GAMEDAY INFORMATION -- GAME 31
[18] Purdue (21-9, 13-6) vs. [rv] Illinois (19-11, 11-8)
Friday, March 7, 2025 | 8 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. CT
Champaign, Illinois | State Farm Center (15,500)
TELEVISION: FOX (Jason Benetti, Robbie Hummel)
RADIO: Purdue Global Radio Network (Rob Blackman, Bobby Riddell)
ABOUT GAMEDAY
• The No. 18 Purdue men's basketball team closes out the regular season Friday, making the short jaunt to Champaign, Illinois, to face the Fighting Illini at the State Farm Center. The Boilermakers can claim a double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament with a victory, but would need significant help with a loss to the Illini. Illinois will play in Thursday's second round, no matter the outcome.
THE KEY NOTES
THE NUMBERS (AS OF MARCH 6): A look at Purdue's numbers entering the Rutgers contest.
• NCAA NET: 15th
• Quad-1: 7-8 | Quad 2: 8-1 | Quad 3: 2-0 | Quad 4: 4-0
• KenPom: 12th | Off. Efficiency: 8th | Def. Efficiency: 51st
• Strength of Schedule (KenPom): 7th
• Associated Press: 18th | USA Today Coaches Poll: 18th
• BracketMatrix.com (Seed): 4 seed
THE FINAL TIME: Purdue travels to Illinois for the Illini's Senior Day for the second straight season. The Boilermakers topped Illinois 77-71 in last year's road finale on March 5, 2024.
WHAT'S AT STAKE: A win over Illinois will give Purdue a double-bye in next week's Big Ten Tournament. While a loss doesn't end the chances of a double-bye, the Boilermakers would need a lot of help to make that happen.
• Purdue has had a double-bye in every tournament that has been played since the league went to 14 teams before the 2014-15 season. Purdue would have played on Thursday in the 2020 Tournament, but it was canceled by CoVid-19.
• In addition, a win would give Purdue 14 Big Ten victories for the fourth straight season, something never previously done in Big Ten history.
THE STANDARD: Purdue has won 72 conference games over the last five seasons, the most in Big Ten history.
• In addition, the 59 wins during the last four campaigns tied last year's team for the most wins by a senior class in league history.
• Since Matt Painter's arrival at Purdue 20 years ago, Purdue owns the Big Ten's best yearly record with the exception of this year (MSU), the last 14 years (MSU), 17 years (MSU) and 20 years (Wisc.).
THE LEADERS: Purdue's has shot at least 50.0 percent from the field in 13 of 19 Big Ten contests. In league games only, Purdue leads the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.503), while USC is second at 48.8 percent.
• Purdue leads the Big Ten (league games only) in 3-point percentage (.384) and steals (7.5) and is second in turnover magin (+2.79).
• In league games only, Trey Kaufman-Renn is second in the Big Ten in scoring, while Braden Smith leads in assists again and is second in steals.
• Braden Smith's 8.6 assists per game average in league play would rank as the highest in Big Ten history (2019 - Cassius Winston, 7.9).
HOT OFFENSE: Purdue has found its offensive touch the last two games, producing at 1.44 points per possession, averaging 88.0 points and shooting 54.2 percent from the field and 50.0 percent (29-of-58) from 3-point range.
• Since January 1, Purdue has the nation's sixth-most efficient offense.
THE RECORD-SETTERS: Purdue players have set long-standing career records in the three major statistical categories during the last two seasons.
• Zach Edey broke a 54-year scoring record a year ago, previously set by Rick Mount in 1970. Edey broke a 44-year rebounding record a year ago, previously set by Joe Barry Carroll in 1980. And Braden Smith broke a 48-year assists record, previously set by Bruce Parkinson in 1977.
ONE OF ONE: Braden Smith became the first player in NCAA history to have scored at least 1,250 points, dish out 700 assists and grab 500 rebounds by the end of his junior campaign.
500-POINT PACE: Trey Kaufman-Renn (583), Braden Smith (488) and Fletcher Loyer (423) are on pace to become the second trio in school history to have each scored 500 points (2017-18 season).
