Men's Basketball to Face No. 5 Purdue on ESPN2
12/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 11, 2009
Tuscaloosa, Ala. -
The University of Alabama men's basketball team will face another early season challenge on Saturday when it hosts No. 5 Purdue on Saturday at Coleman Coliseum. The game, broadcast on ESPN2, is scheduled to tipoff at 8 p.m.
| Game 9 | Alabama (6-2) vs. No. 5 Purdue (8-0) | |
| Date | Saturday, Dec. 12 | 8 p.m. |
| Location | Tuscaloosa, Ala. | Coleman Coliseum |
| Tickets | $12 Adult, $8 Youth | Buy Here |
| Television | ESPN2/ESPN360.com |
| Radio | Crimson Tide Sports Network | Listen Online | Affiliates |
| RollTide.com | Live Video | |
| Promotions | |
| All-Time Series | Purdue leads 3-2 |
Alabama
Roster | Schedule | Stats | News | Game Notes 
Purdue
Roster | Schedule | Stats | News | Game Notes
The game is the third of four straight home games for the Crimson Tide which has had a week off to prepare for finals and the Boilermakers. Alabama has won three straight games and is 6-2 on the season after easily handling ULM, 74-46, last Saturday.
However, Purdue is undefeated at 8-0 this season and ranked fifth in both polls after easily handling Buffalo and Valparaiso earlier this week.
"Obviously Purdue comes in as a team that's ranked in the top five in the nation," said Grant. "They're very well coached and very disciplined. It will be a great test for our ball club and I'm looking forward to competition on Saturday."
Purdue is the second ranked opponent Alabama has faced this season. On November 29, the Tide defeated No. 15 Michigan, 68-66, at the Old Spice Classic. The Boilermakers are averaging 80.1 points per game and outscoring opponents by nearly 20 points per game with only one of their eight games, a 73-72 win over Tennessee, being decided by 10 or fewer points. Meanwhile, the Boilermakers' defense is holding opponents to 38.1 percent shooting and has held four opponents under 40 percent from the field.
"We certainly have been tested," said Grant of his team's tough schedule thus far. "I look it as a chance find out where we are at this stage of the season. It's a test for us and another opportunity to see where we are, where we need to improve and where we've grown, so I'm looking forward to the game."
Senior Mikhail Torrance leads Alabama in scoring this season with 15.1 points per game on 53.3 percent shooting with 5.6 assists per game after posting a season-high nine assists in the win over ULM last Saturday.
From the perimeter, Alabama's top two three-point shooters, Anthony Brock and Charvez Davis, are shooting a combined 43.3 percent from behind the arc and Davis has converted on 47.6 percent of his attempts in the last two games with seven three-pointers.
E'Twaun Moore leads Purdue with 16.8 points per game on 48.6 percent shooting. Against Valparaiso on Wednesday, Moore scored 19 points on 5-of-6 shooting from behind the arc. Preseason all-Big Ten selection and Naismith Award candidate Robbie Hummel is averaging 13.5 points and a team-high 6.9 rebounds per game.
Saturday's game is the sixth all-time between the two programs but the first in Tuscaloosa with Purdue holding a 3-2 in the previous five meetings.
Tickets for Saturday's game are $12 for adults and $8 for youth tickets and may be purchased online at www.rolltide.com or by calling the Athletic Ticket Office at 205-348-BAMA.
