CBS and ESPN still have Purdue in their projected NCAA Tournament fields and Joe Lunardi just tweeted in response to a question about whether Purdue-Illinois is an "elimination game" for either by saying, "not for Purdue."
Their optimism is interesting, IMO, considering that a three-game losing streak to end the regular season might turn the 'human element' we've talked so much about in relation to Purdue lately against it and as of right now, the Boilermakers are No. 63 in the RPI, second-lowest of any other team out there thought to have reasonable at-large hopes, ahead of only Miami (65).
Another small note: Vandy has fallen back out of the RPI top 100, now at 102 with a likely loss at Ole Miss coming up to finish the regular season.
The Iowa win at Indiana has put the Hawkeyes at 37, but Purdue's two wins over IU at 53.
Their optimism is interesting, IMO, considering that a three-game losing streak to end the regular season might turn the 'human element' we've talked so much about in relation to Purdue lately against it and as of right now, the Boilermakers are No. 63 in the RPI, second-lowest of any other team out there thought to have reasonable at-large hopes, ahead of only Miami (65).
Another small note: Vandy has fallen back out of the RPI top 100, now at 102 with a likely loss at Ole Miss coming up to finish the regular season.
The Iowa win at Indiana has put the Hawkeyes at 37, but Purdue's two wins over IU at 53.
