Purdue Boilermakers
Record: 21-12, 12-6 Big Ten
Head coach: Matt Painter (10th season)
Season summary: In December, Purdue lost to North Florida, Gardner-Webb and Vanderbilt. But in an unforgettable turnaround, the Boilermakers won games against BYU, Iowa, Ohio State and Indiana and finished the regular season tied for third in the Big Ten. Seven-foot junior center A.J. Hammons burst onto the national scene on his way to a second-team All-Big Ten selection and is a big reason why Purdue is No. 14 in the nation at blocks per game at 5.3 per contest. When the Boilermakers are at their best, Hammons is controlling the paint and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Rapheal Davis is wreaking havoc on the perimeter.
How they make a run: The Boilermakers can make a run if they are able to defend the 3-point arc well. In many of Purdue’s biggest wins, the Boilermakers held their opponents well below their normal 3-point percentage.
How they falter: If the Boilermakers cannot make shots from outside, they will not be able to keep defenses honest and Hammons will have no room to operate in the paint.
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