GAMEDAY INFORMATION -- GAME 17
[20] Purdue (12-4, 4-1) vs. Nebraska (12-3, 2-2)
Sunday, January 12, 2025
Noon ET | West Lafayette, Ind.
Mackey Arena (14,876)
TELEVISION: BTN (Brandon Gaudin, Stephen Bardo
RADIO: Purdue Global Radio Network (Rob Blackman, Bobby Riddell)
THE NOTES TO KNOW
• In the midst of its most-grueling portion the 2024-25 schedule, Purdue returns home for a Sunday afternoon contest against a surging Nebraska squad. The contest will be just Purdue's third home game in the last 34 days before the Boilermakers hit the road again to venture to the Pacific Northwest next week to face Washington and Oregon.
• In an incredible twist of scheduling fate, the Boilermakers will visit both coasts in a the span of a week, visiting the Jersey Shore and the Atlantic Ocean coast on Jan. 9, before heading to Seattle next week for a journey to the Pacific Ocean to face both Washington and Oregon. The contest with Nebraska is sandwiched in between trips to the coasts.
• A win will give Purdue a season-long five-game winning streak, and keep the Boilermakers within striking distance of the Big Ten leaders. A victory will also give Purdue a 5-1 start or better for the fifth time under Matt Painter (2023, 2018, 2011, 2008). Ironically, Purdue has only won the Big Ten regular-season title once when starting 5-1 or better (2023).
• Since the start of the 2022-23 season, Purdue owns a 19-2 record in the month of January, having won nine straight games. The nine-game winning streak in the month is the fourth longest nationally (Saint Mary's - 24; Vermont - 13; McNeese State - 10).
• Purdue has just 30 turnovers over the last four games. Purdue averaged 12.3 turnovers per game in the first 12 games of the season. In the last four games, Purdue has 75 assists against 30 turnovers. It has also forced 51 turnovers in that span, a margin of plus-5.25 per game.
• In the last four years, Purdue has defeated teams ranked No. 1 (Arizona), No. 2 (Alabama), No. 4 (Marquette), No. 5 (Villanova), No. 6 (Wisconsin, Tennessee, Gonzaga), No. 7 (Tennessee), No. 8 (Duke) and No. 9 (Illinois). All but Alabama and Illinois came away from Mackey Arena.
• Since the 2021-22 season (Caleb Furst's freshman year), Purdue owns a 54-3 (.947) record in Mackey Arena. The 94.7 winning percentage is the second-best nationally (Houston; .951).
• Purdue is playing its best basketball of the season, winning the last four games by an average of 18.8 points per game. However, Purdue is just 33-of-97 (.340) from 3-point range during that span. The Boilermakers are 83-of-135 (.615) from inside the arc in that span.
• Purdue is now 104-23 since the start of the 2021-22 season, recording the second-most wins in the country (Houston – 106; Connecticut - 103) during that span. The senior class of Caleb Furst (only senior) became the seventh class in school history with 100 career victories.
• The starting backcourt of Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer are 75-15 since their arrival at Purdue, starting every game of their tenure. The 75 wins since their arrival are the third most nationally (Connecticut - 80; Houston - 76).
• Braden Smith is the only player in America with 225 points, 125 assists and 75 rebounds. Smith is on pace to become the first player since Loyola Marymount's Terrell Lowery (1990-91) to average 15.0 points, 8.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds and shoot over 40.0 percent from 3-point range.
• Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer both surpassed 1,000 career points in the last week, becoming the first junior teammates nationally to play at one school and reach the 1,000-point club. Trey Kaufman-Renn needs 309 points to join them.
• Trey Kaufman-Renn is one of two players nationally (South Dakota State's Oscar Cluff) to average 17.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and shoot at least 60 percent from the field. He has scored in double-figures in all 16 games this season.
• 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 Tournament appearances. Purdue reached the Sweet 16 in 2022, the Elite 8 in 2019 and the Final Four in 2024.
• Since Matt Painter's second year at Purdue (2006-07), the Boilermakers' 226 Big Ten wins are the most in the Big Ten (Michigan State - 223).
