Purdue’s Final Exhibition at No. 4 UConn: How to Watch, Stream, Hear on Radio and Preview

A tougher preseason test

Purdue’s final exhibition is against UConn on Tuesday night in Hartford. The Boilermakers beat Ball State and Purdue-Fort Wayne by 30 points in their first two preseason games.

UConn is expected to compete for a national championship, making the game a chance for Matt Painter to assess where his team stands. The article lists radio coverage on the Purdue Global Radio Network and several local stations.

Players to watch

Purdue point guard Omer Mayer led the team with 15 points against Purdue-Fort Wayne and has six assists with one turnover across two exhibitions. C.J. Cox, the only returning starter from last season, scored in double figures in both games.

Gicarri Harris scored 16 points against Ball State, including four three-pointers, and added five assists. Caden Pierce is expected to contribute rebounding and leadership, while Daniel Jacobsen had eight points, six rebounds, five blocks and four assists against Ball State.

UConn’s key contributors

Guard Braylon Mullins missed UConn’s first two exhibitions with an injury and is expected to return this week. As a freshman last season, he started 27 games and averaged 11.8 points and 3.5 rebounds.

Silas Demary Jr. led the Big East in regular-season assists, averaging 6.0 per game. Forward Nik Khamenia averaged 15.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in UConn’s first two exhibitions, while freshman Colben Landrew totaled 21 points and nine rebounds against Syracuse and Michigan State.

Defense and lineup questions

Purdue plans to put more emphasis on pressuring the ball. The matchup will test guards Mayer, Cox, Harris and Antione West Jr. against UConn’s big, athletic guards. Painter used Mayer, Cox, Harris, Pierce and Jacobsen as starters in Purdue’s first two exhibitions. Whether he keeps that group for Tuesday’s game remains an open question.