Game 10 Preview: #4 Purdue vs. Alabama
TORONTO — It’s back to non-conference play for fourth-ranked Purdue and another marquee non-conference opponent at that: Alabama. In Zach Edey‘s homecoming to his native Toronto, the Boilermakers and Crimson Tide meet as part of the Hall of Fame Series.
DETAILS: Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023 | 1:30 p.m. ET | TV: FOX (Jason Benetti, Robbie Hummel) | Radio: Purdue Radio Network
PURDUE (8-1, 1-1 B1G): ROSTER | SCHEDULE | STATS
ALABAMA (6-2): ROSTER | SCHEDULE | STATS
THREE THINGS ABOUT PURDUE
• Purdue scheduled this game for Edey to play in his home country, doing so before he’d even decided whether or not to return for his senior season. Alabama signed on in part to it having a native Canadian, Charles Bediako, at the time. Bediako went pro, though.
• This will be Purdue’s third competition vs. an SEC opponent already this season, as the Boilermakers played a charity exhibition at Arkansas — an OT loss — then beat Tennessee at the Maui Invitational in Honolulu.
• Purdue’s averaging more than a dozen second-chance points per game this season. It’s grabbed double-digit offensive rebounds five times. Those numbers should be framed against the Boilermakers’ 46.8-percent shooting collectively. Purdue’s currently fourth nationally in offensive efficiency, per KenPom.
• Alabama will apply full-court pressure, the sort of thing Purdue has handled well to this point this season.
A FEW THINGS ABOUT THIS GAME
• Alabama is No. 2 nationally in offensive efficiency, by virtue of relying almost exclusively on shots at the rim — 46 percent of their field goal attempts, according to Synergy Sports — and threes, on which the Tide shoot around 41 percent. ‘Bama shoots 57 percent on two-point shots.
• Leading scorers Mark Sears and Aaron Estrada, both formers transfers from Ohio and Hofstra, respectively, are shooting 51.5 and 44.7 percent from three, respectively, but their quickness will be one of Purdue’s biggest defensive challenges of the season thus far.
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• Big man Grant Nelson, a transfer from North Dakota State, is 6-foot-11, 230 pounds, but one of those unicorn types who can handle the ball and shoot threes. He’ll be a handful for Purdue’s forwards. He has been battling injury but is expected to play.
Senior big man Nick Pringle, who Alabama will need against Edey, had been suspended, but has been reinstated.
• Alabama shoots an average of 23 free throws per game and makes 80 percent. Highlight that note.
• Defensively, the Tide allowed 92 points in a loss to Ohio State in Destin, then 85 to Clemson in a loss at home. Opponents are averaging 75 points
| CONTAIN THE DRIBBLE | POISE AND BALL SECURITY | BE PHYSICAL |
| Purdue’s got to keep the ball away from the rim and do it without fouling. Easier said than done. This may have to be a great help-defense game. | Alabama will guard 94 feet. Hasn’t affected Purdue much thus far, but it has to keep at it and make good decisions when the ball crosses mid-court. | Purdue’s got to be better guarding the perimeter, on and off the ball and playing through contact on offense. In this game, it should be the aggressor inside and on the glass. |
GOLDANDBLACK.COM PREDICTION: PURDUE 88, ALABAMA 80
We’re about to find out if Purdue’s good enough defensively to handle quickness and athleticism, but also sound enough offensively to not let quickness and athleticism go crazy.
Alabama will want to dictate pace and play a hundred miles per hour — 161 kilometers per hour, locally — but that wouldn’t be in Purdue’s best interests, most likely.
