Meet the Opponent: Purdue Aims To Sweep Series Against Indiana, Continue Title Pursuit

Purdue is having its way in Big Ten play again, posting a 10-2 conference record and seven consecutive wins. Led by reigning National Player of the Year Zach Edey and plenty of 3-point shooters, this could be the year Purdue breaks through in the NCAA Tournament. Here's a full breakdown of Indiana's Saturday opponent, the Purdue Boilermakers.

Indiana swept the in-state rivalry series against Purdue last season, but the Boilermakers have a chance to flip the script Saturday at 8 p.m. ET at Mackey Arena.

Purdue handled the Hoosiers 87-66 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Jan. 16, led by Zach Edey with 33 points and 14 rebounds. Coach Matt Painter's squad is much more than just Edey, though, as guards Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer have improved as sophomores alongside transfer Lance Jones.

Here's a full breakdown of the Boilermakers. 

Key returners

(2023-24 stats)

• C Zach Edey: 23.1 ppg, 11.7 rpg, 2.3 bpg, 63.1 FG%
• G Braden Smith: 12.4 ppg, 7.3 apg, 42.1 3-pt FG%
• G Fletcher Loyer: 11.3 ppg, 43.3 3-pt FG%
• F Mason Gillis: 6.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 48.4 3-pt FG%
• F Trey Kaufman-Renn: 6.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 50.5 FG%
• F Camden Heide (redshirt freshman): 3.2 ppg, 45.8 3-pt FG%
• F Caleb Furst: 2.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 46.7 FG%
• G Ethan Morton: 1.0 ppg, 1.4 apg, 24.1 FG%

Key departures

(2022-23 stats)

• G Brandon Newman: 6.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 31.0 3-pt FG%
• G David Jenkins Jr.: 3.9 ppg, 35.0 3-pt FG%

Key newcomers

(2023-24 stats)

• G Lance Jones (Southern Illinois transfer): 13.0 ppg, 2.5 apg, 36.4 3-pt FG%
• G Myles Colvin (No. 97 freshman): 4.3 ppg, 42.9 3-pt FG%

Schedule (21-2, 10-2 in Big Ten)

• W, 98-45 vs. Samford
• W, 87-57 vs. Morehead State
• W, 83-71 vs. Xavier
• W, 73-63 vs. Gonzaga (Maui Invitational)
• W, 71-67 vs. Tennessee (Maui Invitational)
• W, 78-75 vs. Marquette (Maui Invitational)
• W, 99-67 vs. Texas Southern
• L, 92-88 at Northwestern
• W, 87-68 vs. Iowa
• W, 92-86 vs. Alabama (in Toronto)
• W, 92-84 vs. Arizona (in Indianapolis)
• W, 100-57 vs. Jacksonville
• W, 80-53 vs. Eastern Kentucky
• W, 67-53 at Maryland
• W, 83-78 vs. Illinois
• L, 88-72 at Nebraska
• W, 95-78 vs. Penn State
• W, 87-66 at Indiana
• W, 84-70 at Iowa
• W, 99-67 vs. Michigan
• W, 68-60 at Rutgers
• W, 105-96 (OT) vs. Northwestern
• W, 75-69 at Wisconsin

Mike Woodson's history against Purdue

• L, 87-66 vs. Purdue on Jan. 16, 2024, at Assembly Hall
• W, 79-71 at Purdue on Feb. 25, 2023, at Mackey Arena
• W, 79-74 vs. Purdue on Feb. 4, 2023, at Assembly Hall
• L, 69-67 at Purdue on March 5, 2022, at Mackey Arena
• W, 68-65 vs. Purdue on Jan. 20, 2022, at Assembly Hall

Purdue Boilermakers head coach Matt Painter and guard Braden Smith (3) in the second half against the Indiana Hoosiers at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall / Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Strengths

It didn't seem possible, but Zach Edey has gotten even better during his senior season. The 7-foot-4 center is virtually unguardable, and he's the heavy favorite to become the first back-to-back National Player of the Year award winner since Virginia's Ralph Sampson, who won it three times from 1980-83. Edey has always been a dominant post player on offense, but his improved mobility has really helped Purdue's pick-and-roll defense. Edey also is a big reason Purdue ranks 10th in the country in free throw attempts per game.

Surrounding Edey is a plethora of dangerous 3-point shooters. Smith, Loyer, Gillis, Kaufman-Renn, Heide and Colvin all shoot at least 41% from 3-point range. Purdue's highest-volume shooter, Lance Jones, shoots 36.4% on 6.1 attempts per game and ranks fifth in the Big Ten in total 3-pointers made. The Boilermakers do a great job sharing the ball, evidenced by their seventh-highest assist rate nationwide. They also all crash the boards relentlessly, ranking 16th in the country in offensive rebounding percentage. UConn and Purdue, the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the most recent AP top-25 poll, respectively, are the only teams left with just two total losses and eight Quad 1 wins. Even more impressive, Purdue ranks first nationally in strength of schedule.

Weaknesses

It's hard to nitpick a team with a 21-2 overall record and 10-2 mark in Big Ten play. But in Purdue's losses, they've struggled with perimeter defense. At Nebraska, guards Keisei Tominaga and C.J. Wilcher combined to make 8-of-13 3-point attempts. At Northwestern, guards Boo Buie, Ty Berry and Ryan Langborg combined for 72 of the Wildcats' 91 points and made 9-of-15 3-point attempts. 

Northwestern turned the ball over just three times in that game, and Nebraska committed eight. For the season, Purdue ranks 333rd in the nation in opponent turnover percentage, meaning its defense doesn't force many turnovers – 10.1 per game, to be exact. That's offset to a certain extent by Purdue committing just 11.7 turnovers per game on the other end, but the Boilermakers rank 12th in the Big Ten in turnover margin. If there's a way to beat Purdue, it's by hitting a ton of threes and winning the turnover battle.

Season outlook

In all likelihood, Purdue is going to cruise to a second consecutive Big Ten regular season title and extend its record to 26 all-time. Wisconsin has lost three in a row, and Illinois will have to beat Purdue and get some help to claim the title. But aren't we past regular season conversations about Purdue at this point? That's meant as a compliment to the Boilermakers, who've been ranked No. 1 in the nation at some point in each of the last three seasons. They'll likely earn a second consecutive No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, where they'll look to avenge losses to No. 16, 15 and 13 seeds from the last three seasons. Purdue is looking for its first-ever national championship and first Final Four appearance since 1980, and this feels like the year to do it.

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