Nebraska men’s basketball will finish up a two-game road swing when the Huskers play at Purdue on Sunday at 11 a.m. CT.
The Cornhuskers (12-3, 2-2 Big Ten) will tip off with the Boilermakers (12-4, 4-1) on Big Ten Network with Brandon Gaudin and Stephen Bardo on the call. The game will also be carried on the Huskers Radio Network with Kent Pavelka and Jake Muhleisen.
The Huskers are 2-0 versus ranked opponents this season, including a win at Creighton, and 3-1 at neutral sites.
Purdue’s Mackey Arena is one of if not the toughest home court environment in the country.
“It’s going to be incredibly important to stay mentally tough this entire game,” Coach Fred Hoiberg said. “This is the loudest arena that we’re going to play in all year, and it’s going start to finish. There’s no lulls in Mackey. It’s one of the true great environments in college basketball.
Since the 2021-22 season, Purdue owns a 54-3 (.947) record in Mackey Arena. The 94.7 winning percentage is the second-best nationally (Houston; .951).
The contest will be just Purdue’s third home game in the last 34 days. The Boilermakers have been excellent in January. Since the start of the 2022-23 season, they own a 19-2 record in January, having won nine straight games. The nine-game winning streak in the month is the fourth-longest nationally (Saint Mary’s, 24; Vermont,13; McNeese State, 10).
Top 15s
Despite the loss to Iowa on Tuesday, the Huskers rank 14th in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency according to KenPom. The Boilermakers are 11th in offensive efficiency and have the fourth-toughest strength of schedule in the country.
“Purdue, if they have 35 possessions in the first half, they can run 30 different sets, so it’s not a game you can go through every play,” Hoiberg said. “There have been teams we’ve played against where they have the right things they run, they’re really good at it. Purdue is going to run something different pretty much every time down the floor.”
Despite the 97-87 overtime loss at Iowa Tuesday, Nebraska held the Hawkeyes to their lowest home point total in regulation (76) and currently ranks second in the Big Ten in field goal percentage defense (38.8) and seventh in scoring defense (66.7 points per game).
“We’re a much better defensive team than we were a year ago, and we just have to keep growing and making strides,” Hoiberg said. “Our first-half defense against Iowa was off the charts. Second-half and into overtime, it was not. It’s just the consistency, the 40-minute game that you have to play to win in this league, especially on the road.”
Purdue ranks sixth nationally in assists to field goals made at 64.6%.
Scouting Purdue
The Boilermakers are an all-time 8-0 versus Nebraska in West Lafayette and hold a series advantage of 14-5.
Purdue’s starting backcourt of Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer are 75-15 since their arrival at Purdue, starting every game of their tenure. The 75 wins since their arrival are the third most nationally (Connecticut, 80; Houston, 76).
Smith is the only player in America with 225 points, 125 assists and 75 rebounds this season. He is on pace to become the first player since Loyola Marymount’s Terrell Lowery (1990-91) to average 15.0 points, 8.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds and shoot over 40% from 3-point range.
Post Trey Kaufman-Renn is one of two players nationally to average 17.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting at least 60% from the field. He has scored in double figures in all 16 games this season.
Key Factors
Nebraska must find a way to rebound from the tough road loss at Iowa in one of the toughest places to play in the country. A quick start and staying in the moment through runs and droughts will be key.
The Huskers should match up well in the backcourt with their size and versatility. Defending the 3-point line and keeping Smith and Loyer in check will be important.
Purdue has an 18.8-second average length of possession, good for 318th in the country. Transition baskets are likely very important in this one. Nebraska needs to find a way to push the pace because the Boilermakers are very good in their offensive sets.
