The Big Ten gauntlet is in full swing, and while the margin for error has tightened, No. 4 Purdue keeps finding ways to win - even when it’s not pretty. The Boilermakers, now 17-1 overall and a perfect 7-0 in conference play, are riding a nine-game winning streak as they head into a Tuesday night showdown against UCLA in Los Angeles.
Make no mistake: Purdue’s been dominant for much of the season, boasting an average scoring margin of +17.0 points. But lately, they’ve had to grind it out. Each of their last three wins has come by single digits, a clear sign that Big Ten play is testing their mettle.
Their latest test came Saturday night at USC, and it was a battle. Purdue found itself down 14 midway through the first half and still trailed 60-57 with just over three minutes to play. But they closed strong, finishing the game on a 12-4 run to escape with a 69-64 victory.
“Give our guys credit,” head coach Matt Painter said postgame. “We had some things go against us, had some foul trouble.
You’ve got to learn to play through it. Be above it.
Focus on what you can control. That’s not always easy, but we did enough.”
That win tied a program record for the best 18-game start - a mark Purdue has hit three times before, most recently in the 2022-23 season. A win over UCLA would not only keep their conference record spotless, but also set a new program-best for longest winning streak.
Braden Smith played a huge role in the comeback against USC. He poured in 22 points, dished out five assists, and despite committing six turnovers, came up clutch down the stretch. His steal and layup with 26 seconds remaining gave Purdue a 65-62 lead and helped seal the deal.
Oscar Cluff also chipped in with 19 points and six rebounds. The senior forward is now just eight points away from hitting the 1,000-point milestone in his college career - a mark that speaks to his consistency and impact.
As for UCLA, the Bruins (12-6, 4-3 Big Ten) are coming off a grueling stretch that saw them play four of their last five conference games on the road. They went 2-3 during that run, capped off by a tough 86-74 loss at Ohio State - a game where their usually stout defense simply couldn’t hold up.
Tyler Bilodeau was a bright spot in that loss, dropping 30 points and grabbing eight boards. That performance came on the heels of Trent Perry’s 30-point outing in a win at Penn State, showing that the Bruins have offensive firepower. Donovan Dent added 13 points and seven assists against the Buckeyes, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a defensive showing that head coach Mick Cronin didn’t mince words about.
“Highly disappointed in getting our a-- kicked physically and our inability to play defense,” Cronin said bluntly after Ohio State pulled down 12 offensive rebounds on just 25 missed shots. “I offer no excuses. Blame me.”
But Cronin didn’t stop there. He called out his players’ lack of response to the physical challenge posed by Ohio State, particularly in trying to contain John Mobley Jr. (28 points) and Bruce Thornton (21 points).
“We didn’t have anybody interested in rising to that challenge,” Cronin said.
Offensively, Cronin acknowledged the team did enough - 74 points on the road in Big Ten play is nothing to scoff at - but he made it clear that defense is where his expectations lie.
“We scored 74 points on the road in the Big Ten,” he said. “You should have a big-time shot to win. Our defense is an embarrassment.”
The Bruins have been missing a key piece in Skyy Clark, who’s been sidelined for the past four games with a hamstring injury. The sophomore guard has averaged 13.5 points per game this season and has been lights out from beyond the arc, hitting 48.6% of his threes in 14 games.
As UCLA returns home, they’ll need to rediscover their defensive identity quickly. Purdue brings not only size and skill, but also a growing confidence in their ability to win close games. If the Bruins want to pull off the upset and stop the Boilermakers’ momentum, it’ll take more than just scoring - it’ll take grit, physicality, and a defense that shows up for 40 minutes.