WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA – Iowa hits the road to open Big Ten Conference play, traveling to West Lafayette to face nationally-ranked Purdue Monday night. It is the second time in three seasons the Hawkeyes will play their league opener at Purdue and it is Iowa’s second road game against a top-10 ranked opponent this season.
Series Record: Purdue leads, 95-78
Last Meeting: Purdue won 87-73 on 2/9/23 in West Lafayette
LAST GAME: IOWA 103, NORTH FLORIDA 78
Iowa improved to 4-0 at home this season with a 103-78 victory over North Florida on Nov. 29. It was the Hawkeyes’ second game this season hitting the century mark. Iowa shot a season-high 59 percent from the floor and the team had five players finish in double figures. Ben Krikke and Tony Perkins led the way with 21 points apiece.
SCOUTING PURDUE
• The Boilermakers opened the season with seven straight victories, including a Maui Invitational title, before dropping their Big Ten opener at Northwestern on Friday in overtime.
• Purdue beat three nationally-ranked teams — Gon- zaga, Tennessee and Marquette — en route to the title in Maui.
• The Boilermakers are 4-0 at home this season.
• Purdue is leading the Big Ten in free throws made per game (20), rebounding margin (+12.6) and 3-point percentage (.409).
• Reigning National Player of the Year Zach Edey has recorded six double-boubles, averaging 23.5 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. He also averages 2.88 blocks per game.
• Guard Braden Smith is second on the team in scoring, averaging 12.9 points and has a Big Ten-best 56 assists.
SERIES HISTORY
• Monday’s game will be the 174th meeting in the series between Iowa and Purdue, which began in 1908.
• The Boilermakers lead the all-time series, 95-78, and have won eight of the last 11 games.
• Iowa beat Purdue, 75-66, in Indianapolis on March 13, 2022, to win Big Ten Tournament title.
• Purdue has won the last five meetings in Mackey Arena with the Hawkeyes’ last road victory coming on Jan. 2, 2016, winning 70-63. Iowa has two wins in West Lafayette since 2006 (2016, 2006).
McCAFFERY APPROACHES RECORD
• Head coach Fran McCaffery, who is in his 28th season as a head coach and 14th at Iowa, needs six victories to become the winningest coach in program history. (Tom Davis has 271 victories.)
• With his next Big Ten Conference win, McCaffery will also pass Davis for the most Big Ten victories in program history.
