Top Purdue Sports Stories of 2018

Last night’s basketball game was one of the final major events of 2018 for Purdue sports. We have next week’s game against Belmont to go, but for the most part things are wrapped up. Students are on holiday break and even the basketball team gets a few days off here. That means it is time to vote on our top Purdue sports stories of 2018. I will keep the poll open for a few days, but here are the nominees

Purdue 49, #2 Ohio State 20 (And the entire Tyler Trent story)

It came on national TV against in a sold out Ross-Ade Stadium. It cost the Buckeyes a bid in the College Football playoff. For one night Purdue was the toast of college football as Rondale Moore and D.J. Knox ran wild for big play after big play.

Jeff Brohm Turns Down Louisville

It was a tense few days, but the future of Purdue football (for at least another year or two) was secured when Jeff Brohm turned down the offer to come home.

Men’s Basketball Wins Record 30 games, Reaches Sweet 16

For the first time ever the men’s basketball team won 30 games in a season. For a good portion of the year the Boilers were ranked No. 3 nationally and overall had a great season, but in the end came up just short in the “Season of Second Place”. A main reason is the next story.

Isaac Haas Breaks His Elbow

Did it cost Purdue a Final Four? A National title? We’ll never know. With 8:49 left in the second half vs. Cal State Fullerton and Purdue leading 54-35 Dominik Heinzl got tangled up with Haas on a rebound and they crashed to the floor. We didn’t know it at the time, especially since Haas returned a few minutes later for a moment, but the foul shattered Haas’ elbow. It also shattered Purdue’s Final Four hopes.

Steele Johnson Wins 3-meter NCAA Championship

Yeah, we’re a diving school. Johnson won his fifth career NCAA title and is in line this year to either tie or break Purdue diver David Boudia’s record of six NCAA championship. A recent foot surgery has sidelined him, however.

Purdue Baseball Reaches NCAA Tournament

Mark Wasikowski’s second season at Purdue was a huge success. Purdue finished second in the Big Ten, won 38 games for only the second time, and reached the NCAA Tournament for only the third time in program history. They even won a game once they were there. They will enter the 2019 season having won 13 straight at Alexander Field.

Women’s Track & Field Finishes 8^th at NCAA Meet

It was a banner year for Purdue women’s track & field. The ladies finished second to Minnesota in the Big Ten championships, missing a second consecutive league title by just two points. They then had their best finish ever in the NCAA championships with 34 points. The 4x400 meter relay team faded late, just missing a national championship of its own, but seniors Brionna Thomas, Symone Black, Jahneya Mitchell, Micaela Hazlewood, and Devynne Charlton all finished their careers with a bang.

Football Beats Three Ranked Teams & Reaches Second Straight Bowl Game

After starting 0-3 expectations were tempered somewhat, but for the first time in seven years Purdue beat a top 25 team. In fact, it went 3-0 against top 25 teams. It was an exciting home season too as three games were decided on the final play of the game and two more came down to the final minute.

Jeff Brohm Signs Top 25 Recruiting Class

For the first time in 15 years Purdue has a top 25 recruiting class in Football. That is a gigantic step forward for the future of the program, especially when Darrell Hazell never signed a class that was even in the top 60. There is more to come, but Carsen Edwards, Rondale Moore, Sherridan Atkinson, and several others brought home All-American honors across multiple sports. Moore and Edwards also won individual National awards for their efforts.