FRIDAY, NOV. 13, 2015TV: 7 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network
WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana -- From the moment highly touted freshman Caleb Swanigan ditched a commitment to Michigan State to come to Purdue, the Boilermakers have been considered a contender for this year's Big Ten title. Now coach Matt Painter's squad gets a chance to start proving the hype is justified when it hosts North Carolina A&T on Friday in the season opener for both teams.
Swanigan, a 6-9, 250-pound forward, will team with returning big men Isaac Haas and A.J. Hammons, both 7-footers, to give Purdue one of the biggest front lines in the league if not the country. With four starters returning, led by leading scorer Hammons (11.9 ppg) and senior G Rapheal Davis (10.7 ppg), the Boilermakers should be ready to hit the ground running.
North Carolina A&T has had back-to-back nine-win seasons, but coach Cy Alexander is hoping an influx of transfers from Division I and junior college can help turn the Aggies' fortunes around. But against a veteran team like Purdue looking to make its mark early, it could be a very long night for the visitors from the MEAC.
ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA A&T (2014-15: 9-22):
Graduate transfers Ede Egharevba (Albany) and Joshea Singleton (Bucknell) join junior college transfer Mike Owona to give the Aggies an influx in experienced talent this season. For Alexander, its a big switch from the team's loss of seven seniors off the 2012-13 squad as well as a handful of transfers, which led to a couple of lean seasons.
"During our meetings, we expressed the need to bring in guys that can help us right away because of some of the setbacks we've had," Alexander said. "I think my staff did an excellent job of doing that."
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