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The Tuscaloosa News
How does Alabama basketball big man Clifford Omoruyi stack up against Purdue?
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- How does Alabama basketball big man Clifford Omoruyi stack up against Purdue?
For each season that Alabama basketball coach Nate Oats has been with the Crimson Tide, big man Clifford Omoruyi has a game against Purdue.
Three appearances in Mackey Arena with six total against Purdue (3-0) see the Rutgers transfer enter Friday's matchup as UA's most experienced player against coach Matt Painter and the Boilermakers.
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At Thursday's media availability ahead of the team's departure for West Lafayette, Indiana, Oats said he's heard Purdue 's venue is the "best environment in the Big Ten."
"I was never able to get to Purdue so this will be my first time in there, but Cliff tells us it's a great environment," Oats said.
The University of Alabama unveiled the first banner honoring the school’s first Final Four appearance Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, in Coleman Coliseum. Alabama center Clifford Omoruyi (11) and Alabama head coach Nate Oats share a light moment.
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With Purdue starting center Daniel Jacobsen out with a broken bone in his tibia suffered against Northern Kentucky, it'll be hard to take eyes off of Omoruyi's lurching 6-foot-11 frame and 7-6 wingspan. Granted Purdue brings 7-2 sophomore Will Berg off the bench in Jacobsen's place.
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Take a look below to see a game-by-game breakdown of Omoruyi's outings against Purdue before the returning Final Four squads meet in UA's first road trip of the season.
How does Alabama basketball's Clifford Omoruyi stack up against Purdue?
Before transferring to Alabama (3-0) in May, Omoruyi, a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award finalist, paired off against 7-4, 300-pounder in Zach Edey , one of the biggest and most dominant bigs in college basketball before being drafted to the Memphis Grizzlies in June.
"I think he averaged 11 and five and a block and a half or something in his games against Purdue, which if you look at bigs going against Edey, that's probably as good as most big have done against Zach," Oats said.
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Dec. 09, 2021 − 70 Rutgers, 68 Purdue
Totals: 11 points, three rebounds, two assists, three steals and one block
Feb. 20, 2022 at Mackey Arena − 84 Purdue, 72 Rutgers
Totals: 14 points, six rebounds, four defensive rebounds
Jan. 1, 2023 at Mackey Arena − 65 Rutgers, 64 Purdue
Totals: 12 points, six rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block
Mar. 10, 2023 in Big Ten quarterfinals − 70 Purdue, 65 Rutgers
Totals: 10 points, eight rebounds, five defensive rebounds, three assists, one steal and three blocks
Jan. 28, 2024 − 68 Purdue, 60 Rutgers
Totals: 13 points, six rebounds and one steal
Feb. 22 at Mackey Arena − 96 Purdue, 68 Rutgers
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Totals: Four points, three rebounds and two assists
"Coach (Ryan) Pannone said in practice today, 'Hey Cliff, is anybody gonna be able to hear that call in Mackey Arena?' and he's like, 'No,'" Oats said. "He knows the level of noise, the crowd environment that's there."
Omoruyi on deck, but expect 'big game' for freshman big Aiden Sherrell
Nov 4, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama forward Aiden Sherrell (22) bring the ball up court against UNC Asheville at Coleman Coliseum.
Omoruyi has a bigger support staff with the Crimson Tide than he did over the past four seasons with the Scarlet Knights, including a solid young center to back him up off the bench. Friday's projected starter at center is Omoruyi, but Oats said fans can expect to see freshman big Aiden Sherrell and even Grant Nelson back in the No. 5 spot as Alabama looks to keep Purdue off the offensive board.
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"Hopefully, he's growing up," Oats said of Sherrell. "This could be a big game for him. Freshman got three under his belt."
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: How does Alabama basketball's Clifford Omoruyi stack up vs. Purdue?
