9. Purdue (22-6)
There was a point not too long ago where we were considering the Boilermakers in that upper echelon of teams this season. After all, the Boilermakers entered the year with sky high expectations, boasting one of the most productive and experienced lineups in the country. They hit some turbulence in Big Ten play before bouncing back, but this current home stand already featured a double-digit loss against Michigan.
Unfortunately for Matt Painter and company, they’d get another blemish this week. In their lone contest, Purdue hosted Michigan State and couldn’t quite escape, falling 76-74 against the Spartans. Braden Smith had his typical standout performance with 12 points and 10 assists, but the Boilermakers still fell despite shooting 48% from long-range at home.
These five conference losses have Purdue down to 5th place in the Big Ten. Despite these shortcomings, including three home losses to ranked teams, the Boilermakers still have the offensive fireworks and complete talent to make major waves in the weeks ahead, they just need a bit more on the defensive end. They’ll finish out the regular season at Ohio State, at Northwestern and at home against Wisconsin, three games they could certainly sweep if the defense stands firm.