Purdue Concludes Non-Conference Play Monday Against Kent State

Purdue University will conclude its non-conference play on December 29, 2023, by hosting Kent State University in a highly anticipated matchup. This game will take place at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana, starting at 7 PM ET. Purdue, with a strong record of 11-1, is aiming for its tenth non-conference victory, a feat it has achieved four times in the last five seasons.

Game Details

• Date: December 29, 2023
• Time: 7 PM ET
• Venue: Mackey Arena (Capacity: 14,876)
• Online Streaming: B1G+
• Radio: Purdue Global Radio Network

Historical Context

This matchup marks the first meeting between Purdue and Kent State since December 1971. In a previous encounter, Purdue won 82-75 in Kent, allowing them to maintain a series advantage of 2-1. The only other matchup occurred in December 1969, where Purdue also took the win.

Purdue’s Recent Performance

Purdue is coming off a convincing 88-60 victory against No. 21 Auburn at the Indy Classic. Over their last three games, they have limited opponents to under 60 points and maintained a shooting percentage against of just 34.9%. The Boilermakers are notably efficient on both offense and defense, ranking in the top 20 nationally for both metrics.

Statistical Highlights

Key statistics from Purdue’s performance include:

• Assists per Game: 20.4 (7th nationally)
• Assist/Turnover Ratio: 1.96 (4th nationally)
• 3-Point Percentage: 40.1% (9th nationally)
• Rebound Margin: +11.4 (11th nationally)
• Field Goal Percentage: 50.9% (22nd nationally)

Purdue’s players are also performing individually at a high level. Braden Smith leads the nation in assists per game, while Fletcher Loyer excels in free throw percentage.

Notable Return on the Sidelines

Former Purdue player Tommy Luce, known as the “King of Mackey,” will return to the sidelines as an assistant coach for Kent State. His presence adds an additional layer of intrigue to this exciting matchup.

Purdue’s record of success and statistical prowess makes them a formidable opponent as they look to extend their winning streak against Mid-American Conference teams to nine games. The match against Kent State is not only crucial for Purdue’s season but also holds historical significance as they look to create new memories in an era of strong basketball heritage.