The Purdue Boilermakers face off with a Tennessee State Tigers’ squad that nearly beat Texas. Who comes out on top?
TV schedule: Thursday, Dec. 21, 6:00 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network
Arena: Mackey Arena, West Lafayette, Indiana
After back to back losses to what now look like NCAA Tournament teams in the Tennessee Volunteers and Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, the Purdue Boilermakers are on a seven-game win streak that has pushed them all the way back to No. 16.
Wins over the then-No. 2 Arizona Wildcats, the then-No. 17 Louisville Cardinals, on the road against the Maryland Terrapins, and on the road against the Butler Bulldogs highlight a stretch of games that should all but assure Purdue a place in the Big Dance.
The next portion of their schedule before resuming Big Ten play was expected to be relatively easy to start the season, but, now, the Boilermakers cannot afford to overlook the Tennessee State Tigers (or even the next opponents, Lipscomb).
Though 5-5 on the season, the Tigers just lost by one point to the Texas Longhorns at the last second. They fought hard and had a chance to get a giant win for a program looking to get its feet back under them after several years of disappointing results. The OVC is not a two bid league, however, so really, the loss, though disappointing, does not mean too much in the long run.
Purdue cannot afford to make the same mistake Texas did. While the Boilermakers are better than the Longhorns, TSU is extremely athletic and, when their defense is on, they are going to be difficult to beat.
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That being said, Purdue should win this one easily at home and head into Big Ten play after Christmas somewhere in the top 15.
Prediction: Purdue 74, Tennessee State 58