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Purdue’s first sport of 2026 became a dominant street victory at Wisconsin as the Boilers defeated the Badgers 89-73. With the victory, Braden Smith broke the B1G profession assists file beforehand held by Cassius Winston for the final a number of years. Purdue moved to 3-0 in the early levels of the B1G race with a 3 sport stretch in opposition to Washington, Penn State, and #25 Iowa all at Mackey Arena.
Let’s take a fast take a look at the sport in opposition to Wisconsin ‘Behind the Numbers.’
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893
With his 12 assists in opposition to Wisconsin, Braden Smith’s profession assists of 893 turns into the gold customary for the B1G. With 9:22 left in the second half, Smith discovered Oscar Cluff underneath the hoop for a straightforward layup that gave him the B1G file. That handed Michigan State’s Cassius Winston and moved Smith to #19 in NCAA History, simply 184 in need of the file held by Bobby Hurley (1,076).
20.9
Along with Braden Smith main the nation in assists per sport at 9.6, Purdue clocks itself in at fifth total in the nation with 20.9 assists per sport. The Boilers are on tempo to interrupt their program file of 720 whole group assists they achieved throughout their Final Four run a number of seasons in the past. To present what sort of offensive effectivity Purdue is working in, the Boilers had 22 group assists whereas Wisconsin had simply 7. At their tempo, Purdue would get to 711 assists in simply 34 video games (the minimal they might play this season) however would shatter their file by practically 100 in the event that they get to 39 video games total this season (B1G Championship & the Elite 8).
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30%
Over the final a number of video games, it has positively appeared that Loyer goes via some issues together with his leap shot behind the arc. Plenty of that has to do with the excessive stage of capturing he has established for himself however the numbers again up that battle. Over the final seven video games, Loyer has shot simply 30% from behind the arc (15/50). That’s would usually be a problem however Loyer has continued to point out confidence in his shot and a willingness and talent to get into the lane and end at the rim. That has led to Loyer nonetheless being an efficient scorer with 19 and 20 in the final two video games.
49.4
Loyer has by no means actually struggled offensively throughout his 4 seasons at Purdue. He has been certainly one of the greatest shooters since he stepped on campus however has developed into a 3 stage scorer this season with the skill to complete close to the rim. That was one thing he simply appeared to essentially battle with up till this season.
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Over the final a number of years, Fletch has taken it proper on the chin in terms of struggling defensively. Fans appeared to position him squarely in the crosshairs for these struggles final season with groups seemingly going proper at him at key moments. It turned very clear although that Loyer improved his energy in the off season and that has very clearly helped offensively but additionally defensively. Loyer seems he could have a profession excessive in rebounds, blocks, and is making a heavy impression on the defensive finish.
College Basketball Analytics has a person internet scores stat and Loyer is at the prime of most impactful gamers in the B1G. (*89*) impactful? His +49.4 whole internet ranking is greater than seven factors increased than Yaxel Lendeborg from Michigan. That’s simply unimaginable and reveals the impression Loyer has when he continuously will get ignored for Smith and TKR.
3
Since their early season struggles rebounding the ball, Purdue has clearly cleaned up that a part of their sport. In truth, the Boilers had been outrebounded of their first two video games of the season once they have been with out TKR. His return has clearly made a distinction as the Boilers had outrebounded each opponent till their sport in opposition to the Badgers. That means in fourteen video games this season, Purdue has been outrebounded simply 3 occasions. It is a spotlight that not often doesn’t make it onto CMP’s white board earlier than a sport and usually is a purpose why a group wins. In a sport the place Purdue shot the ball nicely and type of relaxed an excessive amount of as soon as they have been up 25, it didn’t come again to harm them. That is perhaps as a result of….
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7
… Purdue solely turned the ball over 7 occasions. That is the second lowest of the season with the lowest of 5 coming in opposition to Oakland. Purdue has taken a giant step ahead in caring for the ball from final 12 months as Purdue is averaging simply 10 turnovers per sport, good for the thirtieth in the nation (the lowest is 8.7 from Temple). That focus is one other certainly one of the foremost issues that stays on CMP’s white board for the easy proven fact that if Purdue doesn’t flip the ball over to present additional possessions to their opponent whereas sustaining their stage of offensive effectivity, Purdue is a troublesome group to beat.
7…once more
Once once more the offensive output for the Boilers proved arduous to deal with as all 5 starters have been in double figures. Through the first 14 video games of the season, Purdue has had 7 video games the place no less than 5 gamers have scored in double figures. The essential piece appears to be that since the loss to Iowa State, Purdue has achieved that in 4 of the 5 video games with eight totally different gamers. The solely gamers to not hit double figures that see common minutes has been Omar Mayer and it appears as if the extremely regarded true freshman is because of a giant step ahead offensively.
33.45
Purdue goes to hold its’ hat not on overwhelming a group with tempo however they’ll put on a group down with their effectivity. That’s what has made them the adjusted offensive effectivity leaders via fourteen video games this season at 129.3 (factors scored per 100 possessions & adjusted for opponents). When you additionally keep in mind the huge leap defensively Purdue has taken with a Kenpom defensive adjusted effectivity of 95.8 (similar metrics as offensive), Purdue is at a +33.45 for his or her internet ranking of the two. That is the greatest mark Purdue has ever had since the every day archives on Kenpom turned accessible in 2012 (that 2010 group might have a greater mark however we are able to’t ensure).
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Thanks to Cobra Stats for this data pull!
3-0
Purdue moved to 3-0 to start out the B1G season which is the first time that has occurred since they began 12-0 again in 2017-2018 season. With all of Purdue’s success over the final 4 seasons, this subsequent one might sound a bit arduous to imagine on the floor. Think again to slips Purdue has had in December the final a number of seasons in opposition to Rutgers, Penn State, and Northwestern and the terrible early season losses flood again after being blocked from reminiscence. Purdue has an opportunity to essentially run that file up with video games developing at residence in opposition to Washington, Penn State, and #25 Iowa.
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That Iowa sport begins a stretch that’s brutal although with a visit to #24 USC and UCLA after which video games in opposition to #20 Illinois and Indiana. That isn’t the most troublesome stretch both with Purdue having to play #13 Nebraska, #25 Iowa, #2 Michigan, Indiana, and #9 MSU in 5 consecutive video games.
100
The victory in Wisconsin was the one centesimal victory for the senior class of TKR, Smith, and Loyer. That is the eighth quickest class to achieve that mark in B1G historical past, having performed it in simply 124 video games. Their file of 100-24 might make them the greatest senior class total file if they’ll seize 16 extra wins as final years senior class had a program file of 116. That could be a troublesome achievement however not completely out of the realm of risk if Purdue could make lengthy runs in the BTT and NCAAT the place they may have as many as 26 video games left on the schedule.
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