Overview
- Tipoff is 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT) at Coleman Coliseum with TV coverage on ESPN2 and streaming on the ESPN app and Fubo.
- Alabama enters off a 103-96 road win over then–No. 5 St. John's at Madison Square Garden, led by 25 points from Labaron Philon Jr.
- Purdue slid to No. 2 after a closer-than-expected win over Oakland, with Fletcher Loyer stressing improved defense despite a 2-0 start.
- The spotlight falls on Purdue guards Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer, a four-year starting duo highlighted by Smith's Big Ten assist record.
- Purdue has taken the last two meetings and leads the all-time series 7-3, as Alabama begins a tough stretch that also includes Illinois and Gonzaga.