Purdue women's basketball report: Nebraska preview, Jordyn Poole update
The Boilermakers bring an eight-game losing streak into Thursday's matchup against the Huskers
CORRECTION: Poole suffered an ankle injury in Monday’s game.
A snapshot look at Thursday’s matchup between the Boilermakers and the Huskers at Mackey Arena:
Time: 7 p.m. (ET)
Watch: B1G+
Listen: 95.3 BOB-FM
WHAT’S AT STAKE
NEBRASKA: Looks to remain in the upper half of the Big Ten standings. The Huskers are 6-3 and tied for sixth with Minnesota and Oregon but sit one game out of the No. 4 spot and a double-bye in the conference tournament.
PURDUE: It’s the same goal - snap the losing streak. The Boilermakers are 0-for-2025, dropping eight straight Big Ten games, and reach the halfway mark of the conference season at 0-9. Purdue hasn’t won since Dec. 22 against Indiana State at Mackey Arena.
ABOUT NEBRASKA
• Coming off a 72-66 loss to Ohio State on Sunday, snapping a five-game winning streak. The last four losses have come against ranked teams. Also lost to Creighton, which is ranked in the top 35 of the NCAA’s NET rankings.
• When the Huskers played at Mackey Arena last season, Alexis Markowski dominated. She totaled 20 points, 21 rebounds during the victory. The 21 rebounds were a career high and marked the fourth-highest total in program history. It was the most rebounds by a Nebraska player since 1990.
• With Markowski receiving the attention inside, the Huskers have thrived on the 3-point line. They rank first among Big Ten teams in 3-point field goals made (8.6) and second in 3-point field goal percentage (35.7).
• The conference is stocked with talented freshmen and Britt Prince is among the best. The guard is averaging 13.3 points for the season, but that number jumps to 16.7 points in seven games away from Pinnacle Bank Arena. She’s also averaging 5.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.9 steals in those road games.
• Last season, the Huskers featured one of the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Year - Natalie Potts. However, Potts suffered a knee injury in the fifth game is out for the season. Jessica Petrie has stepped up in Potts’ absence, averaging 6.0 points and 3.8 rebounds but has delivered the last four games. Petrie is averaging 11.5 points, 7.0 rebounds while hitting 60.7% from the field and 7 of 13 from 3-point range.
ABOUT PURDUE
• It’s likely freshman Jordyn Poole won’t be available. The point guard was injured in Monday’s loss at Illinois and had ice on her shin outside the locker room after the game. CORRECTION: Poole suffered an ankle injury in the game. Poole was carried to the bench by assistant coach Mark Stephens and needed assistance to reach the locker room. Poole was held out of summer workouts after a stress fracture was diagnosed in her shin. Poole debuted on Dec. 19 at Miami (Ohio) and has appeared in eight games.
• The Big Ten regular-season losing streak is 11, counting the two losses at the end of last season. The program’s longest losing streak in conference games is 16 over two seasons (1983-84 and 1984-85). The current eight-game losing streak matches the one in 2020-21 and is two shy of the 10-game skid set in 2014-15.
• Offensively, the Boilermakers continue to regress. In Monday's loss to the Fighting Illini, they averaged a season-low 0.544 points per possession after scoring 0.613 points per possession in the setback to USC. Purdue scored on only 35 of 130 possessions (26.9%) in the two games and failed to reach the 40-point mark. During the eight-game losing streak, the Boilermakers are shooting 37.2% and averaging 52.1 points.
• New uniform for Thursday’s game.
• Kendall Puryear is a bright spot on offense. The freshman post player has scored 10 points in three straight games and four of the last five. She’s shooting 46.8% from the field in the last three games against some of the top post players in the Big Ten, including UCLA’s Lauren Betts, USC’s Kiki Iriafen. Iowa’s Hannah Stuelke and Kendall Bostic from Illinois. Overall, she’s shooting 51.9% from the field in Big Ten games. Puryear is gaining valuable experience and continues to battle. She’ll go against Markowski in Thursday’s game.
“You look at her growth and her confidence, she's not afraid, she's not backing down,” Purdue coach Katie Gearlds said. “Now, we’ve got to challenge her to become a little bit better defensive rebounder for us.
“Just proud of how hard she works every day. Proud of her and how she’s starting to understand the game a little bit more and slowing down. She's been through it, and she's working to get better.”
• Purdue has played 10 games against Quad 1 teams, ranking second behind South Carolina.
PRESSING QUESTION
How many wins will it take for the Boilermakers to qualify for the Big Ten tournament? The top 15 teams advance to the league’s postseason event. Purdue will need at least three wins in the next nine games to join the conversation. The Boilermakers and Northwestern are winless and Rutgers and Penn State each have one victory. Wisconsin picked up its second Big Ten win on Wednesday after defeating Michigan. The schedule lightens up, and Purdue must take advantage of it to avoid staying home.
ThIs is my Pre-game comment and assessment— not having seen Nebraska play — all I can do is go by their record— which is OK- and some of the teams they played against— Purdue being at home hasn’t helped them this year and I would have to say Nebraska is better— but I think is beatable if Purdue has a good game— by a good game I’m not talking about scoring— I’m talking about— rebounding—taking care of the basketball— make good passes—- blocking out— good defense (without getting into foul trouble) and take good shots— not always last second shots or under duress— and help each other on the court— with assists— help defense and so on— this is what any coach would ask— I think a game changer would be for the Purdue Girls to be ahead at half-time and if this happens— I’m picking the BOILERS tonight—-Did I go out on the limb—-NO ! I still say that we have the players and we can do good—- thank you— ED