Boilermakers Open Big Ten Play Wednesday vs. No. 20 Buckeyes

Boilermakers Open Big Ten Play Wednesday vs. No. 20 Buckeyes

Credit Source: Purdue University Athletics

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue enters its gauntlet of the 2020-21 season, hosting No. 20-ranked Ohio State in the Big Ten opener Wednesday in Mackey Arena. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, on the Big Ten Network with Brandon Gaudin and Stephen Bardo on the call remotely.

Purdue is looking to build momentum as it jumps right into the frying pan in Big Ten action. Purdue’s next three opponents are Ohio State (5-0), Notre Dame in Indianapolis (2-2; close losses to Ohio State and Michigan State) and Iowa (6-0). The Boilermakers started their build with an 80-68 victory over Indiana State on Saturday and look to improve on that performance against the Buckeyes.

THE KEY TALKING POINTS
1) Purdue is 9-2 in its last 11 Big Ten openers, with losses coming to No. 3 Ohio State (2013-14) and No. 7 Michigan (2018-19). Just four of the nine victories in that span have come by double-digits. Purdue is 10-5 under Painter in Big Ten openers.
2) Head coach Matt Painter is looking for his 50th win over a ranked team in his 16th season at Purdue. He is 49-83 against ranked teams, including a 19-19 (.500) record since the start of 2016-17. Nineteen of his 49 wins against ranked teams have come in the last four seasons.
3) According to KenPom.com, Purdue ranks 297th in experience (1.07 years). Indiana is the next least-experienced team in the Big Ten (1.26).
4) Purdue has made 29-of-71 (.408) of its 3-point tries at Mackey Arena this season. Away from Mackey Arena, Purdue is just 22-of-64 (.344) from long range. Purdue is averaging 80.3 points per game at home, but just 67.0 points per game away from Mackey Arena.
5) In its four wins, Purdue is shooting 51.1 percent from the field and has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.46 (82 / 56). In its two losses, Purdue is shooting just 39.8 percent from the field, has attempted 21 free throws and has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 0.61 (22 / 36).
6) Zach Edey (13.3 PPG) and Jaden Ivey (12.0 PPG) rank 2nd and 3rd among Big Ten freshmen in scoring average. Brandon Newman is also 7th.
7) Purdue is 31-7 (.816) in the month of December since the 2015-16 season.
8) Purdue is 44-1 since the start of the 2017-18 season when shooting at least 48 percent from the field (Virginia; 2019 Elite Eight).
9) Purdue has won 102 straight games when scoring at least 90 points, spanning over 33 years (last loss: Nov. 24, 1987, to Iowa State).
10) Purdue has had a run of at least 10 points in four straight games, including a season-best 15-0 run vs. Miami.
11) Sasha Stefanovic has made at least four 3-pointers nine times during his career. Purdue is 7-2 when he reaches that mark.
12) When Eric Hunter Jr. leads the team in assists during his career, Purdue is 11-3; when Aaron Wheeler scores 10+ points, Purdue is 9-1.

 

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