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NCAA Basketball: Ranking final 18 unbeaten teams for 2023-24 season

By Joey Loose

Nov 22, 2023; Honolulu, HI, USA;Purdue Boilermakers guard Braden Smith (3) recovers a loose ball from Marquette Golden Eagles guard Kam Jones (1) during the first half at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. Mandatory Credit: Steven Erler-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 22, 2023; Honolulu, HI, USA;Purdue Boilermakers guard Braden Smith (3) recovers a loose ball from Marquette Golden Eagles guard Kam Jones (1) during the first half at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. Mandatory Credit: Steven Erler-USA TODAY Sports /
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Purdue Boilermakers forward Mason Gillis (0) high-fives Purdue Boilermakers forward Caleb Furst
Purdue Boilermakers forward Mason Gillis (0) high-fives Purdue Boilermakers forward Caleb Furst /

1. Purdue

Every story about Purdue can simply start by mentioning the crushing blow dealt by Fairleigh Dickinson last March. We’re moving beyond that because Zach Edey is back and playing like the National Player of the Year for a second straight season. Young guards Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer still look great and the Boilermakers had the best November of any team in the nation.

Not much was needed in their early games, though it took a nice effort to beat a feisty Xavier team at home. The Boilermakers then went to Hawaii and came home with the Maui Invitational title, having beaten three Top 11 teams in the event. That wild ride included a 10-point win over Gonzaga in the first round, a 4-point win against Tennessee in the semifinal, and surviving Marquette by 3 points to win the title.

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These Boilermakers have proven that they are the best team in the nation; there’s no question about it after their performance in Maui. Moving forward, they get Big Ten play going with a tricky road game at Northwestern. Neutral-site matchups with Alabama and Arizona await in the upcoming weekends and the Boilermakers are figured to get upended by at least a couple of their conference foes; especially with that kind of target on their back in the Big Ten.

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