Longhorns and Boilermakers Have High Hopes This Season
The Purdue Boilermakers play host to the Texas Longhorns on Saturday night and look to continue one of the nations longest home winning streaks. No. 22 Purdue routed Green Bay 79-57 to win their 18th consecutive home game. That is the fifth-longest active streak in Division I. It also notched their seventh straight home-opening victory. They also look to continue their mastery over their opponents at Mackey Arena by knocking off the Longhorns for the first time since 1999.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1; LINE: Purdue O/U: 134.
“We want to play quality opponents … and you really want to drive up the value of your schedule,” Purdue coach Matt Painter told reporters. “It can really help you and the thing we try to do is to play teams that are different.”
Texas opened the new season with a convincing 69-45 victory over Northern Colorado on Tuesday. The Longhorns limited the Bears to 27.3 percent shooting from the field en route to their 18th-consecutive home-opening victory. The new defensive philosophy brought in by assistant coach Luke Yaklich paid instant dividends. Yaklich arrived in the off-season after two successful years at Michigan. Texas will make its first trip to West Lafayette after beating the Boilermakers 72-68 in Austin last season. The Longhorns will be looking to knock off a ranked opponent on the road in non-conference play for the first time since Nov. 30, 2014.
This, That, and a Dart Throw
Texas has started the season 1-0. Andrew Jones made a triumphant return to the court as he scored a career-high 20 points in the win over Northern Colorado. It was his first extended action since he was diagnosed with leukemia in Jan. 2018. “It was a great feeling just to get back out there officially and be back with my teammates,” Jones told reporters. “I didn’t have any jitters and I wasn’t nervous but it was more trusting the work I had put in.” Courtney Ramey added 16 points and 10 rebounds to cement the second double-double of his career. Gerald Liddell missed the game with a concussion and is questionable for Saturday’s clash.
Purdue has also started the season 1-0. Jahaad Proctor poured in a game-high 26 points and added five rebounds against Green Bay. It was his first game for the Boilermakers after transferring from High Point. Matt Haarms is one of two returning starters from last season’s Elite 8 squad. He chipped in 16 points and blocked seven shots against the Phoenix. That is the most by a Purdue player since A.J. Hammons finished with eight blocks on Feb. 9, 2016. Eric Hunter Jr. only started one game for the Boilermakers last season. He made his presence felt as he added a career-high 15 points and six assists. Nojel Eastern injured his hand and his status for Saturday’s game is unknown.
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The Dart Throw: Purdue 72, Longhorns 67
College Basketball Trends
Purdue Boilermakers
- Trend Over is 19-9 in Boilermakers last 28 games as a home favorite of 7.0-12.5. Hit % 67.90% (28) O/U 19|9 Push 0 W/L
- Over is 12-4 in Boilermakers last 16 games as a home underdog. 75.00% (16) 12|4 0
- Over is 6-1-1 in Boilermakers last 8 games as a home favorite of 0.5-6.5. 85.70% (8) 6|1 1
- Over is 4-1 in Boilermakers last 5 games as an underdog of 13.0 or greater. 80.00% (5) 4|1 0
Texas Longhorns
- Trend Under is 12-4 in Longhorns last 16 games as a road favorite of 0.5-6.5. Hit % 75.00% (16) O/U 4|12 Push 0 W/L
- Under is 37-16 in Longhorns last 53 games as a favorite of 13.0 or greater. 69.80% (53) 16|37 0
- Under is 18-7-1 in Longhorns last 26 games as a favorite of 7.0-12.5. 72.00% (26) 7|18 1
- Over is 5-2 in Longhorns last 7 games as a road favorite of 13.0 or greater. 71.40% (7) 5|2 0
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