GAME NOTES: The Purdue Boilermakers look to spoil their conference rivals three-game winning streak as they pay a visit to Carver-Hawkeye Arena to take on Iowa in the Big Ten opener for each squad.
Purdue has won eight of the last 10 meetings with Iowa, including three of the last four in Iowa City, to take an 83-71 lead in the all-time series. The Hawkeyes ended Purdue's eight game winning streak in the rivalry in last year's regular season finale.
The Boilermakers enter tonight's matchup with a 10-3 record to mark the fourth-straight year they have won at least 10 games prior to opening up conference play. Matt Painter's team dominated IPFW its last time out, winning 81-56 in a game in which six Boilermakers scored in double-figures but none finished with more than 11 points. Purdue's team effort in the win was charged by 53.3 percent shooting from the field. The Boilermakers are putting in work on the defensive end as they are holding opponents to 59.6 ppg this season, which ranks fourth in the conference.
After missing parts of the last two years with injuries, Robbie Hummel has returned to lead Purdue. The senior forward paces the team and is ranked third in the Big Ten in scoring with 17.5 ppg on 42.1 percent shooting from the field and 40.3 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Ryne Smith and Lewis Jackson are vital ingredients to the Boilermakers' success as well with averages of 11.0 and 10.8 ppg, respectively. Jackson also leads the team and is sixth in the conference in assists. With Hummel excelling at the forward position, Smith at guard, and Jackson running the show, Purdue has the ability to hurt opponents in a variety of ways.
Purdue is going to have to find a way to slow down the red hot Hawkeyes, who have won their last three games. Iowa's 8-5 non-conference record is largely due to its high powered offense. Fran McCaffrey's team is ranked 34th in the nation and third in the Big Ten in scoring with 78.1 ppg. During its winning streak, the team has averaged 89.3 ppg, 20.7 apg, 10 spg, and seven blocks per game while shooting 51.6 percent from the floor. Iowa knocked down 25-of-31 free throws to win their last game 81-72 over Boise State.
Iowa is led by the trio of Matt Gatens, Roy Devyn Marble, and Melsahn Basabe. Gatens is leading the squad with 14.0 ppg on 46.8 percent field goal shooting. The senior guard has scored in double-figures in four-straight games coming into tonight. Devyn Marble has scored in double-figures in six-straight games, and had a very impressive outing with 18 points, eight rebounds, and five assists in the team's win over Boise State. Basabe is the team's top rebounder with six rebounds per game and recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds in his last outing.
Although Iowa has a lot of momentum coming into this one, Hummel and company are going to be a very tough test. Purdue should be able to slow down Iowa's recent offensive surge, en route to the win.
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