Scouting No. 15 Purdue men's basketball at Nebraska

• Purdue is 15-5 all-time against Nebraska and 9-3 since the Cornhuskers joined the Big Ten.
• The Boilermakers are a half-game behind Michigan and Michigan State for first place in the Big Ten.
• Purdue has won four of its last five true road games after an 0-4 start.
• Nebraska is 11-4 at Pinnacle Bank Arena but 3-4 since Big Ten play resumed in January.

No. 15 Purdue at Nebraska

Time: Saturday, 2 p.m. (NOTE: Start time change due to weather)

TV: BTN

Radio: WYCM 95.7

Probable starters

PURDUE BOILERMAKERS (19-7, 12-3)

Probable starters

G—Nojel Eastern (Soph., 6-6, 220) 6.9 points, 5.6 rebounds

G—Carsen Edwards (Jr., 6-1, 200) 23.8 points, 3.2 assists

G—Ryan Cline (Sr., 6-6, 195) 12.2 points, 3.0 assists

F—Grady Eifert (Sr., 6-6, 220) 5.1 points, 4.8 rebounds

C—Matt Haarms (Soph., 7-3, 250) 8.0 points, 1.8 blocks

Key sub

C—Trevion Williams (Fr., 6-9, 280) 5.8 points, 3.8 rebounds

NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS (15-12, 5-11)

G—Glynn Watson (Sr., 6-0, 180) 11.9 points, 3.0 assists

G—Thomas Allen (Soph., 6-1, 184) 9.0 points, 2.9 rebounds

G—James Palmer (Sr., 6-6, 207) 19.0 points, 3.0 assists

F—Isaiah Roby (Jr., 6-8, 230) 11.5 points, 7.2 rebounds

F—Tanner Borchardt (Sr., 6-8, 250) 2.5 points, 4.0 rebounds

Key sub

G—Thorir Thorbjarnarson (Soph., 6-6, 206) 1.5 points, 2.1 rebounds

Storylines

► You may forget that Nebraska and Purdue were tied 33-33 early in the second half at Mackey Arena on Feb. 9. The Boilermakers shot 59 percent from the field after halftime and pulled away over the final five minutes to a somewhat deceptive 81-62 victory. That was the seventh loss in a row for the Cornhuskers, who bounced back to beat Minnesota and Northwestern at home. But the past week has a been a tough one with a 24-point loss at Penn State and coach Tim Miles drawing criticism for some flippant remarks about his job status.

► Nebraska's home-court advantage isn't what it once was. However, the Cornhuskers have held four straight opponents to 62 or fewer points at Pinnacle Bank Arena. That should create at least mild concern for Purdue, whose last three games have included a 1-for-16 3-point performance in the second half at Maryland, 24 turnovers against Penn State and Tuesday's 48-point effort at Indiana. 

► Grady Eifert had a career game in the first meeting with Nebraska, collecting 16 points, seven rebounds, four steals and two assists. The Mackey Arena crowd was chanting "MVP" by the end of the night. That may again be a favorable matchup as Nebraska has, understandably, never really summoned an answer for Isaac Copeland's season-ending knee injury.

Nathan Baird reports on Purdue basketball for the Journal & Courier. Contact him at nbaird@jconline.com or 765-420-5234. Follow him on Twitter: @nbairdjc