Overview
- Tipoff is 5:30 p.m. CT at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, with streaming on Peacock following Northwestern vs. Butler.
- Purdue enters 10-1 at No. 6 against an 8-3 Auburn ranked in the low 20s, a year after the Tigers won 87-69 in Birmingham.
- Head coach Steven Pearl says Auburn cannot replicate last year’s defensive plan because this roster lacks the same size and rim protection.
- Purdue brings one of the nation’s most efficient offenses, a 42.4% offensive rebounding rate, and top-tier assist-to-turnover metrics.
- Key matchups feature Auburn scorers Keyshawn Hall and Tahaad Pettiford testing Purdue’s on-ball defense and lineup choices on the wing.