The first NET rankings of the college basketball season are out, and Purdue is exactly where most expected - right in the thick of the national elite. Michigan’s hot run in Las Vegas has them sitting in the top spot for now, but Purdue checks in at No. 3, with a very real shot to climb even higher in the coming weeks.
Saturday’s upcoming showdown? It’s shaping up to be one of the biggest non-conference home games in West Lafayette in over a decade.
According to KenPom, it’s No. 2 vs. No. 4; by NET, it’s No. 3 vs.
No. 7.
You’d have to go back to 2010 - when Purdue hosted West Virginia in a top-10 clash - to find a similar matchup in terms of national ranking and stakes.
It’s still early, but make no mistake: another No. 1 seed is Purdue’s to lose. The Boilermakers have positioned themselves well, with a strong non-conference resume and a schedule that gives them a legitimate path to the top line in March.
According to the Warren Nolan projections, Purdue is favored in every remaining game. Now, going undefeated through the regular season is a tall order - and unlikely - but the early returns are more than encouraging.
Especially with a tough non-conference slate that includes a marquee game against Iowa State at Mackey Arena.
Purdue’s Resume at a Glance
- NET Ranking: 3
- KenPom Ranking: 2
- Consensus Bracket Seed (Bracket Matrix): 1
Tier 1 Wins (KenPom):
- At Alabama (14)
- Neutral vs. Texas Tech (28)
Tier 2 Wins (KenPom):
- *Home vs.
Akron (56)*
- *Neutral vs.
Memphis (70)*
Tier 1 Wins (NET):
- At Alabama (12)
- Neutral vs. Texas Tech (37)
Tier 2 Wins (NET):
- Home vs. Akron (40)
Bad Losses: None - and that’s a big deal this early in the season.
Let’s take a closer look at how some of Purdue’s past opponents - and future ones - are shaping up, and what that means for the Boilermakers’ overall strength of schedule.
Evansville Purple Aces (3-5)
- NET: 315
- KenPom: 302
Evansville wrapped up the Paradise Jam with a tough 78-59 loss to Charleston in the third-place game. They’ve got Ball State next at home, followed by a trip to Western Kentucky. The Aces are rebuilding, and their metrics reflect that - not much here to boost Purdue’s resume, but also no harm done.
Oakland Golden Grizzlies (3-5)
- NET: 115
- KenPom: 144
Oakland came out of the gates facing a brutal trio in Michigan, Purdue, and Houston - all teams with Final Four potential. After surviving that stretch, they bounced back nicely, winning a four-team invitational in Montana with victories over Lamar and Montana. Horizon League play begins tomorrow against Purdue-Fort Wayne.
Alabama Crimson Tide (5-2)
- NET: 12
- KenPom: 14
Alabama took part in the chaotic Playa’s Era Festival in Vegas, going 2-1 with a loss to Gonzaga (95-85) but convincing wins over UNLV and Maryland. Purdue held them to just 80 points - their lowest total of the season so far - and that’s no small feat against one of the most explosive offenses in the country.
Akron Zips (6-2)
- NET: 40
- KenPom: 56
Akron’s profile is quietly solid. They nearly won the Paradise Jam, falling just short in a 97-94 shootout against Yale.
They bounced back to hammer Milwaukee 105-81. The Zips have a steep climb to earn an at-large bid, but they’re a strong contender to win the MAC and punch a ticket to March.
Memphis Tigers (2-4)
- NET: 156
- KenPom: 70
Memphis snapped a four-game skid with a 74-58 win over Southern Illinois. They’ve got New Orleans up next, but the real test comes soon with a critical three-game stretch: Baylor, at Louisville, and Vanderbilt. That trio could make or break their at-large hopes.
Texas Tech Red Raiders (6-2)
- NET: 37
- KenPom: 28
After a blowout loss to Purdue, the Red Raiders bounced back with a blowout win of their own over New Orleans and a tighter battle against Wyoming, which they won 76-72. They’re idle until December 7, when they’ll face LSU.
Eastern Illinois Panthers (2-5)
- NET: 325
- KenPom: 331
Eastern Illinois has had a rough go of it. They dropped games to Central Arkansas and were thoroughly outmatched by Purdue.
To put it in perspective: if you transferred 46 of Purdue’s 47-point margin of victory over to the football field at Ross-Ade Stadium, it still wouldn’t have been enough to win. That’s how dominant the Boilermakers were.
Iowa State Cyclones (4-0)
- NET: 7
- KenPom: 4
Iowa State went 3-0 in Vegas with wins over St. John’s, Creighton, and Syracuse - and somehow didn’t “win” the event.
Strange formatting aside, the Cyclones are legit. They tune up against Alcorn State tomorrow before heading to West Lafayette for what’s shaping up to be one of the biggest games of December.
Marquette Golden Eagles (4-4)
- NET: 168
- KenPom: 79
It’s been a sluggish start for Marquette after a couple of strong seasons. They dropped a one-point heartbreaker in Chicago on November 28 and have yet to beat a quality opponent. They’ll try to get back on track tonight against Valparaiso.
Auburn Tigers (6-2)
- NET: 28
- KenPom: 22
Auburn also took part in the Playa’s Era event, going 2-1 with wins over Oregon and St. John’s, but they were run off the floor by Michigan, losing 102-72. They’ll host NC State next in what should be a solid litmus test.
Kent State Golden Flashes (7-1)
- NET: 165
- KenPom: 125
Kent State is rolling with seven straight wins after dropping their opener to Troy. Their most recent win?
A 123-59 dismantling of Penn State-Shenango. With a soft schedule ahead, they’re likely to be 10-1 heading into their matchup with Purdue.
Final Thoughts
Purdue’s early-season profile is exactly what you want to see from a team with national title aspirations: quality wins, no bad losses, and a schedule that continues to challenge them without overwhelming them. The Boilermakers are in a strong position not just for a No. 1 seed, but for a deep March run - and if they keep handling business, the rest of the country will have to go through West Lafayette to get there.