GAMEDAY INFORMATION -- GAME 26
[7] Purdue (19-6, 11-3) vs. [16] Wisconsin (19-5, 9-4)
Saturday, February 15, 2025 | 1 p.m. ET
West Lafayette, Indiana | Mackey Arena (14,876)
TELEVISION: CBS (Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery)
RADIO: Purdue Global Radio Network (Rob Blackman, Bobby Riddell)
THE NOTES TO KNOW
• The No. 7 Purdue men's basketball team looks to bounce back from its sixth loss of the season when Big Ten challenger and No. 16 Wisconsin visits for a key Saturday afternoon matinee. The two teams sit in the top four of the league standings entering the weekend and are looking to keep pace with league-leader Michigan as the league enters its final four weekends of regular-season action.
• The first 2,500 fans in attendance will receive a Caleb Swanigan bobblehead at the entrances. Swanigan was the 2017 Big Ten Player of the Year and consensus first-team All-American who passed away in June 2022. Swanigan was also an Academic All-American in 2017, and earned his degree following his second season in the NBA. During his NBA career, Swanigan worked extensively with Portland-area youth and FoodCorps to promote healthy eating habits in schools and eliminate child hunger.
• This will mark the fifth time in the last five seasons that Purdue and Wisconsin enter the game nationally-ranked, both teams winning twice. During the Matt Painter era, both teams have been ranked in 10 previous meetings with Purdue holding a 6-4 advantage.
• Since the turn of the calendar to January, Purdue ranks No. 2 nationally in efficiency (.9728) behind Houston (.9833) via BartTorvik.com. The Boilermakers are sixth in offensive efficiency (125.7) and eighth in defensive efficiency (92.1) during that span. Through December 31, Purdue ranked 29th overall in efficiency while placing 15th in offensive efficiency and 77th in defensive efficiency.
• Through Wednesday's games, Purdue's seven quad-one victories are tied for the fifth most in the country (Auburn - 13; Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee - 8), while the 14 quad-one and two victories combined are the third most in the country (Auburn - 16; Alabama - 15).
• In the last four seasons, 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), No. 9 (Illinois), No. 12 (Illinois), No. 13 (Oregon, Illinois), No. 16 (Ohio State), No. 17 (Illinois), No. 18 (North Carolina, Gonzaga), No. 20 (Utah State), No. 21 (Michigan), No. 23 (Ole Miss), No. 24 (Ohio State) and No. 25 (Texas). Eighteen of the 23 ranked wins since the start of the 2021-22 season have come away from Mackey Arean.
• Since the insertion of Caleb Furst and C.J. Cox into the lineup 11 games ago, Purdue has averaged just 9.4 turnovers per game while forcing 14.9 (+5.50 margin). Since January 1, Purdue's defensive turnover rate is 22.2 percent (15th). Through December, the rate was 16.8 percent (228th).
• Purdue's offense has clicked in Big Ten play, shooting at least 50.0 percent from the field in 10 contests. Purdue leads the Big Ten in field goal percentage, steals per game and opponent turnovers per game, while ranking second in both scoring offense and defense.
• Braden Smith (3rd) and Trey Kaufman-Renn (6th) are the only teammates nationally to rank in the top 10 for the KenPom National Player of the Year race. In the KenPom POY race, only three times have teammates finished in the top six (2022 Gonzaga - Drew Timme, Chet Holmgren; 2020 Kansas - Devon Dotson, Udoka Azubuike; 2018 Villanova - Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges).
• Braden Smith is on pace to become the first player since California's Jason Kidd (1993-94) to average 16.0 points, 8.0 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game. The only other players to do so in NCAA history are Kidd, Terrell Lowery (Loyola Marymount; 1990-91) and Gary Payton (Oregon State; 1989-90).
• Braden Smith leads the Big Ten in assists (8.7) and steals per game (2.5). Mike Conley Jr. (OSU; 2007) is the only Big Ten player to do that.
• Braden Smith is already the only player in Big Ten history with two seasons of 400 points, 200 assists, 100 rebounds and 50 steals.
• Trey Kaufman-Renn is the only player nationally to average 18.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and shoot at least 60 percent from the field. Only three other players in Big Ten history have done that (Zach Edey - 2024; Evan Eschmeyer - 1998; Chris Webber - 1993).
