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NCAA Basketball Roundtable: Gonzaga’s flaws, Iowa State’s rise and beating Purdue

By Tristan Freeman

Dec 3, 2021; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers forward Trevion Williams (50) cheers on his team during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Mackey Arena. Boilermakers won 77-70. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2021; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers forward Trevion Williams (50) cheers on his team during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Mackey Arena. Boilermakers won 77-70. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports /
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NCAA Basketball Purdue Boilermakers Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Basketball Purdue Boilermakers Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports /

2. How many teams can beat Purdue on a neutral floor?

Mauro

Right now, I don’t know if anyone can.  The Boilers are really good right now on December 6th, 2021 but the season is still young and a lot can happen.  For the sake of the question, I would say Duke.  Duke has the big men in Mark Williams and Paolo Banchero to neutralize the two fantastic big men from Purdue and have the guards on the perimeter to defend Jaden Ivey.

The Blue Devils would give the Boilers a game but right now let’s give it up for Purdue being No. 1 for the first time in history and they work their way to a one seed.

Burgess

Since this is college basketball and we are talking about a one-game scenario, even though Purdue is probably the most complete team in the country they can be beaten. Gonzaga, Duke, Baylor, and even UCLA have the rosters that can pull it off.

Rosenberg

Purdue has beaten two opponents on a neutral floor by single digits. It’s important to note those two teams were North Carolina and Villanova so it wasn’t an easy feat. Not including the Big 10 tournament, the Boilermakers will have one more game on a neutral floor against North Carolina State next week in Brooklyn.

The Wolfpack are currently 6-2 but they haven’t played as high of caliber teams as Purdue. I believe Purdue will win all three of the regular season games on a neutral floor. Note: I personally don’t like to include tournaments until it comes time. Let’s be real, postseason is always bonkers.

Zacher

I’m fully on the Purdue bandwagon, and I’m outrageously excited that the Boilermakers finally have their first-ever number-one ranking in the AP Poll.  But not even the Boilermakers look as invulnerable as Baylor or Gonzaga did last year – they already have three double-digit victories under their belt, including two where they showcased a multitude of struggles against Villanova and Iowa.

That game against the Hawkeyes says a lot about who can hang around with Purdue – especially considering Iowa was so close to knocking Purdue off without star Keegan Murray.  Shutting down interior play is pivotal to knocking off Purdue, meaning a team with a physical post that can combat Zach Edey and Trevion Williams is necessary.  I would be extremely curious to see Duke play Purdue because I think the Blue Devils would stand a chance because of Mark Williams.

Alabama would be an interesting case because of their deadliness from outside, and – against recent stigma that has plagued them against Purdue – I think this new-look Indiana team under Mike Woodson would create some issues with how wildly efficient Trayce Jackson-Davis has been this year.

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