5 Thoughts From Purdue’s Dominant 87-55 Exhibition Victory Over Ball State

Although it was just an exhibition, Purdue got off to a hot start Sunday afternoon, knocking off Ball State 87-55. Several Boilermakers made their first appearance at Mackey Arena, giving a fan base eager for Purdue basketball to return plenty to be excited about.

Here are five thoughts and takeaways from Purdue’s dominant performance against Ball State.

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Everyone can shoot

Dec 5, 2024; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Purdue Boilermakers guard CJ Cox (0) shoots the ball as Penn State Nittany Lions guard Freddie Dilione V (4) defends during the second half at Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State defeated Purdue 81-70. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

The biggest takeaway from Purdue’s 32-point victory over Ball State is that this team wants to shoot the basketball. The Boilermakers attempted 61 shots against the Cardinals, including 40 three-pointers. They connected on 17 of those attempts, shooting 42.5% from beyond the arc.

This team will live and die by the three-pointer, but that approach could work well if everyone on the roster can consistently knock down shots. Purdue’s starting guards were outstanding, with CJ Cox going 5-for-6 and Gicarri Harris shooting 4-for-7 from three-point range. When even Daniel Jacobsen knocks down a three, you get a sense of what Purdue’s formula for success could look like.

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Webber will play

January 13, 2022; Mesa, Ariz; USA; Scottsdale Christian guard Jacob Webber (3) shoots a free throw against Valley Christian during a game at Mesa Community College.High School Basketball Hs Basketball Game Scottsdale Christian At Valley Christian | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

One of my biggest questions heading into the exhibition was how many freshmen would crack the rotation this season. Point guard Luke Ertel seemed like a lock to contribute, but Jacob Webber impressed as well against Ball State. His ability to shoot from beyond the arc could make it difficult to keep him off the…

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Publish date : 2026-10-18 20:28:00

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