GAMEDAY INFORMATION -- GAME 11
[11] Purdue (8-2) vs. [17] Texas A&M (8-2)
Noon ET | Indianapolis, Indiana
Gainbridge Fieldhouse (18,345)
TELEVISION: CBS (Rich Waltz, Bill Raftery, Jay Wright, Jon Rothstein)
RADIO: Purdue Global Radio Network (Rob Blackman, Bobby Riddell)
THE NOTES TO KNOW
• The No. 11-ranked Purdue men's basketball team ends finals week with a trip to the Circle City for the third annual Indy Classic, facing off against No. 17-ranked Texas A&M in Gainbridge Fieldhouse. It's the first game of a doubleheader as Wisconsin and Butler will square off in game two, in what will be the elite college basketball event of a busy Saturday across America.
• The Boilermakers are coming off a big 83-78 win over a very good Maryland squad, while the Aggies scored a 72-67 victory over a good Texas Tech team on Sunday. The contest Saturday marks one of two games between ranked opponents across the country (#8 Gonzaga vs. #18 UConn).
• Texas A&M will be the fourth ranked team, all coming in non-conference play, after the Boilermakers have played Alabama, Marquette and Ole Miss already. The Boilermakers will play ranked team No. 5 next week when it faces Auburn. The five ranked teams in non-conference play will be the most in school history. It will tie Baylor and Auburn for the most ranked teams played in the country.
• The previous non-conference record of ranked teams played was a year ago (4), meaning nine of Purdue's 22 non-conference opponents since last year will have been nationally-ranked. The Boilermakers are 6-1 in those games (loss to Marquette this season).
• Purdue will play its third SEC opponent already this season when it faces off against Texas A&M on Saturday. The Boilermakers are 2-0 against the SEC and have won six straight against the league. SEC teams are 16-8 against ranked teams (0-2 vs. Purdue; 16-6 vs. everyone else).
• Purdue's schedule currently ranks 13th nationally (KenPom), but is expected to move up after playing Texas A&M and Auburn in the next two weeks. A year ago, Purdue played the nation's second-toughest schedule. With Auburn ranked No. 2 nationally, Purdue is expected to play three teams ranked in the top seven, and five in the top 19, in this week's Associated Press Top 25 poll.
• In the last five games, Purdue is 88-of-117 (.752) from the free throw line. In the first five games, Purdue was just 79-of-116 (.681).
• Purdue and Texas A&M rank first and second nationally in free throws attempted margin since the start of the 2022-23 season. Purdue is first having attempted 812 more free throws than its opponent, while the Aggies are second at plus-500.
• Purdue and Texas A&M are also first and second nationally in most points per game scored by in-state players this season. Players from Indiana account for 58.0 points per game for Purdue, while Texas natives account for 38.3 points per game for the Aggies.
• Since the start of the 2021-22 season, Purdue is 40-1 (.976) in regular-season, non-conference play. Kansas (42-6) and Houston (42-6) own the next best records, with a winning percentage of .875. During that stretch, Purdue is 10-1 (.909) against ranked teams.
• In Purdue's eight wins, it averages 10.1 turnovers per game, while forcing 10.5. In its two losses, it averages 19.5 turnovers, while forcing 11.0
• Purdue has won 25 straight games when holding its opponent under 70 points. The last loss came to Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
• Purdue is now 100-21 since the start of the 2021-22 season, recording the second-most wins in the country (Houston – 103) during that span. The senior class of Caleb Furst (only senior) needs one win to become the seventh class in school history with 100 career victories. His current winning percentage of .826 would easily be the best in school history.
• The starting backcourt of Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer are 71-13 since their arrival at Purdue, starting every game of their tenure. The duo has combined for 1,863 points, 587 rebounds and 712 assists during their careers, shooting 258-of-644 from deep (.401).
• Purdue, Duke, Gonzaga and Houston are the only programs in America to have made at least a Sweet 16, Elite 8 and Final Four during their last five NCAA Tournaments. Purdue reached the Sweet 16 in 2022, the Elite 8 in 2019 and the Final Four in 2024.
