3 things that stood out from Purdue basketball's blowout exhibition loss at UConn
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3 things that stood out from Purdue basketball's blowout exhibition loss at UConn
Nathan Baird, Indianapolis Star
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3 min read
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HARTFORD, CT —Purdue basketballreceived the challenge it wanted fromUConnin its final exhibition and then some,falling 76-53at PeoplesBank Arena on Tuesday.
TheBoilermakersremained winless in their recent run of exhibition road games against high-major opponents.C.J. Coxscored 18 points, but functional offense was hard to come by for much of the night.
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Here are three things that stood out.
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - OCTOBER 27: Braylon Mullins #24 of the Connecticut Huskies is defended by C.J. Cox #0 of the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half of the NCAA men's exhibition basketball game at PeoplesBank Arena on October 27, 2026 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
(Joe Buglewicz, Getty Images)
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - OCTOBER 27: Omer Mayer #17 of the Purdue Boilermakers goes to the rim against the Connecticut Huskies during the first half of the NCAA men's exhibition basketball game at PeoplesBank Arena on October 27, 2026 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
(Joe Buglewicz, Getty Images)
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - OCTOBER 27: Antione West Jr. #1 of the Purdue Boilermakers shoots against the Connecticut Huskies during the first half of the NCAA men's exhibition basketball game at PeoplesBank Arena on October 27, 2026 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
(Joe Buglewicz, Getty Images)
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - OCTOBER 27: Braylon Mullins #24 of the Connecticut Huskies gets the rebound against the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half of the NCAA men's exhibition basketball game at PeoplesBank Arena on October 27, 2026 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
(Joe Buglewicz, Getty Images)
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - OCTOBER 27: Omer Mayer #17 of the Purdue Boilermakers is defended by Oskar Giltay #18 of the Connecticut Huskies during the first half of the NCAA men's exhibition basketball game at PeoplesBank Arena on October 27, 2026 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
(Joe Buglewicz, Getty Images)
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - OCTOBER 27: Raleigh Burgess #34 of the Purdue Boilermakers is defended by Jayden Ross #23 of the Connecticut Huskies during the first half of the NCAA men's exhibition basketball game at PeoplesBank Arena on October 27, 2026 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
(Joe Buglewicz, Getty Images)
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - OCTOBER 27: Gicarri Harris #24 of the Purdue Boilermakers is defended by Silas Demary Jr. #5 of the Connecticut Huskies during the first half of the NCAA men's exhibition basketball game at PeoplesBank Arena on October 27, 2026 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
(Joe Buglewicz, Getty Images)
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - OCTOBER 27: Antione West Jr. #1 of the Purdue Boilermakers is defended by Colben Landrew #3 of the Connecticut Huskies during the first half of the NCAA men's exhibition basketball game at PeoplesBank Arena on October 27, 2026 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
(Joe Buglewicz, Getty Images)
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - OCTOBER 27: Oskar Giltay #18 of the Connecticut Huskies gets the block against C.J. Cox #0 of the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half of the NCAA men's exhibition basketball game at PeoplesBank Arena on October 27, 2026 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
(Joe Buglewicz, Getty Images)
1/9
Purdue basketball photos vs. UConn in college basketball action
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - OCTOBER 27: Braylon Mullins #24 of the Connecticut Huskies is defended by C.J. Cox #0 of the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half of the NCAA men's exhibition basketball game at PeoplesBank Arena on October 27, 2026 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
(Joe Buglewicz, Getty Images)
1/9
Purdue basketball photos vs. UConn in college basketball action
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - OCTOBER 27: Braylon Mullins #24 of the Connecticut Huskies is defended by C.J. Cox #0 of the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half of the NCAA men's exhibition basketball game at PeoplesBank Arena on October 27, 2026 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
(Joe Buglewicz, Getty Images)
2/9
Purdue basketball photos vs. UConn in college basketball action
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - OCTOBER 27: Omer Mayer #17 of the Purdue Boilermakers goes to the rim against the Connecticut Huskies during the first half of the NCAA men's exhibition basketball game at PeoplesBank Arena on October 27, 2026 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
