Purdue Basketball Lands 7-Foot Phenom Sinan Huan Ahead of Showdown vs No. 8 Alabama

Purdue basketball’s November showdown in Tuscaloosa delivered the kind of early-season statement Matt Painter’s second-ranked Boilermakers needed, edging No. 9 Alabama 92-88 behind a flurry of late threes from veteran guard Fletcher Loyer and a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double by sophomore forward Trey Kaufman-Renn. The win moves Purdue to 3-0 and reinforces its case as the Big Ten favorite while keeping the program squarely in the national spotlight after last spring’s Final Four run. Key takeaways for Boilermaker fans and college-basketball bettors: • Offensive balance replacing Zach Edey: Even without the 7-foot-4 Naismith winner, Purdue’s offense remains elite. Six players averaged double figures through the first three games, and Painter has expanded pace and perimeter volume to maximize Kaufman-Renn’s inside-out skill set. • Backcourt chemistry: Junior point guard Braden Smith posted 11 assists vs. the Crimson Tide, pushing his season average to 9.3. His ball-screen synergy with Loyer (18.7 ppg, 46 % from deep) should worry conference opponents once league play begins in early December. • Defensive wrinkles: Associate head coach Brandon Brantley mixed a matchup zone on 18 second-half possessions, holding Alabama to 4-for-15 from three during that stretch. Expect more zone minutes as Painter leverages his length on the wings. Recruiting momentum compounds the on-court buzz. Purdue signed 7-foot-1 Chinese center Sinan Huan on Wednesday, adding a fourth top-75 prospect to its 2026 class. Huan’s rim-protection upside fits Painter’s post-centric tradition and positions the Boilermakers for continuity after Kaufman-Renn and sophomore center Will Berg exhaust eligibility. Upcoming schedule highlights: • Nov 18 vs. Miami (OH) — Mackey Arena home opener. • Nov 25 vs. No. 17 Baylor — Hall of Fame Classic championship. • Dec 3 at Indiana — first of two blood-rival meetings that could shape the Big Ten race. SEO takeaway: searchers looking for “Purdue basketball score,” “Purdue basketball recruiting,” and “Purdue vs. Alabama highlights” will find continuing updates here as the Boilermakers chase another No. 1 seed and assemble a top-five national recruiting haul.