[11] Purdue (8-2) vs. [17] Texas A&M (8-2)
Noon ET | Indianapolis, Indiana
Gainbridge Fieldhouse (18,345)
TELEVISION: CBS (Rich Waltz, Bill Raftery, Jay Wright, Jon Rothstein)
RADIO: Purdue Global Radio Network (Rob Blackman, Bobby Riddell)
THE NOTES TO KNOW
• The No. 11-ranked Purdue men's basketball team ends finals week with a trip to the Circle City for the third annual Indy Classic, facing off against No. 17-ranked Texas A&M in Gainbridge Fieldhouse. It's the first game of a doubleheader as Wisconsin and Butler will square off in game two, in what will be the elite college basketball event of a busy Saturday across America.
• The Boilermakers are coming off a big 83-78 win over a very good Maryland squad, while the Aggies scored a 72-67 victory over a good Texas Tech team on Sunday. The contest Saturday marks one of two games between ranked opponents across the country (#8 Gonzaga vs. #18 UConn).
• Texas A&M will be the fourth ranked team, all coming in non-conference play, after the Boilermakers have played Alabama, Marquette and Ole Miss already. The Boilermakers will play ranked team No. 5 next week when it faces Auburn. The five ranked teams in non-conference play will be the most in school history. It will tie Baylor and Auburn for the most ranked teams played in the country.
• The previous non-conference record of ranked teams played was a year ago (4), meaning nine of Purdue's 22 non-conference opponents since last year will have been nationally-ranked. The Boilermakers are 6-1 in those games (loss to Marquette this season).
• Purdue will play its third SEC opponent already this season when it faces off against Texas A&M on Saturday. The Boilermakers are 2-0 against the SEC and have won six straight against the league. SEC teams are 16-8 against ranked teams (0-2 vs. Purdue; 16-6 vs. everyone else).
• Purdue's schedule currently ranks 13th nationally (KenPom), but is expected to move up after playing Texas A&M and Auburn in the next two weeks. A year ago, Purdue played the nation's second-toughest schedule. With Auburn ranked No. 2 nationally, Purdue is expected to play three teams ranked in the top seven, and five in the top 19, in this week's Associated Press Top 25 poll.
• In the last five games, Purdue is 88-of-117 (.752) from the free throw line. In the first five games, Purdue was just 79-of-116 (.681).
• Purdue and Texas A&M rank first and second nationally in free throws attempted margin since the start of the 2022-23 season. Purdue is first having attempted 812 more free throws than its opponent, while the Aggies are second at plus-500.
• Purdue and Texas A&M are also first and second nationally in most points per game scored by in-state players this season. Players from Indiana account for 58.0 points per game for Purdue, while Texas natives account for 38.3 points per game for the Aggies.
• Since the start of the 2021-22 season, Purdue is 40-1 (.976) in regular-season, non-conference play. Kansas (42-6) and Houston (42-6) own the next best records, with a winning percentage of .875. During that stretch, Purdue is 10-1 (.909) against ranked teams.
• In Purdue's eight wins, it averages 10.1 turnovers per game, while forcing 10.5. In its two losses, it averages 19.5 turnovers, while forcing 11.0
• Purdue has won 25 straight games when holding its opponent under 70 points. The last loss came to Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
• Purdue is now 100-21 since the start of the 2021-22 season, recording the second-most wins in the country (Houston – 103) during that span. The senior class of Caleb Furst (only senior) needs one win to become the seventh class in school history with 100 career victories. His current winning percentage of .826 would easily be the best in school history.
• The starting backcourt of Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer are 71-13 since their arrival at Purdue, starting every game of their tenure. The duo has combined for 1,863 points, 587 rebounds and 712 assists during their careers, shooting 258-of-644 from deep (.401).
• Purdue, Duke, Gonzaga and Houston are the only programs in America to have made at least a Sweet 16, Elite 8 and Final Four during their last five NCAA Tournaments. Purdue reached the Sweet 16 in 2022, the Elite 8 in 2019 and the Final Four in 2024.