Purdue 91, Norfolk State 45: Caleb Swanigan Rebounds Everything

In the last 20 years only one player from a major conference have had three games of at least 20 points and 20 rebounds: Blake Griffin. Oddly enough he nearly had a fourth when Oklahoma beat Purdue 87-82 in overtime during the 2008-09. He had 21 rebounds in that game, but “only” 18 points.

Tonight Caleb Swanigan joined him with his third 20-20 game of not just his career, but this season. In fact, it was his second such game in a row after he had 21 points and 21 rebounds two nights ago in a blowout win over Western Illinois. Tonight he finished with a career high 32 points and 20 rebounds. Some notes on those numbers:

· It is the first game of at least 30 points and 20 rebounds for ANY Purdue player since Bob Ford against Minnesota on January 16, 1971.

· It is only the seventh such game in school history.

· Biggie now has as many 20/20 games as all Big Ten players combined in the last 25 years (at least that is what I think Larry Clisby said).

· He is the first Purdue player to have three 20/20 games in one season since William Franklin in 1972.

· Franklin had back-to-back 20/20 games in that 1971-72 season, doing so against Northwestern (a 78-75 win on January 29) and Michigan (an 84-74 win on February 5). This wasn’t against Big Ten teams, but it is still impressive.

· Caleb all but locked up his second consecutive Big Ten Player of the Week Ward and third of the season.

· Caleb is now averaging 12.5 rebounds per game, which is second nationally.

· It was his 18^th career double-double and 10^th of the season. The school record in a season is 18.

· He is well on pace to be the first Purdue player to average a double-double since Glenn Robinson in 1994.

One more time, HE HAD 32 POINTS AND 20 REBOUNDS!!!!!!!

For good measure, Caleb was 11 of 15 from the field and 9 of 10 from the field. I recognize that this is against inferior competition, but if it was so easy to do why have only a handful of players done it against ANYONE in the last 20 years?

Of course there were lots of other good numbers. Isaac Haas was 7 of 8 from the field for 14 points. Purdue held a team to just 45 points and 31.7% shooting from the field. P.J. Thompson had another 7 assists and not a single turnover. It was an expected blowout win over a MEAC team, but Swanigan… my word!

Look out, Big Ten. Here comes the train.