NCAA Basketball: North Carolina, Kentucky, Auburn rise in latest top 25 power rankings
By Joey Loose
2. Purdue (27-3)
At virtually every turn Purdue has proven that they are one of the best teams in the entire nation. They’ve been far from flawless but have really showed up against top competition, with those impressive wins over Arizona, Tennessee, Marquette, Alabama, and Gonzaga back before league play. Even after a few mishaps against the Big Ten, they’re still showing that they show up against the best.
That latest success came this past Tuesday as the Boilermakers headed to Champaign for a tough matchup against Illinois. Despite trailing by six at the half, Purdue caught fire in the second period and powered to a 77-71 win over the Fighting Illini. Zach Edey played brilliantly as usual with 28 points and 8 rebounds while Fletcher Loyer had 16 points and 5 assists. The Boilermakers shot 80% from beyond the arc in that second half.
Yet another win away from home against a tough, ranked opponent only secures Purdue’s place as one of the nation’s best teams. What’s important for the Boilermakers is showing up against all levels of competition; they don’t want a repeat of Fairleigh Dickinson in a few weeks. The Big Ten Tournament is on the horizon, but first Purdue finishes the regular season at home with Wisconsin on Sunday.