We're 14 games into the conference season and we're the last team that gets to play the New Guy: The Nebraska Cornhuskers. Already, volleyball has a huge win in league play and women's basketball has an epic triple-overtime loss, but this is the first time in a major men's sport Purdue and Nebraska have met as Big Ten members. It seems very weird to think of this as a conference game, especially since I was two months old the last time we played Nebraska in basketball.
So, as our preview, I did a Q&A with Brian Speers of SB Nation's Corn Nation to familiarize ourselves with this stranger. My answers will be up over there later today.
2010-11 Record: 19-13, 7-9 Big 12
2011-12 Record: 12-13, 4-10 Big Ten
Postseason Result: Lost 76-49 to Wichita State in NIT First Round
Blog Representation: Corn Nation
Series with Purdue: Purdue leads 6-2
Last Purdue win: 12/11/1979 at Purdue 78-56
Last Nebraska win: 12/5/1964 at Nebraska 96-85
Time & TV 6:30pm Big Ten Network
T-Mill: How has the first year in the Big Ten lived up to your expectations?
Brian: I can speak for myself, and say that my only expectation was to be welcomed. We've seen that for sure, even if we did get thrashed in a few games. The fans have all seemed very amicable, and it seems that without the kind of pressure generated by the football teams, we just got to kind of enjoy the bumpy ride. For cable subscribers, the Big Ten Network has been awesome, not only to watch Husker games, but just the general programming itself. I also think that most fans knew that we were getting into a good conference for basketball, but to enter the league when the Big Ten is arguably the best conference in the country has been pretty cool. We'd like to think it's because of us.
T-Mill: Tell my readers about the new basketball arena and how it helps your program, please.
Brian: Under construction? It's going to be a massive complex studded with all of the modern day luxuries you would find in hotels and resorts. The general idea is that it will help bring kids in that can play, because we'll have iPods in the bathroom stalls...and what youngster doesn't require an iPod at all times, even on the shitter. From what we hear, the new digs are going to be the class of the conference, if not the country...and probably way more than we deserve. But hey, at least that means there is a commitment to dragging our program out from the mud it's currently in. I just really hope it makes a difference. You'll find out in 2013.
T-Mill: What should Purdue be concerned about on Wednesday?
Brian: Our last game. If you get any of that mojo, it's going to be a long day for Boiler fans. Lucky for you, we generally only get one of those games per year, and we just burned it on Meyers Leonard.
T-Mill: What are Nebraska's strengths and how will they come out on the road?
Brian: Normally, I'd say that we play much better at home. This year, we suck equally. Strengths? Probably our defense, and when we are playing well....our outside shooting. We've got some guys that can shoot, but they have ADD sometimes, and aren't exactly predictable.
T-Mill: Do you feel the Huskers are ahead or behind the curve coming into this year?
Brian: Behind. I mean, what part of 4-10 is confusing? We really had high hopes coming into 2011-12, but were pretty unprepared for the bigger and more athletic league. I mean, I've never seen so many huge white guys who can hit threes from all over the floor. No offense to Kansas and their fans, but this isn't the Big 12 conference anymore Toto. We have some recruiting work to do, and we're hoping that there are some Jared Sullinger types out there who have always wanted to "pinch a loaf" with an iPod.
Lol, thanks Brian. I guess kids aren't used to just using headphones with an ipod