3 things that stood out from Purdue basketball's opening loss in battle vs Gonzaga

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3 things that stood out from Purdue basketball's opening loss in battle vs Gonzaga

Purdue basketball season begins today with game vs Gonzaga in Las Vegas — LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 02: Daniel Jacobsen #12 of the Purdue Boilermakers dunks against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the first half of a Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Series game at T-Mobile Arena on November 02, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
(Ethan Miller, Getty Images)

Nathan Baird, Indianapolis Star · Indianapolis Star

Tue, November 3, 2026 at 2:44 AM UTC ·

3 min read

Purdue basketball season begins today with game vs Gonzaga in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 02: Antione West Jr. #1 of the Purdue Boilermakers is fouled by Isiah Harwell #1 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the first half of a Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Series game at T-Mobile Arena on November 02, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

(Ethan Miller, Getty Images)

Purdue basketball season begins today with game vs Gonzaga in Las Vegas

(Ethan Miller, Getty Images)

More 3-point frustration as Purdue cannot capitalize on Jacobsen's interior presence

Jacobsen made 8 of his first 10 field goals and scored 16 points before running into foul trouble. Even against a team with good functional size, he was fairly automatic in the paint on hook shots and leaners. When he was on the floor, the rest of the Boilermakers did a good job seeking him out, and he often won the matchup against Massamba Diop and other bigs.

While that opened up some perimeter opportunities, Purdue could not capitalize. It missed its first five from behind the arc − which put it at 2 for 30 since the start of the UConn exhibition. It finished the night a quiet 23.8% from 3 (5-21). It only attempted two over the first 14-plus minutes of the second half.

This is a small sample size against two good opponents in two unfamiliar gyms. Those off nights put an awful lot of pressure on the guards to be excellent from mid range.

Purdue rallied back from 11-point deficit to make it a one-possession game

Purdue made one final stand, starting when it finally took that third 3 of the second half. Gicarri Harris made it, took a foul and made the free throw. Jacobsen added a couple of free throws after a defensive stop, and what had been an 11-point deficit shrank to 67-62 with 4:49 remaining.

When Jacobsen made two more free throws and Antione West Jr. dribbled in for a mid-range jumper, Purdue was within 68-66 with 3:07 to play. But the Boilermakers went more than two minutes without a field goal, at which point Gonzaga had re-opened a multi-possession lead. Caden Pierce 's put-back of an Omer Mayer missed 3 − the third straight ugly 3 attempt by a Boiler − cut it back to 72-69 with 32 seconds left.

Purdue's inability to make a field goal in the final three minutes left it up to winning the free throw exchange, and Gonzaga did not leave enough openings.

Enzo Shahrvin still finding offensive footing while Purdue needs his physicality

Enzo Shahrvin was the first (and only) big off the bench behind Jacobsen in the first half. Not sure if that was merely a testament to the physical matchup necessary or the rough game Raleigh Burgess had against UConn. Regardless, while he scored on his first touch after entering, his offensive game remains a work in progress. He was guilty of half the team's six first-half turnovers in only six minutes. Burgess is the more secure offensive option, adding a perimeter scoring element as well, but defense and rebounding take precedent right now.

Painter had to go to Shahrvin earlier than he might have wanted in the second half when Jacobsen picked up his second and third fouls less than four minutes in. When he picked up his fourth with 12:51 left, Burgess made his season debut. Purdue could not quite tread water well enough before Jacobsen could safely return. When he did, with 8:47 let, the deficit had grown to nine points.