3 things that stood out from Purdue basketball's blowout exhibition loss at UConn

HARTFORD, CT — Purdue basketball received the challenge it wanted from UConn in its final exhibition and then some, falling 76-53 at PeoplesBank Arena on Tuesday.

The Boilermakers remained winless in their recent run of exhibition road games against high-major opponents. C.J. Cox scored 18 points, but functional offense was hard to come by for much of the night.

Purdue basketball photos vs. UConn in college basketball action

Purdue couldn't make a 3, couldn't muster enough functional offense elsewhere

Matt Painter wanted to play UConn for the simple reason the Huskies "run good offense and make it hard for you to run good offense." He probably wasn't expecting a 1-for-14 first-half shooting performance from 3, a handful of missed opportunities inside and a generally flat offensive performance. (That one made 3 came when Raleigh Burgess whiffed a layup but got the ball back and found Jack Benter behind the line.)

Purdue does not need to be explosive on offense this season, but it must be efficient. Instead, it looked off-kilter for much of the first half. Between those missed 3s and turnovers it had 18 empty offensive possessions in the first half alone. It finished 2_-25 from 3, which probably won't happen often. The inability to create fast break chances or finish around the rim may actually be bigger concerns.

Purdue received a final rebounding reminder before season's start

UConn projected as a much more significant rebounding challenge, and delivered. Three of the Huskies' offensive rebounds came on one possession which did not yield points, but in general, Purdue had a harder time rewarding itself for stops than in the first two exhibitions. UConn also set a tone with the way it attacked off defensive rebounds, beating the Boilers down the floor for a couple of 3s and a run-out dunk in the first eight minutes of the game.

When Purdue flipped the rebounding advantage in the opening minutes of the second half, it started to cut into the lead. It simply couldn't convert enough on offense to ever challenge to take the lead.

Braylon Mullins back on the floor, again facing off with Luke Ertel

Greenfield-Central alum Braylon Mullins made his exhibition debut for UConn after missing the first two with an unspecified injury. He provided some hints as to his affliction, though, wearing braces on both knees. When he subbed out of the game, he immediately went to a stationary bike positioned near the court. Purdue kept the NCAA Tournament hero in check — seven points on 3-9 shooting — but he also distributed four assists in the first half.

He and Purdue freshman Luke Ertel, a Mt. Vernon grad, went head-to-head in some memorable high school games. He scored two points on 1-4 shooting in this Hancock County reunion.

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