Nov. 10, 2012

Purdue game notes

Tip: 2:05 p.m. ET
Television: Big Ten Digital Network (Hack/Goldberg).
Radio: Purdue Sports Network (Clisby/Blackman/Taylor/Scott).
National Radio: -
Rankings: -
Live Stats: GameTracker live stats are available through purduesports.com.

GAME STORYLINES
» Purdue will look to bounce back from a season-opening loss to Bucknell when it hosts Hofstra on Sunday in the finale of the 2K Sports Classic benefitting Wounded Warrior Project West Lafayette Regional.

» Sunday's game will mark the first-ever meeting between the schools and the first of three scheduled contests against CAA teams for the Boilermakers this season.

» Purdue is 32-8 (.800) during the month of November in head coach Matt Painter's tenure.

» The Boilers are 99-17 (.853) at Mackey Arena under Painter's guidance.

» Sophomore Anthony Johnson will look to build upon an opening-night performance that saw him deal out a career-high nine assists without committing a turnover; the Chicago native also had eight points and five rebounds on the night.

» Forward Donnie Hale scored 15 in the season opener to pace a freshman group that collectively accounted for nearly 60 percent of Purdue's scoring and 65 percent of the Boilers' rebounding output against Bucknell.

» Painter utilized 11 of the 13 Purdue players dressed in the season opener on Friday, often rotating frontcourt players based on matchups; three Purdue players - Anthony Johnson, Ronnie Johnson and D.J. Byrd - each saw more than 35 minutes of playing time.

» After leading the nation with an average of just 8.7 turnovers per game last season, the Boilermakers were guilty of just nine miscues in the season opener.

» The Boilers scored 30 of their 65 points against Bucknell in the paint, and will look to continue to develop their interior offense on Sunday against a Pride team that features only three players who stand 6-8 or taller.

» Purdue totaled 10 offensive rebounds and outscored Bucknell, 12-4, in second-chance points on Friday night.

» Byrd is already ranked 15th on Purdue's career chart with 118 three-point field goals; his 118-career triples are the sixth-most among active Big Ten players.

» Following Sunday's game, Purdue will head to the Big Apple for the championship rounds of the 2K Sports Classic benefitting Wounded Warrior Project; the Boilers will take on Villanova at Madison Square Garden at 9:30 p.m. ET on Thursday in the semifinal round.