Purdue has made it difficult to get an NCAA bid because of its early-season losses to Maine, Villanova, Southern Illinois and IUPUI, plus the lack of a marquee victory, the best being the pair of wins vs. Michigan State, a bubble team at best. But at 14-8, 5-3, with an RPI around 80, there are probably three narrow paths to the Dance, as I see it.
1. Beat Maryland Thursday, with it being one part of a 5-3 record in the second half. Win a game in the BTT. That'd put Purdue at 20-12, with a NCAA-bumping win vs. the Terps, which would help negate the early loses.
2. Lose to Maryland, but win the other seven remaining games. Win a game in the BTT. That'd put Purdue at 22-10, perhaps with an RPI in the high 50s or low 60s, and with wins in 10 of final 12.
3. Do whatever the rest of the regular-season. Win the BTT.
Not sure which scenario is most likely, because all are fairly unlikely. But at least at the halfway point of the Big Ten, Purdue has given itself a chance after a horrible start.
1. Beat Maryland Thursday, with it being one part of a 5-3 record in the second half. Win a game in the BTT. That'd put Purdue at 20-12, with a NCAA-bumping win vs. the Terps, which would help negate the early loses.
2. Lose to Maryland, but win the other seven remaining games. Win a game in the BTT. That'd put Purdue at 22-10, perhaps with an RPI in the high 50s or low 60s, and with wins in 10 of final 12.
3. Do whatever the rest of the regular-season. Win the BTT.
Not sure which scenario is most likely, because all are fairly unlikely. But at least at the halfway point of the Big Ten, Purdue has given itself a chance after a horrible start.