Boilermakers Begin Big Roadswing Saturday at Ohio State
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. –Â Purdue (14-11, 7-7) aims for its third road win in a row when it visits Ohio State (16-8, 6-7) at Value City Arena. Kevin Kugler, Jim Jackson and Lisa Byington will handle the broadcast on FOX, beginning at Noon ET. On the radio, Rob Blackman and Larry Clisby will have the call courtside on the Purdue Radio Network and TuneIn.com, beginning with the Purdue Basketball Pregame Show at 11 a.m. ET. Live stats will be available on PurdueSports.com.
• Ohio State owns a 90-88 series lead with Purdue, but the Boilermakers have won the last two meetings and five of the last seven matchups with the Buckeyes. Purdue is just 3-13 all-time in Value City Arena, but has won two straight games in Columbus.
• With six regular-season games left, four of Purdue’s six opponents are either nationally-ranked or receiving votes. As it currently stands, four of the last six opponents will be quad-1 opportunities with Rutgers (33) sitting just outside the top-30 (home game).
• In Purdue victories, the Boilermakers have five players averaging at least 9.6 points per game and are shooting 48.3 percent from the field and 40.2 percent from long range. In Purdue losses, Purdue has only three players averaging at least 7.0 points per game and are shooting 36.5 percent from the field and 26.9 percent from long distance.
• Purdue is 13-0 this year and 33-1 since the start of last year when shooting a higher field goal percentage than its opponent. The lone loss came to Virginia in last year’s Elite Eight. The Boilermakers are 1-10 when shooting a lower field goal percentage than its opponent (win vs. VCU).
• Since the 2014-15 season, Purdue is 28-10 (.737) during the month of February. Since the 2016-17 campaign, the Boilermakers are 20-6 (.769) during the month of February.
• Purdue is looking for its third straight Big Ten road win. The Boilermakers have had at least three straight Big Ten road wins in three straight seasons dating to the 2016-17 campaign.
• Head coach Matt Painter‘s next victory will tie him with Michigan State legend Jud Heathcote on the Big Ten’s all-time wins list in all games (336).
• Purdue freshmen and sophomores have combined for 1,023 points this year (40.6 PPG), accounting for 59.1 percent of Purdue’s scoring this year.
• Purdue is 9-2 when scoring at least 70 points this year (losses to Michigan and Penn State), but is just 5-9 when being held under 70 points.
• Purdue’s four wins over AP Top 25 programs this year are tied for the third most in the country. Purdue’s 10 games against AP Top 25 teams are the most in the country.