Alabama Poised to Shock Nation: Can They Really Top the Boilermakers?

Purdue is ranked as the second-best team in the country coming into this game. I am still a bit surprised about how they are able to maneuver in the current landscape of college basketball. It isn’t like Purdue is a huge destination for players. They don’t have the pedigree or name recognition of Duke, North Carolina, or Kansas. They are in Indiana, which isn’t exactly a cool place to live. And, even the NIL money can’t possibly be as high as a lot of other schools. The reason for success a couple of years ago was having a talented 7-foot guy who could help them win the majority of games. But, even after Zach Edey left the school, the Boilermakers were able to continue their success. They made it to the Sweet 16 last year and almost took down the eventual runner-up, Houston. Purdue has been able to combine really efficient basketball with an occasional superstar. They don’t really have a superstar this season, and they only have a couple of transfers and incoming freshmen to the program. I don’t expect any of them to make a true impact right away. Personally, the only thing I can think of for why they are ranked so high is that they have some continuity and experience. It is only two games, but four of their top five scorers are seniors.