(Joe Buglewicz, Getty Images)
3/9
Purdue basketball photos vs. UConn in college basketball action
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - OCTOBER 27: Antione West Jr. #1 of the Purdue Boilermakers shoots against the Connecticut Huskies during the first half of the NCAA men's exhibition basketball game at PeoplesBank Arena on October 27, 2026 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
(Joe Buglewicz, Getty Images)
4/9
Purdue basketball photos vs. UConn in college basketball action
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - OCTOBER 27: Braylon Mullins #24 of the Connecticut Huskies gets the rebound against the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half of the NCAA men's exhibition basketball game at PeoplesBank Arena on October 27, 2026 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
(Joe Buglewicz, Getty Images)
5/9
Purdue basketball photos vs. UConn in college basketball action
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - OCTOBER 27: Omer Mayer #17 of the Purdue Boilermakers is defended by Oskar Giltay #18 of the Connecticut Huskies during the first half of the NCAA men's exhibition basketball game at PeoplesBank Arena on October 27, 2026 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
(Joe Buglewicz, Getty Images)
6/9
Purdue basketball photos vs. UConn in college basketball action
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - OCTOBER 27: Raleigh Burgess #34 of the Purdue Boilermakers is defended by Jayden Ross #23 of the Connecticut Huskies during the first half of the NCAA men's exhibition basketball game at PeoplesBank Arena on October 27, 2026 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
(Joe Buglewicz, Getty Images)
7/9
Purdue basketball photos vs. UConn in college basketball action
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - OCTOBER 27: Gicarri Harris #24 of the Purdue Boilermakers is defended by Silas Demary Jr. #5 of the Connecticut Huskies during the first half of the NCAA men's exhibition basketball game at PeoplesBank Arena on October 27, 2026 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
(Joe Buglewicz, Getty Images)
8/9
Purdue basketball photos vs. UConn in college basketball action
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - OCTOBER 27: Antione West Jr. #1 of the Purdue Boilermakers is defended by Colben Landrew #3 of the Connecticut Huskies during the first half of the NCAA men's exhibition basketball game at PeoplesBank Arena on October 27, 2026 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
(Joe Buglewicz, Getty Images)
9/9
Purdue basketball photos vs. UConn in college basketball action
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - OCTOBER 27: Oskar Giltay #18 of the Connecticut Huskies gets the block against C.J. Cox #0 of the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half of the NCAA men's exhibition basketball game at PeoplesBank Arena on October 27, 2026 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
(Joe Buglewicz, Getty Images)
Purdue couldn't make a 3, couldn't muster enough functional offense elsewhere
Matt Painterwanted to play UConn for the simple reason the Huskies "run good offense and make it hard for you to run good offense." He probably wasn't expecting a 1-for-14 first-half shooting performance from 3, a handful of missed opportunities inside and a generally flat offensive performance. (That one made 3 came when Raleigh Burgess whiffed a layup but got the ball back and found Jack Benter behind the line.)
Purdue does not need to be explosive on offense this season, but it must be efficient. Instead, it looked off-kilter for much of the first half. Between those missed 3s and turnovers it had 18 empty offensive possessions in the first half alone. It finished 2_-25 from 3, which probably won't happen often. The inability to create fast break chances or finish around the rim may actually be bigger concerns.
Purdue received a final rebounding reminder before season's start
UConn projected as a much more significant rebounding challenge, and delivered. Three of the Huskies' offensive rebounds came on one possession which did not yield points, but in general, Purdue had a harder time rewarding itself for stops than in the first two exhibitions. UConn also set a tone with the way it attacked off defensive rebounds, beating the Boilers down the floor for a couple of 3s and a run-out dunk in the first eight minutes of the game.
When Purdue flipped the rebounding advantage in the opening minutes of the second half, it started to cut into the lead. It simply couldn't convert enough on offense to ever challenge to take the lead.
Braylon Mullins back on the floor, again facing off with Luke Ertel
Greenfield-Central alumBraylon Mullinsmade his exhibition debut for UConn after missing the first two with an unspecified injury. He provided some hints as to his affliction, though, wearing braces on both knees. When he subbed out of the game, he immediately went to a stationary bike positioned near the court. Purdue kept the NCAA Tournament hero in check — seven points on 3-9 shooting — but he also distributed four assists in the first half.
He and Purdue freshman Luke Ertel, a Mt. Vernon grad, went head-to-head in some memorable high school games. He scored two points on 1-4 shooting in this Hancock County reunion.
