WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue men’s basketball team was represented well in the final NCAA statistics published Tuesday, ranking in the top 50 in 11-of-18 major statistical categories.
The Boilermakers finished the 2016-17 campaign with a 27-8 overall record, their league-best 23rd regular-season championship and a berth in the Sweet 16 for the first time since the 2009-10 season.
Purdue’s highest finish in a category came in assists per game, where it finished second nationally to UCLA by averaging 18.3 assists per game. It marks the second straight year that Purdue has finished in the nation’s top 10 in assists per game (7th in 2016). In addition, Purdue has ranked eighth and second respectively, the last two years in assist rate (A / FGM). Over the last two years, Purdue has assisted on almost 65 percent of its made field goals.
Dakota Mathias led the Boilermakers in assists this year with 133 and Purdue had four players (Mathias, Vincent Edwards, Caleb Swanigan and P.J. Thompson) with 100 assists for the first time in school history.
Purdue boasted one of the top offensive attacks in school history, ranking 40th nationally in scoring offense, its highest ranking during the Matt Painter era. The Boilermakers also ranked 28th in field goal percentage, ninth in 3-point percentage and 45th in 3-pointers made per game. Purdue’s rankings in field goal percentage and 3-point percentage were its highest of the Matt Painter era.
Purdue had six players finish with at least 38 3-pointers this season, setting a school record for 3-pointers made in a season (315). Its 3-point percentage (.403) was the third best in Purdue history and the highest percentage since the 1987-88 season.
Purdue also finished 13th nationally in scoring margin, 17th in assist/turnover ratio, 18th in rebound margin and 27th in free throw percentage. The Boilermakers shot 75.7 percent from the free throw line during the season, the third-best percentage in school history.
Individually, Caleb Swanigan led the country in total rebounds (436) and double-doubles (28) and was second in rebounds per game (12.5) and defensive rebounds per game (9.7). He also finished 33rd in free throws made (164), 43rd in total points (646) and 4th in free throw attempts (210).
Dakota Mathias was 40th in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.56).
Purdue had several players rank high on the single-season records list as well.
Points: Caleb Swanigan (15th; 646)
Rebounds: Caleb Swanigan (1st; 436)
Rebound Average: Caleb Swanigan (5th; 12.5)
3-Pointers Made: Dakota Mathias (11th; 72)
3-Point Percentage: Dakota Mathias (7th; .453)
3-Point Percentage: Caleb Swanigan (9th; .447)
Free Throws Made: Caleb Swanigan (14th; 164)
Assist/Turnover Ratio: P.J. Thompson (2nd; 3.92) – not enough assists to qualify for NCAA list