Purdue 73 UCLA 66: By the Numbers
· Yahoo Sports
Purdue had to grind out a victory against an undermanned UCLA Bruins squad that was without Tyler Bilodeau and lost Donovan Dent early in the first half. It was a game that Purdue pushed their lead into double digits on multiple occasions but could never find the offensive flow to extend the game to a point that it was never in doubt. That’s similar to what Purdue was during the season rather than the one that needed to find the ability to continue kicking an opponent when they are down.
In any matter, a win in March is always a good win and Purdue will battle the Michigan Wolverines for a chance at their third B1G Tournament Title. Let’s get into the numbers!
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6
Purdue jumped out to a 15-2 lead and eventually worked their way into double-digit leads on 6 different occasions. None of those would really stick as UCLA would consistently battle back each and every time as Purdue’s offense seemed to continually get stuck just as they were about to stretch that double-digit lead to a point of no return but could never quite get it done.
Most notably were the leads they held in the second half that the Bruins were able to get back into single digits, none more worrying than when Gicarri Harris hit a three to push the lead to 58-48 with 8:35 left but then surrendered a 9-0 run. That would inevitably lead to a tie ball game with 4:33 left. Just frustrating basketball when getting a big lead would have allowed for rest from the key players.
9
Smith looked like he was on his way to another performance where he was going to get 12 or more assists. He started the game with three quick ones and Purdue had a 15-0 run but he struggled from the floor shooting and turning the ball over all game. The senior point guard would score just 5 points on 1-7 shooting with 5 turnovers but would notch 9 assists overall. The Boilers need him to find his jumper and combine the assists with scoring to make a deep run.
Smith now moves to 1,064 career assists and sits just 10 behind Bobby Hurley’s 1,076 record. The record, which was certainly in question just a few weeks ago, is now likely to be broken. What better place to do it during the B1G Tourney Championship game.
29 & 24…again
The big man combo of TKR and Cluff was dominant again today and that was the driving factor behind Purdue’s victory. Together, they combined for 29 points and 24 rebounds but more importantly Cluff grabbed 9 offensive rebounds. That equals the entire amount for the Bruins as a team and was a driving force for Purdue’s advantage of 17-9 in second chance points.
The Boilers are now 13-1 when TKR and Cluff combine for 25 points and 12 rebounds. Like Braden Smitih said in his postgame interviews, “When our bigs play like that, it’s really tough for people to beat us.”
"When our bigs play like that, it's really tough for people to beat us."#Purdue senior Braden Smith credits today's win over UCLA to the play of Oscar Cluff and Trey Kaufman-Renn. The Boilers are now 8-0 this season when Cluff finishes with a double-double. pic.twitter.com/CJitKsIZ9T
— WISH-TV News (@WISHNews8) March 14, 2026
84%
Purdue’s been one of the very best in the country as a team assisting on scores. Purdue has one of the best offenses in the country by nearly ever metric but they rank 3rd in the country with a 66.7% assist percentage rate. That is an excellent rate and a nightmare for opposing teams to scout as that means Purdue doesn’t just play isolation basketball.
Against UCLA, that rate was a magnificent 84% and one of the biggest keys to the victory. That leads us into….
131.0
… Purdue’s 131 adjusted offensive efficiency rating. That trails only Illinois but both offenses would be the highest ever in the Kenpom era dating back to 1997. In fact, since their February 20th game against the Hoosiers Purdue’s adjusted offensive numbers have been staggering at 136.2.
The offense has the ability to carry Purdue to a Final Four but the biggest thing Purdue has needed to improve on has been the…
94.8
…defense. It was very clear that there just seemed to be a lack of communication and intensity on that side of the floor in the midst of their losing streak and it rolled over an extended amount to the rest of the season. During the B1G Tourney it has been a total different story.
For the season, Purdue’s defense has been a respectable 100.5 in KenPom’s Adjusted Efficiency. That’s a number that suggests a good but not great ranking of 38th nationally. However, over the last three days in the Big Ten Tournament, Purdue has played with a completely different level of intensity, posting a 94.8 defensive rating. Shaving nearly six points off of an efficiency number like that isn’t just a major shift, it’s a team that can actively take away an opponent’s best options. This tournament stretch has effectively catapulted Purdue from a top-40 defense to performing like a top-15 unit at the most critical time of the year.
That leap means that for every 100 possessions, Purdue is essentially surrendering nearly six fewer points than their season average. While that might sound like a marginal gain, in the context of March matchups, that 6% increase in defensive efficiency is often the difference between a double-digit win and a nail-biting upset. By holding high-major opponents like Nebraska and UCLA well below their typical efficiency, Purdue has proven that their #2-ranked offense finally has the defensive counterpart to support it. They are no longer just winning on the back of their shooting. They are controlling the game from both ends of the floor, providing the exact statistical profile of a team destined for a deep run in the NCAA Tourney.
92.6%
Fletcher Loyer has already proven is the program’s best three point shooter after he broke Carsen Edwards’ program record. What he means to Purdue’s chances of winning when he hits four of those threes in a game is one of the biggest keys for the Boilers. When he hits that mark, Purdue is a remarkable 25-2 over his career for a 92.6% winning percentage.
Loyer hit that mark against UCLA, and more, as he went for 14 points 4-10 3pt), 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 blocked shot, and 2 steals. He did a bit of everything for Purdue but the gravity he requires for opponents when he is hitting shots is immense.
115 minutes and 34 seconds
To show just how much in control Purdue has been in their first three games of this B1G Tourney, that Boilers have trailed a total of just :48 seconds while being tied for 3:38. That means Purdue has led a total of 115 minutes and 34 seconds which translates to 96.3% of game play. That is a level of dominance and game control that allows Purdue’s efficient offense to put the pressure on opponents to be near perfect over 40 full minutes.