[7] Purdue (19-6, 11-3) vs. [16] Wisconsin (19-5, 9-4)
Saturday, February 15, 2025 | 1 p.m. ET
West Lafayette, Indiana | Mackey Arena (14,876)
TELEVISION: CBS (Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery)
RADIO: Purdue Global Radio Network (Rob Blackman, Bobby Riddell)
THE NOTES TO KNOW
• The No. 7 Purdue men's basketball team looks to bounce back from its sixth loss of the season when Big Ten challenger and No. 16 Wisconsin visits for a key Saturday afternoon matinee. The two teams sit in the top four of the league standings entering the weekend and are looking to keep pace with league-leader Michigan as the league enters its final four weekends of regular-season action.
• The first 2,500 fans in attendance will receive a Caleb Swanigan bobblehead at the entrances. Swanigan was the 2017 Big Ten Player of the Year and consensus first-team All-American who passed away in June 2022. Swanigan was also an Academic All-American in 2017, and earned his degree following his second season in the NBA. During his NBA career, Swanigan worked extensively with Portland-area youth and FoodCorps to promote healthy eating habits in schools and eliminate child hunger.
• This will mark the fifth time in the last five seasons that Purdue and Wisconsin enter the game nationally-ranked, both teams winning twice. During the Matt Painter era, both teams have been ranked in 10 previous meetings with Purdue holding a 6-4 advantage.
• Since the turn of the calendar to January, Purdue ranks No. 2 nationally in efficiency (.9728) behind Houston (.9833) via BartTorvik.com. The Boilermakers are sixth in offensive efficiency (125.7) and eighth in defensive efficiency (92.1) during that span. Through December 31, Purdue ranked 29th overall in efficiency while placing 15th in offensive efficiency and 77th in defensive efficiency.
• Through Wednesday's games, Purdue's seven quad-one victories are tied for the fifth most in the country (Auburn - 13; Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee - 8), while the 14 quad-one and two victories combined are the third most in the country (Auburn - 16; Alabama - 15).
• In the last four seasons, 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), No. 9 (Illinois), No. 12 (Illinois), No. 13 (Oregon, Illinois), No. 16 (Ohio State), No. 17 (Illinois), No. 18 (North Carolina, Gonzaga), No. 20 (Utah State), No. 21 (Michigan), No. 23 (Ole Miss), No. 24 (Ohio State) and No. 25 (Texas). Eighteen of the 23 ranked wins since the start of the 2021-22 season have come away from Mackey Arean.
• Since the insertion of Caleb Furst and C.J. Cox into the lineup 11 games ago, Purdue has averaged just 9.4 turnovers per game while forcing 14.9 (+5.50 margin). Since January 1, Purdue's defensive turnover rate is 22.2 percent (15th). Through December, the rate was 16.8 percent (228th).
• Purdue's offense has clicked in Big Ten play, shooting at least 50.0 percent from the field in 10 contests. Purdue leads the Big Ten in field goal percentage, steals per game and opponent turnovers per game, while ranking second in both scoring offense and defense.
• Braden Smith (3rd) and Trey Kaufman-Renn (6th) are the only teammates nationally to rank in the top 10 for the KenPom National Player of the Year race. In the KenPom POY race, only three times have teammates finished in the top six (2022 Gonzaga - Drew Timme, Chet Holmgren; 2020 Kansas - Devon Dotson, Udoka Azubuike; 2018 Villanova - Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges).
• Braden Smith is on pace to become the first player since California's Jason Kidd (1993-94) to average 16.0 points, 8.0 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game. The only other players to do so in NCAA history are Kidd, Terrell Lowery (Loyola Marymount; 1990-91) and Gary Payton (Oregon State; 1989-90).
• Braden Smith leads the Big Ten in assists (8.7) and steals per game (2.5). Mike Conley Jr. (OSU; 2007) is the only Big Ten player to do that.
• Braden Smith is already the only player in Big Ten history with two seasons of 400 points, 200 assists, 100 rebounds and 50 steals.
• Trey Kaufman-Renn is the only player nationally to average 18.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and shoot at least 60 percent from the field. Only three other players in Big Ten history have done that (Zach Edey - 2024; Evan Eschmeyer - 1998; Chris Webber - 1993).