Auburn Faces Purdue’s Towering Challenge - And Steven Pearl Knows Exactly What’s Coming
Auburn’s upcoming clash with Purdue isn’t just another game - it’s a measuring stick. It’ll be the Tigers’ fourth matchup this season against a top-10 opponent, and this one might be the most daunting yet.
The Boilermakers bring size, skill, and the No. 1-rated offense in college basketball to the court in Indianapolis. Auburn knows it’s walking into a heavyweight fight, and assistant coach Steven Pearl isn’t sugarcoating it.
“They're the No. 1-rated offense in college basketball,” Pearl said during Thursday’s press conference. “We've played three of the top 7-ranked offenses in college basketball, with Michigan and Arizona, as well. They're 13th nationally in rebounding margin, they're fifth nationally in assist-turnover ratio.”
Then came the kicker: “The more Ted puts these notes together, the more it makes me realize how freakin' good they are.”
Size Matters - and Auburn’s Got a Battle on Its Hands
Let’s talk about the matchup. Purdue doesn’t just play big - they are big.
We’re talking 7-foot-4 Daniel Jacobsen and 6-foot-11 Oscar Cluff manning the paint. That’s a whole lot of wingspan and rim protection, and it’s exactly where Auburn will have to get creative.
The Tigers have faced size disadvantages before - Michigan and Arizona weren’t lacking in length - but Purdue’s frontcourt is a different kind of problem.
“You gotta be aggressive,” Pearl said. “You can't sit behind the post in this game. You just can't.”
He’s not exaggerating. Cluff went 8-for-8 against Marquette, feasting on easy looks around the rim.
Kaufman-Renn adds another layer of physicality down low. If you let Purdue’s bigs catch the ball deep, they’re either scoring or cleaning up their own misses.
It’s that simple.
Pearl’s message to his players? Don’t wait.
Fight for position early. Make entry passes tough.
Force Purdue to work for every inch.
Braden Smith: The Engine That Drives Purdue
Now, it’s easy to get caught up in the size mismatch - and fair enough, it’s hard to miss 7-foot-4 on the scouting report. But if you really want to understand what makes Purdue tick, look no further than Braden Smith.
The senior guard is the heartbeat of Matt Painter’s squad. A First Team All-American last season, Smith is back with unfinished business - and he’s playing like it.
“Braden Smith is probably the best passer in college basketball - and has been the best passer in college basketball for a long time,” Pearl said. “He does so many things that can break down defenses, and he gets all those guys so involved.”
Smith’s court vision is elite. He doesn’t just rack up assists - he manipulates defenses, threads impossible angles, and makes Purdue’s offense hum.
It’s one thing to have size. It’s another to have a floor general who knows exactly how to use it.
The Bottom Line
Auburn’s been here before - tested against elite teams, pushed by high-powered offenses. But Purdue presents a unique blend of size, efficiency, and veteran leadership that makes this matchup one of the toughest yet.
The Tigers will need to bring relentless energy, smart positioning, and a whole lot of grit to hold their ground in the paint. And they’ll need to be sharp on the perimeter, too, because Braden Smith isn’t just passing - he’s orchestrating.
It’s a tall task - literally and figuratively - but Auburn isn’t backing down. This game is more than a challenge. It’s an opportunity to prove they belong in the conversation with college basketball’s best.