TUSCALOOSA, AL — If Purdue men’s basketball and Alabama decided to play every year, would anyone complain?

For the third straight year, these nonconference opponents engaged in a thriller. For the third straight year, the Boilermakers came out on top, escaping Coleman Coliseum with an 87-80 victory .

Trey Kaufman-Renn posted a double-double of 19 points, 15 rebounds and five assists after missing the first two games with a hip injury. Braden Smith scored 21 of his 29 points in the second half.

Here's what I liked, disliked and what the Boilermakers ' 87-80 victory means.

Here's what I liked in Purdue basketball's win at Alabama

The impact of Kaufman-Renn's return was both palpable and immediate. He crashed the offensive boards, displayed his full array of options in the lane and

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