More: Purdue 2016-17 coverage

Wednesday, Dec. 28 2016 • 8:30 p.m. ET | Mackey Arena (West Lafayette) | TV: BTN | Radio: Purdue Radio Network

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About this game: Purdue's run toward what it hopes will be a Big Ten title begins tonight as the 15th-ranked Boilermakers host Iowa, with Purdue riding a six-game win streak to close non-conference play. ... Caleb Swanigan has been the Big Ten Player-of-the-Week in back-to-back weeks and mounts what should be a credible run at Big Ten Player-of-the-Year starting tonight, sharing the floor with another such contender, Peter Jok, who leads the Big Ten in scoring. ... Iowa was all over the map in non-conference play, playing so much youth and dealing with some injuries, but finished up on a five-game win streak after an ugly loss to Nebraska-Omaha. Iowa has been good enough to handle Iowa State and obliterate Northern Iowa, but started the season slow against legitimate competition, a hallmark of most young teams. ... The Hawkeyes welcome the return of freshman forward Tyler Cook back from a finger injury. He played in just six games in non-conference, but Fran McCaffrey's said he'd move right back into the starting five when he returns. He's reportedly been fully cleared for the Purdue game. ... Iowa enters Big Ten play as the second highest-scoring team in the league, scoring 84.6 points per game, just ahead of Purdue, but the Hawkeyes have also been the most porous defensive team on top of their possession-maximizing style. They allow a league-worst-by-a-mile 76 points per game. ... Iowa is the second-worst team in the league in rebounding margin, which should have Swanigan's eyes popping out of their sockets, though Cook's return would help. ... logic says that Iowa freshman bigs Cook and Cordell Pemsl will have their hands full with Swanigan and Isaac Haas.

Roster | Schedule | Statistics

Projected Starters

C - Isaac Haas (7-2, 290, Jr.)

Now that Big Ten play is here, Haas' importance increases. He can be an advantage against most anyone when he's been aggressive and physical and confident and making good decisions. Iowa is going to throw a smaller, younger front line at him. It will be imperative for him to go up strong when he good position and to get the ball moving cleanly when he draws extra attention around the iron. Same as always.

F- Caleb Swanigan (6-9, 250, Fr.)

There's really no way to overstate the level Swanigan's been playing at, with no signs of slowing down, either. His productivity has been extraordinary, but so's been his effort, and that will be the foundation Purdue sits on the rest of the season. Vincent Edwards has turned a corner decidedly since his early season struggles and is trending upward heading into conference play. Effort has led his resurgence and he must carry it over into the Big Ten, including his work on the offensive glass. Basil Smotherman can loom large in this one, too.

G - Carsen Edwards (6-0, 190, Fr.)

The Big Ten game is different, they say, and the freshman begins his education starting tonight. Every possession matters a little more now and that puts even more a premium on the delicate balance Edwards is being asked to strike between the aggressiveness that makes him good and the decision-making and poise the Boilermakers need. He's a crucial player for Purdue the remainder of the season, at both ends of the floor.

G- P.J. Thompson (5-10, 188, Jr.)

The Big Ten's leader in assist-to-turnover ratio is a better, more assertive player than he was a season ago, but big moments for him continue to lie ahead. Iowa is very different than it was a season ago, but will probably try to recapture last year's magic in Mackey Arena by pressing Purdue. The press has been a non-issue for Purdue this season thus far, but that guarantees nothing moving forward. It starts with Purdue's guards, who've been good all season. Carsen Edwards runs point when Thompson's out, but Spike Albrecht seems on pace to maybe return in the near term.

G - Dakota Mathias (6-4, 200, Jr.)

A game-changer for Purdue at both ends of the floor this season, Mathias has enjoyed a breakout season in every sense of the term. His shooting plateaued a bit to end non-conference play, but he'll be fine. His better-than-anticipated defense looms large tonight, as he takes on the primary responsibility against Jok, who averages nearly 23 points per game and has few other go-to scorers around him. The same things that can be said about Mathias, mostly, can be said about Ryan Cline, too. He's way better than he was a year ago.

Roster | Schedule | Statistics

Projected Starters

Forward -0 Ahmad Wagner (6-7, 235, So.)

It remains to be seen who Iowa will start with Cook returning to the fold. He could sub in for Wagner, who averages five points and four boards in just 18 minutes per game.

Forward - 35 Cordell Pemsl (6-8, 247, Fr.)

The freshman big man has been productive, scoring double-figures and leading the Big Ten to this point in field-goal percentage at better than 74 percent. But, he's a freshman and hasn't faced anything like Swanigan and Haas around the basket yet.

Guard -3 Jordan Bohannon (6-0, 182, Fr.)

The freshman's trying to fill the considerable void left by Mike Gesell from last year's team and doing OK, but Purdue would like, for sure, to bother him defensively. He's a nearly 38-percent three-point shooter.

Guard - 4 Isaiah Moss (6-5, 205, R-Fr.)

The wing is an athlete who averages seven-and-a-half points and is also a 38-percent shooter from distance.

Guard - 14 Peter Jok (6-6, 205, Sr.)

The Big Ten's leading scorer is a really tricky matchup because he's huge for a 2-guard, can shoot from all over the place, including mid-range off the dribble and really has a knack for getting to the foul line, where he doesn't miss. He's going to get his point. Purdue just has to make him work for every one of them and hope it can render him inefficient. He hurt his hip against Delaware State but returned to the game. The assumption is he's fine. If he's not, Iowa's in a world of trouble.

Key player - 5 Tyler Cook (6-9, 253, Fr.)

Coming back from a broken finger, the freshman changes things for Iowa. He averaged 13 a game in six games prior to getting hurt. He's an explosive athlete is a big, wide, powerful body. But, again, he's a freshman facing off with Swanigan and Haas. It'll be different in his first Big Ten game.

Iowa has been up and down this season and experienced some comings and goings. Getting Tyler Cook back is big for the Hawkeyes, but the freshman's not played in a while and has yet to see anything like Swanigan and Haas around the basket. And Jok's health is probably worth concern. But even if Iowa is 100-percent healthy, this is a rebuilding team against which Purdue should have some significant advantages on its home floor.

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