The Michigan Wolverines (11-8, 5-3) will host the Purdue Boilermakers (19-1, 8-1) on Thursday night in a Big Ten showdown. Last season these teams split their two head-to-head meetings straight up with Purdue winning 82-76 at home on February 5 and Michigan winning in Ann Arbor 82-58. The Wolverines are 9-0-1 against the spread in their last 10 head-to-head games against Purdue.
Purdue is rated No. 5 in the KenPom rankings. They have faced the 41st strength of schedule and are fourth in adjusted offensive efficiency and 16th on the defensive end. The Boilermakers are ranked No. 1 in both the AP and Coaches Poll.
Road warriors.
Back at it Thursday. pic.twitter.com/11o2otOU8g
— Purdue Men's Basketball (@BoilerBall) January 24, 2023
Purdue opened the season with 13 straight wins before losing their only game, 65-64 on January 2 to Rutgers. The Boilermakers have now won their last six games, most recently beating Maryland 58-55 on Sunday but did not cover as a nine-point favorite. Leading the way is the Naismith College Player of the Year favorite, 7'4 center Zach Edey (21.5 ppg, 13.2 rebounds, 2.3 blocks). Supporting Edey are four players who are shooting better than 34% from three. Fletcher Loyer is averaging 12.8 ppg and shooting 36.4% from three, followed by freshman guard Braden Smith with 9.9 ppg and a team-best 90.3% from the free-throw line, 44.6% from three, 4.2 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.