strength of schedule and teams that it has beaten rank 2nd (Michigan), 3rd (Alabama), 4th (Wisconsin), 5th (Tennessee), 6th (Xavier) and 7th (Arizona) in strength of schedule.
• The combined record of Purdue's non-conference opponents is 180-84 (.682) with seven of the 11 opponents already having won at least 17 games. Every non-conference team except one (Texas Southern, 9-13) have an overall record above .500.
• Purdue ranks in the NCAA's top 20 in wins (1st), off. efficiency (2nd), rebound margin (2nd), 3-point percentage (4th), assists per game (7th), scoring offense (5th), scoring margin (9th), fewest fouls per game (13th), defensive efficiency (14th) and assist / turnover ratio (17th).
• Purdue leads the country in quad-1 wins (8) and quad-1 and 2 wins combined (15). No one in the country has more than 13 Q-1 and Q-2 wins.
• Since the start of last season, Purdue is 51-8, the fourth-most wins nationally, while the eight losses are the second fewest behind Houston (7). The eight losses during that span have come by 1, 5, 6, 14, 8, 5, 4 (OT) and 16 points. Thirty-eight of the 51 wins have come against teams ranked in the KenPom top-100, including 27 against teams ranked in the top-50.
• Purdue was voted No. 2 in the AP Top 25 poll on Monday, for the fifth straight week. With its No. 2 ranking this week, Purdue has now been ranked in the top 5 of the AP poll for 31 straight weeks, the longest-active streak in America by 17 weeks (UConn - 14). It has been ranked in the top 3 in 25 of those 31 weeks. The 31 weeks of being ranked in the top 5 is the longest streak by a Big Ten team in the last 45 years.
• With the win over No. 6 Wisconsin, Purdue has won seven straight against AP Top-10 ranked teams, the longest streak ever by a Big Ten team.
• With his 200th career block coming against Wisconsin on Feb. 4, Zach Edey became 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).
• A win over Minnesota would give Purdue a 12-2 Big Ten start for the fourth time under Matt Painter, including three times in the last seven seasons (2022-23, 2017-18, 2007-08).
• Purdue has won 15 of its last 16 games overall.
• Since the start of the 2020-21 season, Purdue owns a 53-19 (.736) Big Ten record, the league's best record by two games over Illinois with a 51-21 record (.708).
• Purdue is one of six teams (Dayton, UConn, Florida, Houston, San Diego State) without a loss outside Quad-1.
• Purdue owns a nation's-best 17 wins over the NCAA NET top-100 teams. Purdue has seven wins over teams ranked in the NET top 25.
• Over the last three seasons, Purdue owned a 59-6 (.908) record during the months of November, December and January, including a 41-3 (.932) mark over the last two seasons.
• Purdue is 19-0 this season when holding foes to 79 or fewer points. When opponents reach 80-plus points, Purdue is 3-2.
• During Purdue's eight-game win streak, it is outscoring foes by 15.9 points per game, shooting 49.6 percent from the field and 41.4 percent from long range.
• Three teams have yet to lose a Big Ten home game -- Nebraska (7-0), Northwestern (7-0) and Purdue (6-0). Purdue's two league road losses are to teams (Northwestern, Nebraska) that have yet to lose a Big Ten home game.
• Purdue's schedule is ranked as the toughest nationally (via KenPom). Purdue, which ranks second nationally in offensive efficiency, has faced defenses ranked 2nd, 5th, 6th, 13th and 15th. The Boilermakers rank 14th nationally in defensive efficiency, facing offenses ranked 1st, 4th, 6th, 12th (2x), 15th, 18th and 22nd.
• Thursday's matchup features two of the best passing teams in America. Minnesota is second nationally in assist rate (A / FGM) at 67.5 percent, while Purdue is seventh at 62.9 percent. Minnesota is sixth nationally in assists per game, while Purdue is seventh. Both teams are in the top 40 nationally in assist / turnover ratio and feature the top-two assist men in the Big Ten (Elijah Hawkins, Braden Smith).
• Zach Edey currently ranks third in the country in both points per game and rebounds per game. Since the 2000 season, only South Dakota State's Mike Daum (2019), Kansas State's Michael Beasley (2008) and Texas' Kevin Durant (2007) have finished in the top five nationally in both categories. He would be the first one to rank in the top three in both categories.
• Zach Edey needs nine points to become the fourth player in Big Ten history with 2,100 career points and 1,100 career rebounds, joining Trayce Jackson-Davis, Ethan Happ and Joe Barry Carroll.
• Since the start of last season, Zach Edey is averaging 22.8 points and 13.2 rebounds per game in Big Ten Conference play.
• Based on a 36-game season, Zach Edey is on pace to attempt 383 free throws. It would be the eighth-most attempts in NCAA history and the most since Pete Maravich in 1970 (436 attempts).
• Braden Smith has 324 career assists, leading sophomores (or younger) in career assists. Coincidentally, second on the list is Colgate sophomore Braeden Smith (302).
