Purdue’s Path to a Big Ten Title Isn’t Paved Just Yet - Here’s Why
Purdue came into the season with a target on its back-and for good reason. The Boilermakers were the preseason pick to win the Big Ten, and so far, they’ve looked the part. Sitting at 7-0 and carrying the No. 1 ranking into their conference opener at Rutgers, Matt Painter’s squad has handled business through the early stretch.
But holding the top spot in December doesn’t guarantee a conference title come March. The Big Ten is deep, unpredictable, and unforgiving-especially once league play kicks into gear. If Purdue wants to claim its third Big Ten title in four years, it’ll have to navigate a few key challenges along the way.
Let’s break down the three biggest obstacles standing between the Boilermakers and another conference crown.
1. The Big Ten Isn’t a One-Horse Race
Purdue may be undefeated, but so are six other Big Ten teams at this early stage-Nebraska, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, and USC are all still clean in the loss column. That’s a crowded pack chasing the same prize.
Michigan, in particular, looks like a real threat. Dusty May’s squad was pegged as the preseason No. 2 in the conference, and they’ve done nothing to disappoint. Their recent run to the Players Era title turned heads, and advanced metrics back it up-Michigan currently edges Purdue in the KenPom rankings.
Michigan State isn’t far behind either. The Spartans are always a tough out under Tom Izzo, and they’ve got the pieces to compete at the top. Illinois, despite already picking up two losses, has the kind of talent that could make them a factor down the stretch.
Here’s the upside for Purdue: they get Michigan, Michigan State, and Illinois all at Mackey Arena. That’s a major scheduling win. Protecting home court in those games could go a long way toward deciding the conference race.
2. December Hasn’t Been Kind to Purdue on the Road
Here’s a stat that might surprise you: Purdue has dropped six of its last seven Big Ten road openers. That’s not exactly the trend you want heading into a December trip to Rutgers.
The lone exception came in 2022, when Purdue escaped Nebraska with an overtime win-back when Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer, and Trey Kaufman-Renn were still freshmen. Since then, it’s been a mixed bag.
Last year’s opener at Penn State ended in a nine-point loss that didn’t feel that close. Even during their 2022-23 Big Ten title run and national championship appearance, Purdue stumbled out of the gate with a loss at Northwestern.
The Big Ten tends to backload its heavyweight matchups, saving the marquee games for January and February. But that makes these early-season contests even more crucial.
Purdue opens with Rutgers on the road and then hosts Minnesota on Dec. 10.
A strong start could set the tone for the rest of conference play-and help avoid the kind of midseason slide that’s derailed contenders in the past.
3. Can the Bigs Anchor a Title Run?
Last season, Purdue’s interior defense and rebounding were question marks. They held up well enough for a while, but things started to unravel late in the year. The Boilermakers dropped four straight in February, and their frontcourt struggles were a big part of that.
This year, the early signs are more encouraging. After losing the rebounding battle in their first two games, Purdue has flipped the script-winning the glass in five straight since Kaufman-Renn returned from a hip injury.
Even more promising: a different big man has led the team in rebounding in each of the last three games. That kind of depth and versatility up front is exactly what you want in a league as physical as the Big Ten.
Through seven games, Purdue’s center duo of Oscar Cluff and Daniel Jacobsen has been quietly dominant. They’re combining for 22 points, 15.1 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting a blistering 73.8% from the field. Statistically, they’re right in line-or even ahead-of what Zach Edey brought to the table during his two-year reign as the Big Ten’s most dominant force.
That’s not to say Cluff and Jacobsen are replicating Edey’s presence, but they’re giving Purdue a reliable interior foundation. And in a conference built on bruising post play and second-chance points, that matters.
The Road Ahead
Purdue looks the part of a Big Ten favorite, and they’ve earned their No. 1 ranking. But the road to a conference title is never smooth in this league. With a crowded field of contenders, a tricky early schedule, and the pressure of living up to expectations, the Boilermakers will need to stay sharp.
If they can take care of business at home, shake off their early road woes, and continue to get high-level production from their bigs, they’ll be in prime position to finish what they started.
But make no mistake-this race is just getting started.