Looking at Purdue's schedule I cannot come at this point to think Purdue pulls off anything spectacular. I just can't go there after Minny. I hope I'm wrong, but I can't get there based on what I've seen so far. Personality just isn't there. And that's my number 1 reason for setting sights so mediocre. The aspiration is not there so the results won't be either.
Currently Purdue is a 3 loss team 1-1 in conference dropping a whopping and shocking home loss to Minny where at the whistle Purdue was manhandled out of the gates and played catchup the entire game with zero defensive answers to a young inexperienced Minnesota team. With that said I take a look at the schedule that is seemingly favorable to Purdue prior to the loss. After the loss it is a sobering schedule filled with potential losses top to bottom.
at Ohio State (probable loss) - Rivals has Purdue winning this by 2 points. If they think the game is that close they need to re-evaluate that projection because Purdue has no heart and the last real road game Purdue got stomped almost as bad as Minny and again played catchup to lose effortlessly.
Wisconsin (probable loss) - They're ranked much higher than Purdue and play far smarter basketball. If Minny came to Purdue and dominated why can't 12th ranked Wisconsin?
at Iowa (toss up) - Purdue may have dominated Iowa at home, Iowa can play when they want. Their home crowd is tough, Purdue usually makes difficult these games when they don't need to be. After enduring 2 losses and probably finding itself 1-3 in conference I can't help but think the team is playing timid and scared as they usually do on the road. I'll give Purdue the edge generously in this game, but it won't be nearly as easy as it was 1st time around.
Illinois (toss up) - Illinois is hot 8-1 over the last 9 games. I think they'll push Purdue to the bitter end. They beat Ohio State. I'll give Purdue a 2 point edge winning by luck at home.
At this point Purdue will probably be 3-3 if they're lucky..... moving on....
Penn State (probable win) - In a close game Purdue probably wins this one by a hands full of points.
at MSU (definite loss) - Purdue loses this one quite certainly. This is not the sort of team with the heart or will to win a game like this. Certainly not.
At this point Purdue is probably 4-4....breaking even but by no means in contention for title of any kind whatsoever.
At Nebraska (probable loss) - Nebraska played at UCLA lost by about 10. Played decent games against Kansas and Creighton seeing tough competition with a brutal schedule they won at IU and at Maryland to start the big ten season. They'll likely be 7, 8, maybe a 9 win team when Purdue goes down there. Cannot give the edge to Purdue under those likely circumstances.
Northwestern (toss up) - Northwestern is not the norm this year. 2 point loss at Butler. 4 point loss against Notre Dame. Won 9 games in a row before losing at MSU by 9. This won't be an easy win be rest assured. A slight edge to Purdue.
Projected record 5-5 at this point en route to the typical 10-12 seed NCAA
at Maryland (toss up) - I can't see how Purdue comes out of this without a knock down war. It won't be easy and down to the wire Purdue edges this out.
at IU (loss) - I can't see it. I just can't not with the personalities on this team. I hope I am wrong.
Projected record at this point 6-6....getting close to a bubble NCAA seed with but one good win against Notre Dame whom by this time will be devoured in the ACC so it's not the golden win everyone thought it once was.
Rutgers (win) - Purdue takes this one no doubt.
MSU (probable loss) - I can't see Purdue winning this game at home even. Purdue just doesn't have the grit at least I haven't seen it. Purdue takes a double loss to MSU.
Projected record by this time 7-7
at PSU (win) - Purdue takes this one on road.
at Michigan (toss up) Giving edge to Michigan. Will be a close game.
Purdue is 8-8 at this point in season
IU (toss up) - I can't call this one but a frustrated Purdue team gets a win to get to 9-8 barely.
At Northwestern (toss up) - It will be a close difficult game to watch. Purdue slightly.
End of big ten regular season Purdue 10-8. Best case scenario in largely disappointing season. NCAA seeding mediocrity. I could also see this team being 9-9 or worse if they're not real careful and come out like they did against Minnesota.
Currently Purdue is a 3 loss team 1-1 in conference dropping a whopping and shocking home loss to Minny where at the whistle Purdue was manhandled out of the gates and played catchup the entire game with zero defensive answers to a young inexperienced Minnesota team. With that said I take a look at the schedule that is seemingly favorable to Purdue prior to the loss. After the loss it is a sobering schedule filled with potential losses top to bottom.
at Ohio State (probable loss) - Rivals has Purdue winning this by 2 points. If they think the game is that close they need to re-evaluate that projection because Purdue has no heart and the last real road game Purdue got stomped almost as bad as Minny and again played catchup to lose effortlessly.
Wisconsin (probable loss) - They're ranked much higher than Purdue and play far smarter basketball. If Minny came to Purdue and dominated why can't 12th ranked Wisconsin?
at Iowa (toss up) - Purdue may have dominated Iowa at home, Iowa can play when they want. Their home crowd is tough, Purdue usually makes difficult these games when they don't need to be. After enduring 2 losses and probably finding itself 1-3 in conference I can't help but think the team is playing timid and scared as they usually do on the road. I'll give Purdue the edge generously in this game, but it won't be nearly as easy as it was 1st time around.
Illinois (toss up) - Illinois is hot 8-1 over the last 9 games. I think they'll push Purdue to the bitter end. They beat Ohio State. I'll give Purdue a 2 point edge winning by luck at home.
At this point Purdue will probably be 3-3 if they're lucky..... moving on....
Penn State (probable win) - In a close game Purdue probably wins this one by a hands full of points.
at MSU (definite loss) - Purdue loses this one quite certainly. This is not the sort of team with the heart or will to win a game like this. Certainly not.
At this point Purdue is probably 4-4....breaking even but by no means in contention for title of any kind whatsoever.
At Nebraska (probable loss) - Nebraska played at UCLA lost by about 10. Played decent games against Kansas and Creighton seeing tough competition with a brutal schedule they won at IU and at Maryland to start the big ten season. They'll likely be 7, 8, maybe a 9 win team when Purdue goes down there. Cannot give the edge to Purdue under those likely circumstances.
Northwestern (toss up) - Northwestern is not the norm this year. 2 point loss at Butler. 4 point loss against Notre Dame. Won 9 games in a row before losing at MSU by 9. This won't be an easy win be rest assured. A slight edge to Purdue.
Projected record 5-5 at this point en route to the typical 10-12 seed NCAA
at Maryland (toss up) - I can't see how Purdue comes out of this without a knock down war. It won't be easy and down to the wire Purdue edges this out.
at IU (loss) - I can't see it. I just can't not with the personalities on this team. I hope I am wrong.
Projected record at this point 6-6....getting close to a bubble NCAA seed with but one good win against Notre Dame whom by this time will be devoured in the ACC so it's not the golden win everyone thought it once was.
Rutgers (win) - Purdue takes this one no doubt.
MSU (probable loss) - I can't see Purdue winning this game at home even. Purdue just doesn't have the grit at least I haven't seen it. Purdue takes a double loss to MSU.
Projected record by this time 7-7
at PSU (win) - Purdue takes this one on road.
at Michigan (toss up) Giving edge to Michigan. Will be a close game.
Purdue is 8-8 at this point in season
IU (toss up) - I can't call this one but a frustrated Purdue team gets a win to get to 9-8 barely.
At Northwestern (toss up) - It will be a close difficult game to watch. Purdue slightly.
End of big ten regular season Purdue 10-8. Best case scenario in largely disappointing season. NCAA seeding mediocrity. I could also see this team being 9-9 or worse if they're not real careful and come out like they did against Minnesota.
