Last chance before Purdue tips-off tonight.
With Purdue’s Big Ten basketball season tipping off tonight I wanted to get the staff on the record one final time about where Purdue will finish this year.
I asked the staff: Big Ten season for Purdue starts this week, before taking a break, now that we’ve had a chance to look at the Big Ten, what’s your prediction for where Purdue finishes in the conference?
Ledman:
I’ve been a believer in this team for a couple years now. Last year I correctly predicted they would go to the Final Four which I know in retrospect seemed so obvious but it’s still the Final Four and something Purdue hadn’t done since 1980. This team is different of course. They are going to be a much more frustrating team to watch and there will be frustrating losses of that I have no doubt. The defense is going to drive us crazy, much like it will Coach Painter, but that’s something we’ve got to live with.
It’s not that I think the Big Ten is going to be bad this year, but I just think that Purdue will continue to be the class of the conference. The Big Three from Purdue will be dominant players throughout the season and it’s easy to see how having three consistent players will make a huge difference this year. Now, I’m going to go out on a limb and say that the combination of experience and youth will drive Purdue to the top of the Big Ten and Purdue will win their third consecutive Big Ten title.
Ryan:
I still believe this Purdue team will finish top 3 in the Big Ten with arguably the best chance of any to win the conference. We are still a long way from March, but nobody has been truly impressive yet. We still have the Big Ten play appetizers and the rest of non-conference play to see if a team separates but if nobody elevates above the others to take the crown, I’m sticking with the 2-time reigning champs.
Jed:
Before the season started, I felt Purdue had a chance to win the conference but there were a lot of unknowns. That idea took a bit hit when Jacobsen went down with an injury but it seems CMP has been pressing all the right buttons since with his lineups and shortening them even earlier than in previous years. The move to Colvin and Heide in the lineup has seemingly been a move that found the best offensive and defensive lineup at the same time.
With seeing other teams in the B1G struggle more than they should at multiple points and looking very uneven, I think Purdue is probably the clear favorite now to win the B1G. There isn’t a trio as experienced and able to, on a given night, go out and each get you 20 points like Smith, TKR, and Loyer. As Colvin and Heide continue to fall into their roles more and Burgess, Cox, and Harris get accustomed to major college ball, Purdue’s ceiling will continue to rise.
This isn’t just a B1G title favorite. This is a team that should be a favorite to make the Final Four again as they are more built for success in March than any other team Matt Painter has had at Purdue outside of last years team.
Kyle:
Until proven otherwise, it is Purdue’s Title to lose.
Matt Painter’s Boilermakers are transitioning in the post Edey Era, but are finding their footing fast, with TKR leading the post and Smith taking a step forward as the Point Guard, again.
The starting 5 is now cemented, after an experiment with Will Berg at the 5 for a few games, and Coach Painter has his best 5 playing 30+ minutes each.
Purdue can win another Big Ten Title and the floor is maybe 4th for this squad.