[20] Purdue (12-4, 4-1) vs. Nebraska (12-3, 2-2)
Sunday, January 12, 2025
Noon ET | West Lafayette, Ind.
Mackey Arena (14,876)
TELEVISION: BTN (Brandon Gaudin, Stephen Bardo
RADIO: Purdue Global Radio Network (Rob Blackman, Bobby Riddell)
THE NOTES TO KNOW
• In the midst of its most-grueling portion the 2024-25 schedule, Purdue returns home for a Sunday afternoon contest against a surging Nebraska squad. The contest will be just Purdue's third home game in the last 34 days before the Boilermakers hit the road again to venture to the Pacific Northwest next week to face Washington and Oregon.
• In an incredible twist of scheduling fate, the Boilermakers will visit both coasts in a the span of a week, visiting the Jersey Shore and the Atlantic Ocean coast on Jan. 9, before heading to Seattle next week for a journey to the Pacific Ocean to face both Washington and Oregon. The contest with Nebraska is sandwiched in between trips to the coasts.
• A win will give Purdue a season-long five-game winning streak, and keep the Boilermakers within striking distance of the Big Ten leaders. A victory will also give Purdue a 5-1 start or better for the fifth time under Matt Painter (2023, 2018, 2011, 2008). Ironically, Purdue has only won the Big Ten regular-season title once when starting 5-1 or better (2023).
• Since the start of the 2022-23 season, Purdue owns a 19-2 record in the month of January, having won nine straight games. The nine-game winning streak in the month is the fourth longest nationally (Saint Mary's - 24; Vermont - 13; McNeese State - 10).
• Purdue has just 30 turnovers over the last four games. Purdue averaged 12.3 turnovers per game in the first 12 games of the season. In the last four games, Purdue has 75 assists against 30 turnovers. It has also forced 51 turnovers in that span, a margin of plus-5.25 per game.
• In the last four years, Purdue has defeated teams ranked No. 1 (Arizona), No. 2 (Alabama), No. 4 (Marquette), No. 5 (Villanova), No. 6 (Wisconsin, Tennessee, Gonzaga), No. 7 (Tennessee), No. 8 (Duke) and No. 9 (Illinois). All but Alabama and Illinois came away from Mackey Arena.
• Since the 2021-22 season (Caleb Furst's freshman year), Purdue owns a 54-3 (.947) record in Mackey Arena. The 94.7 winning percentage is the second-best nationally (Houston; .951).
• Purdue is playing its best basketball of the season, winning the last four games by an average of 18.8 points per game. However, Purdue is just 33-of-97 (.340) from 3-point range during that span. The Boilermakers are 83-of-135 (.615) from inside the arc in that span.
• Purdue is now 104-23 since the start of the 2021-22 season, recording the second-most wins in the country (Houston – 106; Connecticut - 103) during that span. The senior class of Caleb Furst (only senior) became the seventh class in school history with 100 career victories.
• The starting backcourt of Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer are 75-15 since their arrival at Purdue, starting every game of their tenure. The 75 wins since their arrival are the third most nationally (Connecticut - 80; Houston - 76).
• Braden Smith is the only player in America with 225 points, 125 assists and 75 rebounds. Smith is on pace to become the first player since Loyola Marymount's Terrell Lowery (1990-91) to average 15.0 points, 8.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds and shoot over 40.0 percent from 3-point range.
• Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer both surpassed 1,000 career points in the last week, becoming the first junior teammates nationally to play at one school and reach the 1,000-point club. Trey Kaufman-Renn needs 309 points to join them.
• Trey Kaufman-Renn is one of two players nationally (South Dakota State's Oscar Cluff) to average 17.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and shoot at least 60 percent from the field. He has scored in double-figures in all 16 games this season.
• 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 Tournament appearances. Purdue reached the Sweet 16 in 2022, the Elite 8 in 2019 and the Final Four in 2024.
• Since Matt Painter's second year at Purdue (2006-07), the Boilermakers' 226 Big Ten wins are the most in the Big Ten (Michigan State - 223).