[18] Purdue (21-9, 13-6) vs. [rv] Illinois (19-11, 11-8)
Friday, March 7, 2025 | 8 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. CT
Champaign, Illinois | State Farm Center (15,500)
TELEVISION: FOX (Jason Benetti, Robbie Hummel)
RADIO: Purdue Global Radio Network (Rob Blackman, Bobby Riddell)
ABOUT GAMEDAY
• The No. 18 Purdue men's basketball team closes out the regular season Friday, making the short jaunt to Champaign, Illinois, to face the Fighting Illini at the State Farm Center. The Boilermakers can claim a double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament with a victory, but would need significant help with a loss to the Illini. Illinois will play in Thursday's second round, no matter the outcome.
THE KEY NOTES
THE NUMBERS (AS OF MARCH 6): A look at Purdue's numbers entering the Rutgers contest.
• NCAA NET: 15th
• Quad-1: 7-8 | Quad 2: 8-1 | Quad 3: 2-0 | Quad 4: 4-0
• KenPom: 12th | Off. Efficiency: 8th | Def. Efficiency: 51st
• Strength of Schedule (KenPom): 7th
• Associated Press: 18th | USA Today Coaches Poll: 18th
• BracketMatrix.com (Seed): 4 seed
THE FINAL TIME: Purdue travels to Illinois for the Illini's Senior Day for the second straight season. The Boilermakers topped Illinois 77-71 in last year's road finale on March 5, 2024.
WHAT'S AT STAKE: A win over Illinois will give Purdue a double-bye in next week's Big Ten Tournament. While a loss doesn't end the chances of a double-bye, the Boilermakers would need a lot of help to make that happen.
• Purdue has had a double-bye in every tournament that has been played since the league went to 14 teams before the 2014-15 season. Purdue would have played on Thursday in the 2020 Tournament, but it was canceled by CoVid-19.
• In addition, a win would give Purdue 14 Big Ten victories for the fourth straight season, something never previously done in Big Ten history.
THE STANDARD: Purdue has won 72 conference games over the last five seasons, the most in Big Ten history.
• In addition, the 59 wins during the last four campaigns tied last year's team for the most wins by a senior class in league history.
• Since Matt Painter's arrival at Purdue 20 years ago, Purdue owns the Big Ten's best yearly record with the exception of this year (MSU), the last 14 years (MSU), 17 years (MSU) and 20 years (Wisc.).
THE LEADERS: Purdue's has shot at least 50.0 percent from the field in 13 of 19 Big Ten contests. In league games only, Purdue leads the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.503), while USC is second at 48.8 percent.
• Purdue leads the Big Ten (league games only) in 3-point percentage (.384) and steals (7.5) and is second in turnover magin (+2.79).
• In league games only, Trey Kaufman-Renn is second in the Big Ten in scoring, while Braden Smith leads in assists again and is second in steals.
• Braden Smith's 8.6 assists per game average in league play would rank as the highest in Big Ten history (2019 - Cassius Winston, 7.9).
HOT OFFENSE: Purdue has found its offensive touch the last two games, producing at 1.44 points per possession, averaging 88.0 points and shooting 54.2 percent from the field and 50.0 percent (29-of-58) from 3-point range.
• Since January 1, Purdue has the nation's sixth-most efficient offense.
THE RECORD-SETTERS: Purdue players have set long-standing career records in the three major statistical categories during the last two seasons.
• Zach Edey broke a 54-year scoring record a year ago, previously set by Rick Mount in 1970. Edey broke a 44-year rebounding record a year ago, previously set by Joe Barry Carroll in 1980. And Braden Smith broke a 48-year assists record, previously set by Bruce Parkinson in 1977.
ONE OF ONE: Braden Smith became the first player in NCAA history to have scored at least 1,250 points, dish out 700 assists and grab 500 rebounds by the end of his junior campaign.
500-POINT PACE: Trey Kaufman-Renn (583), Braden Smith (488) and Fletcher Loyer (423) are on pace to become the second trio in school history to have each scored 500 points (2017-18 season).