The Purdue Basketball ESPN “talking heads” had moderate expectations for Coach Matt Painter and the Purdue men’s basketball team entering the 2017 season. The Purdue Boilermakers were ranked number twenty in the AP Top 25.

The Purdue Basketball ESPN projections were about the right area especially after Purdue lost two games in the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament in November, but the Boilermakers (24-5 overall, 13-3 Big Ten) have lost three straight games. They were one of the hottest programs up till the past week. They are ranked ninth in the AP Top 25.

Several ESPN reporters had Matt Painter being nominated to win the Associated Press College Basketball Coach for the Year.

Who thought that losing Caleb Swanigan who was a Big Ten player of the year and consensus All-American would have Purdue being one of the Big 10’s best teams and maybe make a run to the NCAA Final Four.

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The Purdue Boilermakers had their best start to a season since 1987 and are 13-3 in the Big Ten right now.

Some of the Purdue Basketball ESPN Critics are really on Matt Painter right now. Coach Painter has nine NCAA appearances, and the Boilermakers haven’t made it past the Sweet 16. I think they aren’t watching how their prediction very well.

The Boilermakers are shooting sixth nationally with a 41.7 three-point percentage, and the opponent field goal percentage is 23rd.

The Boilermakers have had a brutal February where they have lost to Ohio State, Michigan State, and Wisconsin by four points or less beat by 2-3 points or less by Rutgers and Penn State.

The Purdue Boilermakers have a roster that competes with any team in the nation on a championship-caliber. They might have lost some games, but I think that they will be outstanding come NCAA Tournament time. You will have to check them out to see what you think!