GAMEDAY INFORMATION -- GAME 13
[1] Purdue (11-1) vs. Eastern Kentucky (4-8)
Friday, December 29, 2023
7 p.m. ET | West Lafayette, Ind.
Mackey Arena | 14,876
TELEVISION: Big Ten Network (Matt Schumacker, Rapheal Davis)
RADIO: Purdue Global Radio Network (Rob Blackman, Bobby Riddell)
THE NOTES TO KNOW
• The No. 1-ranked Purdue Boilermakers close out their non-conference schedule under the Friday Night Lights of Mackey Arena when Eastern Kentucky visits to wrap up the 2023 calendar year. Purdue is aiming for its third straight unbeaten, non-conference record, entering the contest with a 10-0 record in non-conference play against a schedule that ranks eighth nationally.
• Purdue was voted No. 1 in the AP Top 25 poll on Christmas Day for the second straight week and for the third time during the 2023-24 season. With its No. 1 ranking this week, Purdue has now been ranked in the top 5 of the AP poll for 24 straight weeks, the longest-active streak in America by 11 weeks (Kansas - 13). It has been ranked in the top 3 in 18 of those 24 weeks.
• The 24 straight weeks ranked in the top 5 is the fifth-longest streak in Big Ten history, but the second-longest streak in the last 45 years.
• Through games played Dec. 26, Purdue owns the most quad-1 wins (5), most quad-1 and 2 wins (7) and most quad-1, 2 and 3 wins (9). Colorado State also has nine quad-1, 2 and 3 wins, while Florida Atlantic has eight-such wins. Those two teams have combined for four quad-1 wins and seven quad-3 victories.
• Purdue has won 34 straight non-conference, regular-season games, the longest streak for any program in the country in almost 10 years and the fifth-longest streak in the last 30 years. Purdue is attempting to become the third team in the last 50 years (Syracuse -- 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12; Duke -- 1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94) to have three straight unbeaten regular seasons against non-conference opponents.
• Purdue's 34-game non-conference, regular-season win streak is the longest in the country by 19 games (Houston - 15).
• Purdue has scored at least 87 points in six straight games, marking the first time in school history that it has done that. Over the last six games, Purdue is averaging 93.0 points with an offensive efficiency of 130.1 (130.1 points scored per 100 possessions). Purdue has also scored 90 or more points in three straight games for the first time since December 2000. The last time Purdue scored 90 or more points in four straight games was during the 1968-69 season (done twice).
• Purdue owns a 40-7 record (.851) since the start of last season, tied for the fifth-most wins nationally in that span. Twenty-nine of the 40 wins have come against teams ranked in the KenPom top-100, including 23 against teams ranked in the top-50. The seven losses during that span are the third-fewest in the country (Houston - 4; Florida Atlantic - 6).
• Since having 17 turnovers against Northwestern, Purdue is averaging just 9.8 turnovers per game while averaging 23.3 assists per game (2.38 assist / turnover ratio). Purdue has 39 turnovers in that span, while forcing 56 turnovers during the four-game stretch.
• Purdue is shooting 52.8 percent from the field and 41.8 percent from long distance in home games, outscoring foes 92.3 to 60.8 per game.
• Matt Painter needs one victory for 450 in his career (25 at Southern Illinois; 424 at Purdue). He moved past Lou Henson into fourth place on the Big Ten's all-time wins list following the win over Jacksonville.
• Zach Edey has moved into second on the school's career rebounding chart (972) and is now ninth in points (1,821) and 5th in blocks (177). He needs 179 points, 28 rebounds and 23 blocks to become the third player in NCAA history (Patrick Ewing, David Robinson) to have scored 2,000 career points with 1,000 rebounds and 200 blocks while shooting at least 60.0 percent from the field.
• Zach Edey is averaging just 20.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists over his last two games, and hasn't had a double-double in the last three games. It's the longest streak without a double-double since Feb. 20 to March 1, 2022 (sophomore year), showcasing his dominance.
• Purdue is in search for its 26th Big Ten Championship, already owning the most Big Ten titles in league history. Should Purdue win the Big Ten title in 2024, it will mark its fourth title in the last eight seasons and back-to-back titles for the first time since 1994-95-96.