• Based on a 38-game season, Braden Smith is on pace for 481 points, 212 rebounds and 271 assists. Since the 1947-48 season, only BYU's Kyle Collinsworth and UCLA's Lonzo Ball have had 450 points, 250 assists and 200 rebounds in a season.
THE SERIES WITH MINNESOTA
• Purdue leads the all-time series with Minnesota by a 109-84 advantage, making this the 194th all-time meeting.
• Purdue has won three straight games in the series by a combined 56 points and seveb of Purdue's last eight wins in the series have come by double-figures (Jan. 2, 2020 --> 83-78 win in 2 OT).
• Purdue is 13-1 against Minnesota in Mackey Arena during the Matt Painter tenure. The lone loss came on Jan. 1, 2017 (91-82 OT).
• Including this game, Purdue will have been ranked in the top 25 in 12 of the last 14 meetings (7-4 record). Purdue is 16-2 as a ranked squad against Minnesota in Mackey Arena all-time.
• Minnesota's 84 wins in the series are the fourth most for an opponent against the Boilermakers.
• Purdue's 43 wins against Minnesota in Mackey Arena are the second most against a single opponent (Northwestern - 45).
[2] Purdue (22-2, 11-2) vs. Minnesota (15-8, 6-6)
Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024
8:30 p.m. ET | West Lafayette, Ind.
Mackey Arena (14,876)
TELEVISION: BTN (Brandon Gaudin, Robbie Hummel
RADIO: Purdue Global Radio Network (Rob Blackman, Bobby Riddell)
THE NOTES TO KNOW
• The No. 2-ranked Purdue Boilermakers end their season-long, two-game Big Ten Conference homestand when a surging Minnesota squad visits Mackey Arena on Thursday night. It will be the only meeting between the two teams this season, as the Boilermakers look to maintain their lead in the Big Ten standings against a Minnesota team looking for a signature victory.
• Purdue became the first team nationally to reach 20 victories with its 105-96 win over Northwestern on Jan. 31. The Boilermakers are tied for the national lead with 22 victories with UConn (plays Wednesday night), Indiana State, Grand Canyon, James Madison, McNeese State and Samford. Purdue's two losses are tied with UConn and Grand Canyon for the fewest in the country.
• During Purdue's unbeaten Big Ten home slate (6-0), the Boilermakers have averaged 91.3 points per game, while shooting 51.1 percent from the field and 45.8 percent from long distance. Purdue has averaged 21.2 assists per game and boasts a 2.12 (127 / 60) assist / turnover ratio.
• Purdue's eight straight wins are tied for the sixth-longest streak in the nation and second among major-conference programs (UConn - 12).
• Purdue has won 20 games under Matt Painter in 14 of his 19 seasons with at least 25 wins in 10 of them. Purdue is looking for its third straight season of at least 29 victories.
• Since the start of the 2021-22 season, Purdue is 42-3 in home games falling to Rutgers (2023), Indiana (2023) and Wisconsin (2022).
• Over the last three years, Purdue has already won 80 games overall. The school record for wins in a three-game span is 83 (2016, 2017, 2018).
• Purdue's schedule ranks as the most difficult in the country by a wide margin and its non-conference foes currently lead the Southern Conference by 2 games (Samford), the Ohio Valley by 3 games (Morehead State), the SEC (Alabama), the PAC-12 (Arizona) and the Atlantic Sun (Eastern Kentucky). Marquette (Big East) and Gonzaga (WCC) and are currently in second place in their respective conferences. Four of Purdue's non-conference opponents (Marquette - 8; Morehead St. - 7; Samford, Arizona - 5) have active win streaks of five or longer.
• In addition, Purdue leads the country in strength of schedule and teams that it has beaten rank 2nd (Michigan), 3rd (Alabama), 4th (Wisconsin), 5th (Tennessee), 6th (Xavier) and 7th (Arizona) in strength of schedule.
• The combined record of Purdue's non-conference opponents is 180-84 (.682) with seven of the 11 opponents already having won at least 17 games. Every non-conference team except one (Texas Southern, 9-13) have an overall record above .500.
• Purdue ranks in the NCAA's top 20 in wins (1st), off. efficiency (2nd), rebound margin (2nd), 3-point percentage (4th), assists per game (7th), scoring offense (5th), scoring margin (9th), fewest fouls per game (13th), defensive efficiency (14th) and assist / turnover ratio (17th).
• Purdue leads the country in quad-1 wins (8) and quad-1 and 2 wins combined (15). No one in the country has more than 13 Q-1 and Q-2 wins.
• Since the start of last season, Purdue is 51-8, the fourth-most wins nationally, while the eight losses are the second fewest behind Houston (7). The eight losses during that span have come by 1, 5, 6, 14, 8, 5, 4 (OT) and 16 points. Thirty-eight of the 51 wins have come against teams ranked in the KenPom top-100, including 27 against teams ranked in the top-50.
