Big Ten Basketball: Indiana tumbles, Rutgers storms up in latest power rankings

The Boilermakers are 23-4 overall and currently No. 1 in Big Ten Basketball with a 13-4 record. And yet, you’d think they were barely over .500 with the way some in the media talks about them. That’s because, after the blazing start to the season that saw them ranked No. 1 overall for the first time in school history, the team was viewed as a national title contender.

That’s how they’ve been judged as well, both good and bad. The issue for Purdue is that their defense can be poor at times, particularly when 7’4 center Zach Edey is in on defense. That was made clear in the blowout loss to Michigan, where Hunter Dickinson was able to go off on the perimeter. The Wolverines scored 82 points in the win, the highest amount allowed by the Boilermakers in regulation.

Even games against the likes of Maryland and Northwestern, the Boilermakers have been in tougher fights than expected. The lack of a true point guard at times has hurt them, as Jaden Ivey needs to have the ball in his hands but his decision-making for others can be an issue. Trevion Williams is the best passer on the team but he only plays half the time.

But even with those issues that’ll have to be addressed in March, Purdue has the chance to win the regular-season title and get the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Basketball Tournament. But they’ll have to win at either Michigan State or Wisconsin in the next week to do so.