FAYETTEVILLE — A pair of national title contenders are squaring off in a game that doesn’t officially count Saturday, as Arkansas vs Purdue takes center stage on the football team’s open date.
The Razorbacks are No. 14 in the preseason AP Poll, while the Boilermakers are No. 3, making it a top-15 showdown in a charity exhibition that will benefit Arkansas 211, a program of the United Way that will assist with relief efforts from the tornadoes that hit Arkansas this past spring.
Tip off is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed online on SEC Network-Plus.
This game won’t count toward either team’s final records, but it could potentially be a March Madness preview because Arkansas and Purdue are each considered among the favorites to cut down the nets in Phoenix on April 8.
According to BetOnline, the Boilermakers have 14-to-1 odds to win it all for the first time during the NCAA Tournament era. That’s tied for the fourth-best odds.
The Razorbacks, meanwhile, are tied for 12th on that list at 33-to-1. They are trying to win a national title for the first time in 30 years, as their lone championship came in 1994.
Of course, that’s still more than five months away and nothing will be won in Saturday’s exhibition, but Arkansas vs Purdue should provide a good early barometer for both championship hopefuls.
They’ll be playing in front of a sold out Bud Walton Arena crowd and Best of Arkansas Sports is in attendance. Live updates will follow below…
LIVE UPDATES — Arkansas vs Purdue
Pregame Tidbits
Jalen Graham did not go through pregame warmups, indicating he will miss today’s exhibition. He’s been dealing with back spasms.
14:15, 1H – Purdue 10, Arkansas 5
Brazile won the tip against Edey and the Bud Walton Arena crowd erupted.
Arkansas forced a turnover on Purdue’s first possession, but Davis promptly threw it right back to the Boilermakers trying to make a home run pass.
The Hogs have not looked great offensively early on. They’ve missed both of their first two shots and turned it over twice, but once of the missed shots might as well have been a turnover. Ellis jumped and didn’t have anywhere to go with the ball.
Davis hit one of his patented floaters for Arkansas’ first bucket of the day.
Khalif Battle is the first Arkansas player off the bench, replacing Ellis.
Brazile nearly had a dunk that would have brought the house down after some facing dribbling and passing by Davis, but he was rim-stuffed.
The crowd broke out in an “overrated” chant after Makhi Mitchell blocked Edey’s first shot attempt of the game. On the other end of the floor, Lawson knocked down a 3.
Arkansas has done a good job of limiting Edey’s touches, but it has given up some jumpers and has committed some bail-out fouls. The last of which was Davis’ second to take us to the first media timeout.
10:29, 1H – Purdue 12, Arkansas 10
Jeremiah Davenport checked in during the media timeout and has gotten a couple of good looks from the corner, but missed them both. Battle also had a nice drive, but couldn’t finish. Nothing is falling early.
Ellis finally got a tough layup to fall. Luckily, the defense is keeping things within reach.
Arkansas clearly doesn’t have its timing down. It has tried a couple of alley-oops and neither have led to a clean look. The latest hit off the rim.
Ellis just knocked down a 3 late in the shot clock with a hand in his face. On the other end, the defense forced a missed shot and the ensuing rebound went out off Purdue, sending us to the U12 media timeout.
It’s been a defensive struggle so far. Purdue is 4 of 14 shooting overall, including 2 of 10 from deep, with three turnovers, while Arkansas is 4 of 12 shooting and 2 of 6 from deep with five turnovers.
7:35, 1H – Arkansas 18, Purdue 16
Battle knocked down a jumper to tie it up out of the timeout and then picked Jones’ pocket and gave the Hogs their first lead with a fast break layup.
That was followed by a not-so-pretty sequence by the Razorbacks. Edey got an offensive rebound and put back for his first points of the game and then he picked Mitchell’s pocket out at the top of the key.
Edey’s second foul of the game came on the offensive end, going over Arkansas’ back trying to get a rebound.
Layden Blocker checked in the game and promptly made a shot over a Purdue defender on the block. Really tough play.
It seems like Arkansas is starting to settle in some.
3:46, 1H – Arkansas 22, Purdue 22
Brazile finds Blocker on a backdoor cut for an easy layup. The teams are exchanging buckets at this point.
Kaufman-Renn is finally whistled for a travel and the crowd erupts.
Pinion just made a nice pump fake, got the defender off his feet, dribbled to his left and fired up an open look, but it didn’t fall. There have been several of those for the Razorbacks early on.
Mark just came out of nowhere to block a layup by Kaufman-Renn. It’s the fourth block – each by a different player – by the Razorbacks today.
Musselman is having to be held back by Ronnie Brewer after a foul was called on Battle (his second) going for a defensive rebound.
2:29, 1H – Arkansas 28, Purdue 22
Purdue missed the front end of a 1 and 1 out of the timeout and also couldn’t convert after grabbing the offensive rebound. On the other end, the sea parted for a layup.
Mitchell came up with a steal on an ill-advised pass by Purdue and eventually beat his man down the floor for an easy layup, prompting a timeout by Matt Painter.
HALF – Arkansas 31, Purdue 26
Ellis made a great feed to Mitchell cutting to the basket, but Mitchell missed the layup. It would have pushed the run to 10-0, but instead, Purdue snapped the run with a layup.
Arkansas answered with a 3 by Davenport, who had a great feed from Ellis. It’s his second assist, but he probably should have more if his teammate converted.