• Purdue was voted No. 2 in the AP Top 25 poll on Monday, for the fifth straight week. With its No. 2 ranking this week, Purdue has now been ranked in the top 5 of the AP poll for 31 straight weeks, the longest-active streak in America by 17 weeks (UConn - 14). It has been ranked in the top 3 in 25 of those 31 weeks. The 31 weeks of being ranked in the top 5 is the longest streak by a Big Ten team in the last 45 years.
• With the win over No. 6 Wisconsin, Purdue has won seven straight against AP Top-10 ranked teams, the longest streak ever by a Big Ten team.
• With his 200th career block coming against Wisconsin on Feb. 4, Zach Edey became 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).
• A win over Minnesota would give Purdue a 12-2 Big Ten start for the fourth time under Matt Painter, including three times in the last seven seasons (2022-23, 2017-18, 2007-08).
• Purdue has won 15 of its last 16 games overall.
• Since the start of the 2020-21 season, Purdue owns a 53-19 (.736) Big Ten record, the league's best record by two games over Illinois with a 51-21 record (.708).
• Purdue is one of six teams (Dayton, UConn, Florida, Houston, San Diego State) without a loss outside Quad-1.
• Purdue owns a nation's-best 17 wins over the NCAA NET top-100 teams. Purdue has seven wins over teams ranked in the NET top 25.
• Over the last three seasons, Purdue owned a 59-6 (.908) record during the months of November, December and January, including a 41-3 (.932) mark over the last two seasons.
• Purdue is 19-0 this season when holding foes to 79 or fewer points. When opponents reach 80-plus points, Purdue is 3-2.
• During Purdue's eight-game win streak, it is outscoring foes by 15.9 points per game, shooting 49.6 percent from the field and 41.4 percent from long range.
• Three teams have yet to lose a Big Ten home game -- Nebraska (7-0), Northwestern (7-0) and Purdue (6-0). Purdue's two league road losses are to teams (Northwestern, Nebraska) that have yet to lose a Big Ten home game.
• Purdue's schedule is ranked as the toughest nationally (via KenPom). Purdue, which ranks second nationally in offensive efficiency, has faced defenses ranked 2nd, 5th, 6th, 13th and 15th. The Boilermakers rank 14th nationally in defensive efficiency, facing offenses ranked 1st, 4th, 6th, 12th (2x), 15th, 18th and 22nd.
• Thursday's matchup features two of the best passing teams in America. Minnesota is second nationally in assist rate (A / FGM) at 67.5 percent, while Purdue is seventh at 62.9 percent. Minnesota is sixth nationally in assists per game, while Purdue is seventh. Both teams are in the top 40 nationally in assist / turnover ratio and feature the top-two assist men in the Big Ten (Elijah Hawkins, Braden Smith).
• Zach Edey currently ranks third in the country in both points per game and rebounds per game. Since the 2000 season, only South Dakota State's Mike Daum (2019), Kansas State's Michael Beasley (2008) and Texas' Kevin Durant (2007) have finished in the top five nationally in both categories. He would be the first one to rank in the top three in both categories.
• Zach Edey needs nine points to become the fourth player in Big Ten history with 2,100 career points and 1,100 career rebounds, joining Trayce Jackson-Davis, Ethan Happ and Joe Barry Carroll.
• Since the start of last season, Zach Edey is averaging 22.8 points and 13.2 rebounds per game in Big Ten Conference play.
• Based on a 36-game season, Zach Edey is on pace to attempt 383 free throws. It would be the eighth-most attempts in NCAA history and the most since Pete Maravich in 1970 (436 attempts).
• Braden Smith has 324 career assists, leading sophomores (or younger) in career assists. Coincidentally, second on the list is Colgate sophomore Braeden Smith (302).
• Based on a 38-game season, Braden Smith is on pace for 481 points, 212 rebounds and 271 assists. Since the 1947-48 season, only BYU's Kyle Collinsworth and UCLA's Lonzo Ball have had 450 points, 250 assists and 200 rebounds in a season.
THE SERIES WITH MINNESOTA
• Purdue leads the all-time series with Minnesota by a 109-84 advantage, making this the 194th all-time meeting.
• Purdue has won three straight games in the series by a combined 56 points and seveb of Purdue's last eight wins in the series have come by double-figures (Jan. 2, 2020 --> 83-78 win in 2 OT).
• Purdue is 13-1 against Minnesota in Mackey Arena during the Matt Painter tenure. The lone loss came on Jan. 1, 2017 (91-82 OT).
• Including this game, Purdue will have been ranked in the top 25 in 12 of the last 14 meetings (7-4 record). Purdue is 16-2 as a ranked squad against Minnesota in Mackey Arena all-time.
• Minnesota's 84 wins in the series are the fourth most for an opponent against the Boilermakers.
• Purdue's 43 wins against Minnesota in Mackey Arena are the second most against a single opponent (Northwestern - 45).