Maryland visits Mackey Arena for Christmas Day Showdown

Maryland visits Mackey Arena for Christmas Day Showdown

Credit Source: Purdue University Athletics

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue men’s basketball team returns home for the final time in the 2020 calendar year, hosting Maryland on Christmas Day. The Boilermakers have won all four of their home games this season and look to end 2020 on a high note.

The contest with the Terrapins is in the middle of a grueling stretch for the Boilermakers. Purdue is in the midst of a six-game stretch that featured No. 20-ranked Ohio State, Notre Dame, No. 4-ranked Iowa, Maryland, No. 11-ranked Rutgers and No. 18-ranked Illinois. Of Purdue’s first eight league games, five are against nationally-ranked teams (four on the road) and another road game against arch-rival Indiana.

THE KEY TALKING POINTS
1) Purdue is looking for its fifth straight home win and 50th home win over Big Ten teams since start of the 2014-15 season (league-best 49-9 record).
2) Head coach Matt Painter won his 50th game against a nationally-ranked team last Wednesday against Ohio State. He is 50-83 against ranked teams, including a 20-20 record since the start of the 2016-17 season. Of his 50 wins against ranked teams, 20 have come in the last 4+ seasons.
3) According to KenPom.com, Purdue ranks 308th in experience (1.09 years). Indiana is the next least-experienced team in the Big Ten (1.29).
4) In its six wins, Purdue is shooting 50.1 percent from the field and has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.51 (118 / 78). In its three losses, Purdue is shooting just 39.8 percent from the field, has attempted 24 free throws and has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 0.78 (39 / 50).
5) Purdue’s junior class is averaging 37.9 points per game, accounting for 52.3 percent of the team’s scoring. Over the last four games, the class has accounted for 66.9 percent of Purdue’s scoring (190 points / 290 team points).
6) Trevion Williams is averaging 18.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game over the last four games, shooting 33-of-56 (.589) from the field.
7) Mason Gillis was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week (9.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 7-7 FGs, 2-2 3Ps, 2-2 FTs) for his role vs. Ohio State and Notre Dame.
8) In the first four weeks of the season, Purdue has had two different players earn Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors (Nov. 30 – Zach Edey). It marks just the second time ever that Purdue has had two different players earn FOW honors (2012-13; Rapheal Davis, A.J. Hammons).
9) Purdue has shot 11 or fewer free throws in five of its nine games this season.
10) Purdue is 33-8 (.805) in the month of December since the 2015-16 season.
11) 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).
12) Purdue has won 102 straight games when scoring at least 90 points, spanning over 33 years (last loss: Nov. 24, 1987, to Iowa State).