Busting Brackets
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Big Ten Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2020-21 season

By Adam Childs

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 12: Big Ten logo on the floor before the Big Ten Men's Basketball Final against the Wisconsin Badgers and Michigan Wolverines at the Verizon Center on March 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. The Wolverines won 71-56. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 12: Big Ten logo on the floor before the Big Ten Men's Basketball Final against the Wisconsin Badgers and Michigan Wolverines at the Verizon Center on March 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. The Wolverines won 71-56. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
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WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA – FEBRUARY 11: Trevion Williams #50 of the Purdue Boilermakers(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA – FEBRUARY 11: Trevion Williams #50 of the Purdue Boilermakers(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

9. team. 492. . . . Boilermakers

Purdue had an interesting offseason as two of their better players decided to transfer. Matt Haarms went to BYU and Nojel Eastern ended up at Howard after previously trying to get into Big Ten rival Michigan.

The fact that they transferred wasn’t surprising but Matt Painter’s comments afterward were. Painter indirectly (or directly depending on how you viewed it) called the two players out and said that in more words if you don’t want to work hard be gone.

Sometimes its addition by subtraction and that might be the case here, but they will still miss the depth that those two gave the Boilermakers. They were wildly inconsistent during their time in West Lafayette, but again had some scoring ability that they will need to replace.

Purdue still has some talent returning in Trevion Williams who broke out last year and shooters Eric Hunter Jr and Sasha Stefanovic.

Williams led the team in scoring 11.5 points per game and had a could of huge games including a 36 point outburst at Michigan in their loss. He is also a great rebounder grabbing just under eight rebounds per game. He will be key to the Boilermaker’s success in 2020.

Hunter Jr and Stefanovic will need to continue to hit shots from deep to open up Williams down low. If they can continue to get better and become a threat the Boilermakers should be in good shape.

The one thing we do know about Purdue is that Matt Painter has been able to get the best out of his teams and they have a great homecourt advantage. Depending on if fans are allowed into games will be a big deal, but either way, the Boilermakers should be a tough out for anyone in the Big Ten this year.

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