The Purdue Boilermakers are off to a fast start and are proving why they are a legitimate title contender.
Purdue contended for the Big Ten Championship last year and through the first week of the season this year, they are proving how good they are on a national scene.
The most difficult part of defending the Boilermakers is their size. Purdue has two seven-footers in A.J. Hammons and Isaac Haas. They also have a two power forwards that are at least six-feet, nine-inches tall. Needless to say, the Boilermakers have the frontcourt makeup of a NBA team.
Purdue’s big men create a lot of problems for opponents because of their size, but it also allows the guards to get open. Senior guard Rapheal Davis and junior Kendall Stevens can both get open and knock down three-pointers. Davis is the team’s second leading scorer with 11.6 points per game. Stephens is sixth in scoring with 9.8 points per game and is connecting on 36.8 percent of his three-point attempts.
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Head coach Matt Painter has the luxury of mixing and matching scoring leaders. Purdue has had five players in double figures in four of their first five games.
While they have played a soft schedule, it is remarkable that seven different Boilermakers have scored in double figures this season. They have had great balance with two guards, three forwards and two centers making up the double figure scorers by position.
Purdue gained a signature win on Sunday when they beat the Florida Gators 85-70. The basketball world was impressed with the way the Boilermakers won against one of the SEC‘s best teams. With the victory, Purdue also claimed the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Championship.
Purdue beat Florida by 15, shot 50% from the field, and Kendall Stephens didn't have a made field goal -- SCARY. Boilers are no joke.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) November 23, 2015
Neither the coaches nor the AP were sleeping on the Boilermakers when their preseason polls came out. The AP ranked Purdue at No. 21 and the coaches ranked them at No. 23, according to ESPN.com. Off to a 5-0 start, Purdue should be moved near the top 10 due to their incredible balance. They are going to continue to frustrate teams with their size, guard play and veteran leadership on and off the court.
Next: Big Ten Men's Basketball Predictions
Purdue hasn’t advanced to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament since the 2010 season. Their last Elite Eight trip was in 2000 and their last Final Four was in 1980. This year’s team is one of Painter’s best teams. The sky is the limit to the potential of this team, and they could are a legitimate threat to win the national championship this year.