Game 3 Preview: Purdue vs. Oakland

In-Game Updates: @brianneubert | @GoldandBlackcom

More: GoldandBlack.com 2020-2021 Purdue Basketball Information Page

Purdue plays its first game of the season in a mostly empty Mackey Arena, hosting Oakland, coming off four straight losses to open the season, with good reason. ... The Grizzlies saw their preseason practice window mostly blown up by COVID-19 so they barely practiced prior to opening the season against a series of solid opponents. ... Purdue's coming off a win over Liberty and loss to Clemson in Florida. ... Oakland just took Michigan to overtime in Ann Arbor after prior losses to Xavier, Toledo and Bradley. ... Purdue will be without guards Eric Hunter and Jaden Ivey, two important contributors, both of whom could be out a matter of weeks.

Schedule | Statistics | Roster

Again, the Boilermakers remain short-handed in their backcourt, without Hunter and Ivey, raising the stakes for sophomore Isaiah Thompson and newly mono-free freshman Ethan Morton. ... This will be one of just three non-conference home games for Purdue during this slightly shortened season. There will also be home dates against Indiana State and Valparaiso. ... As is the case around the Big Ten, there will be no general-admission or student attendance in Mackey, only family. ... Purdue averaged 73-and-a-half points over two games in Florida and made a rock-solid 46.2 percent of its three-pointers. But, 22 turnovers spelled doom against Clemson.

C — 50 TREVION WILLIAMS (6-10, 265, Junior)

Williams' start to the season was a mixed bag, as he was just 7-of-18 from the floor — missing numerous shots he normally makes at a high rate — and encountering some foul trouble. He also averaged 9.5 rebounds in just an average of 21 minutes and handed out a team-best-tying seven assists, setting up several open threes for Purdue.

F — 1 AARON WHEELER (6-9, 205, Junior)

Wheeler was terrific vs. Liberty, almost a best-case sort of start to his season after last year's difficulties. He leveled off against Clemson, but the Liberty game alone showed enough flashes of what the junior may be capable of this season to be reason for optimism at Purdue's most unproven position. Against the Flames, Wheeler made threes, he ran the floor, hit the offensive glass, the energy sort of things Purdue would love to get from him in bulk.

G — 55 SASHA STEFANOVIC (6-5, 200, Junior)

Stefanovic played well in Florida, it seemed like, making five of his nine threes and handing out five assists. He made a few important, veteran-type plays vs. Liberty.

G — 11 ISAIAH THOMPSON (6-1, 160, Sophomore)

Thompson struggled with Clemson's pressure and committed five of Purdue's game-deciding 22 turnovers. The Boilermakers will need him to settle into that point guard position, because it needs big minutes from him there. He's also going to slide over to the 2 when Ethan Morton's in the game. The scoring punch he can provide helps — he shot 57 percent in Florida and made 4-of-8 threes — but Purdue will put his decision-making and poise under the microscope and would like to see him turn up his defensive pressure on the ball.

G — 5 BRANDON NEWMAN (6-5, 195, Redshirt Freshman)

Newman was excellent for his first time out at the Space Coast Challenge, averaging 12-and-a-half points, shooting well from three and scoring off the bounce alike, being disruptive defensively — including picking up the ball full-court — and adding a distinct competitive streak.

F — 0 MASON GILLIS (6-6, 230, Redshirt Freshman)

In his first games in years — and keep in mind, it's been a rough go of things physically for him during that time — Gillis logged an average of 14 minutes and knocked down a three in each game, though one was a bank job. Purdue wants him taking open shots and as he gets his legs back under him, he might show more. The Boilermakers will need him to rebound, for one thing.

C — 15 ZACH EDEY (7-4, 285, Freshman)

The Big Ten's co-Freshman-of-the-Week, Edey's been a revelation for Purdue, not just a pleasant surprise, but a pleasant shock. The rookie big man averaged a team-best 18 points on 15-of-18 shooting in Florida, and went viral as a result.

G — 25 ETHAN MORTON (6-6, 215, Freshman) (Q)

Morton was a shell of himself in Florida, but Painter "appreciated" his effort, as he logged 35 minutes over two games after missing most of the preseason with mono. Ivey's absence robbed Purdue of the ability to bring Morton back gradually. That said, Morton did some really positive things, despite being drained. His seven assists matched Williams for the team lead and when the Boilermakers rallied to erase a 13-point deficit and tie Clemson after halftime, Morton was a big part of it.

SIDELINED

G — 2 ERIC HUNTER JR. (6-4, 170, Junior)

G — 23 JADEN IVEY (6-4, 200, Freshman)

C — 4 EMMANUEL DOWUONA (6-10, 245, Sophomore)

Schedule | Statistics | Roster

Again, Oakland barely practiced prior to the season, then proceeded to play Greg Kampe's usual grueling schedule, which won't let up after Purdue. Next up will be games at Oklahoma State and Michigan State. ... Oakland is shooting only 28.9 percent from the floor collectively, but has forced more turnovers than it's committed. ... After 35 years at Oakland, Kampe has 618 wins to his credit. Only Jim Boeheim and Mike Krzyzewski have been at their schools longer and only Krzyzewski and Lon Kruger have won more games.

F — 3 MICAH PARRISH (6-6, 180, Freshman)

F — 13 TREY TOWNSEND (6-6, 212, Freshman)

F — 4 DANIEL OLADAPO (6-7, 220, Junior)

G — 34 JALEN MOORE (5-11, 155, Junior)

The Cloverdale, Ind., native and former JUCO transfer averages 15.5 points and just scored 21 at Michigan. He's quick and explosive off the dribble, but has shot just 30 percent from the floor and averages four turnovers per game.

G — 0 ZION YOUNG (6-4, 190, Junior)

G — 11 BLAKE LAMPMAN (6-1, 171, Sophomore)

G — 1 RASHAD WILLIAMS (6-2, 185, Junior)

G — 15 KEVIN KANGU (6-4, 179, Senior)

Purdue has one hand tied behind its back by personnel limitations — already — but it shouldn't matter against an Oakland team playing catch-up and maybe getting a little tired after a grueling run of games and travel. The Grizzlies may be able to exploit some of Purdue's areas of worry, but that shouldn't be enough to overcome the mismatches Williams and Edey should enjoy, or the potent shooting the Boilermakers showed in Florida.

This is going to be very different this season. Mackey Arena will not be the homecourt advantage it normally is. In this one, that shouldn't be relevant.

Membership Info: Sign up for GoldandBlack.com now | Why join? | Questions?

Follow GoldandBlack.com: Twitter | Facebook | YouTube

More: Gold and Black Illustrated/Gold and Black Express | Subscribe to our podcast

Copyright, Boilers, Inc. 2020. All Rights Reserved. Reproducing or using editorial or graphical content, in whole or in part, without permission, is strictly prohibited.