Purdue started this season with high expectations, entering as the preseason No. 1 for the first time in the school's history. With All-American guard Braden Smith and All-Big Ten forward Trey Kaufman-Renn back in action after a Sweet 16 appearance last year, many anticipated that coach Matt Painter would lead the team to another national title run.
Yet, the season hasn't unfolded as planned for the Boilermakers. Smith, now a senior, hasn't been making waves on the All-America scene, and Kaufman-Renn's scoring has dropped from 20.1 points per game last year to 13.4 this season.
The result? Purdue stumbled to a close in the regular season, losing four of their last six games, and landing in the No. 7 spot in the Big Ten. Their overall record stands at 23-8, with five losses at home - matching the 2019-20 season, which was disrupted by COVID, for the most home defeats in the past decade.