Purdue ran the clock down and nearly turned it over, but the loose ball found a shooter in the corner. Loyer missed the shot, but Mitchell was whistled for a foul on the rebound with just 1.7 seconds left. Kaufman-Renn missed both free throws, though.
Edey was limited to just 2 points on 1 of 1 shooting and 3 rebounds in 8 minutes before picking up his second foul and sitting the rest of the half. Davis played even less than that for the Hogs, as he checked out after only 6 minutes.
15:47, 2H – Arkansas 39, Purdue 34
Brazile opened the second half by notching a steal and then knocked down a 3 on the other end. It’s his first 3 since returning to action, as he was 0 for 4 vs. UT Tyler and missed his first today.
After an easy layup for Edey, Brazile made another 3.
Edey is starting to take over in the second half. After scoring only 2 points in the first half, he’s got 6 in the first 2.5 minutes after halftime.
Edey picked up his third foul early in the second half, again on the offensive end.
Brazile just hit the floor hard defending a drive to the basket and comes out of the game, seemingly holding his groin. Looks like it may be a cramp or something. They’ve got the massager going on him at the end of the bench.
I’d venture to say like 75% of Arkansas’ fouls today have been on rebounds.
11:41, 2H – Purdue 45, Arkansas 43
Ellis just had a beautiful drive and kick out, but Battle missed the 3.
On the other end, Mark picked up his third foul at the 15:06 mark. Mitchell’s third foul comes at the 14:38 mark while battling with Edey for a rebound. That’s the Hogs’ 15th team foul, compared to only 5 on Purdue (3 of which are on Edey).
Edey checks out after turning it over, prompting another “overrated” chant by the Arkansas crowd.
Purdue has tied it up with a 7-0 run, with the latest bucket coming courtesy of Gillis.
Brazile has checked back in, so he must be fine.
Purdue regains the lead with a 3 by Loyer. It’s the Boilermakers’ first lead since there were about 4 minutes left in the first half.
Eric Musselman is letting the ref hear it about something. He may not be happy about the 17-5 foul discrepancy. Or the fact that Purdue has taken 13 free throws and Arkansas hasn’t attempted a single one. The Boilermakers’ sixth foul sends us to the U12 media timeout.
9:38, 2H – Arkansas 54, Purdue 48
Arkansas’ first free throws of the game came when Brazile was fouled on a 3 at the 11:24 mark of the second half. He knocked down all three.
After forcing another turnover on a feed into Edey, Arkansas got an open look for Battle thanks to some nice ball movement and he knocked it down.
Edey picks up a frustration foul – his fourth of the game – after missing a shot with 9:51 left. The crowd erupts and eventually breaks into another “overrated” chant.
On the next possession, Battled drills another 3 and Painter calls a timeout.
7:43, 2H – Arkansas 58, Purdue 54
Mark just violently blocked a shot by Loyer. Sheesh. The ball went out of bounds off him, though, so Purdue maintained possession and ended up making a 3.
Gillis made that one and then made another the next trip down the floor. He’s got 10 points for the Boilermakers.
Lawson makes a layup through contact after a nice pass from Davis, sending us to the U8 media timeout. He’ll be shooting a free throw when play resumes.
3:49, 2H – Arkansas 63, Purdue 61
Davis comes up with a steal that leads to a 3-on-0 situation and Brazile throws down a dunk.
A questionable foul on Lawson going for a rebound sent Purdue to the free throw line, but Kaufman-Renn missed the front end of a 1 and 1.
After an ill-advised pass by Davis trying to get the ball to Mitchell, Purdue got a wide open 3 to cut the deficit to four.
The Razorbacks had a couple of chances to extend the lead, but after a long 3 by Davis missed, Kaufman-Renn finished through contact on the other end for an and-1. He’ll shoot the free throws when play resumes, but the lead is down to two.
This has not been Devo’s best game, to say the least. He’s got a +/- of minus-6 in his 20 minutes, meaning the Hogs are plus-9 in the ~16 minutes he’s been on the bench.
HALFTIME STATS – Arkansas vs Purdue
Starting Lineups
| Purdue Basketball | Arkansas Basketball |
|---|---|
| #2 – G Fletcher Loyer – So. | 6-4 | 180 | #3 – G El Ellis – Sr. | 6-3 | 180 |
| #3 – G Braden Smith – So. | 6-0 | 175 | #4 – G Davonte Davis – Sr. | 6-4 | 185 |
| #55 – G Lance Jones – R-Sr. | 6-1 | 200 | #12 – G Tramon Mark – Jr. | 6-6 | 185 |
| #4 – F Trey Kaufman-Renn – So. | 6-9 | 230 | #2 – F Trevon Brazile – R-So. | 6-10 | 220 |
| #15 – C Zach Edey – Sr. | 7-4 | 300 | #8 – F Chandler Lawson – Sr. | 6-8 | 210 |
How to Watch Arkansas vs Purdue
Date: Saturday, Oct. 28
Location: Bud Walton Arena (Fayetteville, Ark.)
Tipoff Time/TV Schedule: 3 p.m. CT (SEC+)
Announcers: Josh Haley, Manuale Watkins
Purdue Basketball Rankings: No. 3 (AP) | No. 2 (Coaches) | No. 1 (KenPom)
Arkansas Basketball Rankings: No. 14 (AP) | No. 14 (Coaches) | No. 14 (KenPom)
Odds/Betting Line: Arkansas, -3.5 | O/U 140.5 (BetSaracen)
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