Hammer and Rails - 2013-14 Purdue Basketball SchedulePurdue's Okayest Bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52787/Hammer_And_Rails_favicon..png2013-10-23T14:17:50-04:00http://www.hammerandrails.com/rss/stream/40804412013-10-23T14:17:50-04:002013-10-23T14:17:50-04:00Purdue Basketball Forecast 2013-14
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<p>This is an expansion of a FanPost started by reader charliespig.</p> <p></p>
<p>I owe a hat-tip to charliespig, who is the reader that has created the annual basketball forecast here at the site. It has been such a good idea I figured I would get into it, especially since we're 16 days from the first regular season game and about a week from the first exhibition game. Instead of responding <a href="http://www.hammerandrails.com/2013/10/23/4947062/annual-boiler-basketball-forecast-2013-14">to his post</a>, I decided to expand on my picks in a post of my own.</p>
<p><b>What is the starting lineup in the first REGULAR season game? </b></p>
<p>This is the season opener on November 8 against Northern Kentucky, the newcomer to the Division I level. It is pretty easy to pick three of the starters. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/124178/terone-johnson">Terone Johnson</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/175129/ronnie-johnson">Ronnie Johnson</a>, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/175133/a-j-hammons">A.J. Hammons</a> will be starting at the two guard spots and the center spot, respectively. The other two spots will probably a smaller lineup since NKU is not a team with much size. I think we see <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100414/errick-peck">Errick Peck</a> make his Purdue debut as a starter at the four spot and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/175137/rapheal-davis">Rapheal Davis</a> starts at the three to allow Purdue to expand the floor.</p>
<p><b>What is the starting lineup in the first B1G Tourney game? <br></b></p>
<p>Call this wishful thinking, but I want to see <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/175135/jay-simpson">Jay Simpson</a> emerge as "the most talented player" on the team and live up to that by giving Purdue two near seven-footers in the post. Simpson can play more inside out than Hammons, while Hammons is more of a back to the basket true center. I think their games could compliment each other very well and provide the boilers with a size mismatch we have rarely been able to have. Simpson can draw bigger defenders away from Hammons or create mismatches of his own because of his size.</p>
<p>That's why I would like to have RJ, TJ, AJ, Simpson, and Ray D. as the starters by the end of the season.</p>
<p><b>How many wins? (Just the regular season, excluding B1G Tourney or any other post season games)</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p>I can break this down in a few ways:</p>
<p><b>Locks: </b>Northern Kentucky, Central Connecitcut State, Rider, Eastern Illinois, Siena, Eastern Michigan, Maryland Eastern Shore - These are seven games where Purdue is going to be an overwhelming favorite. There is no excuse to lose any of them.</p>
<p><b>Favored: </b>Any Old Spice game not featuring Oklahoma State or Memphis, Butler, Boston College, Minnesota x2, Nebraska x2, Penn State x2, Northwestern x2. - Theses are 12 more games where I think Purdue will be the favored team at game time, mostly because of talent and how I see the other teams going. The four Big Ten teams on this list are likely the bottom four, but they are teams we have to beat to be in contention for an NCAA berth. Something like 7-1 against them is a very good start towards an NCAA bid. In the non-conference I think 3-1 in those games would be very good.</p>
<p><b>Toss-ups: </b>West Virginia, Illinois, Wisconsin x2, Iowa, Indiana - Does Purdue have the talent to win these games? Of course! Playing a West Virginia will be tough and the Big Ten teams here are NCAA caliber teams we will likely be measured against when Selection Sunday gets here. The more of these wins we get, the better. I think a 3-3 mark against these eight games is reasonable, getting us to 20 wins.</p>
<p><b>Underdog games: </b>Oklahoma State, Ohio State x2, Michigan x2, Michigan State - These are easily the six toughest games on the schedule. Getting any of them is a huge resume win against a team that will likely be a top 25 RPI victory. I also think Purdue is good enough to get one of them.</p>
<p>So, I am going with 21 wins, which is likely enough for an NCAA berth.</p>
<p><b>What place we finish in the B1G?</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p>I think Purdue is somewhere in the crowded middle of the Big Ten and finishes something like 10-8 or 11-7. I don't think a top four finish is quite in the cards, but a finish in the 5-7 range can be enough to reach the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/march-madness">NCAA Tournament</a>.</p>
<p><b>What will be our last game? Be specific such as B1G Tourney First round, Round of 32 in NCAA, <a href="../../../../../nit-tournament">NIT</a> Final Four, </b><b>CBI</b><b> champ, etc)</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p>The goal should always be to reach the NCAA Tournament and win at leas tone game. As a major program this should be the absolute minimum for any season. Purdue has a history of winning a game there, as we have won 14 straight opening games in the NCAAs. Beyond that, anything else is gravy.</p>
<p><b>Rank our 4 frosh by productivity (For simplicity, Productivity = TOTAL points + rebounds + assists + steals + blocks - Turnover; and yes, Simpson is considered a frosh)</b></p>
<p><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/229891/kendall-stephens">Kendall Stephens</a> - </b>5.7 points, 1.5 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.3 blocks, 0.5 turnovers</p>
<p><b>Jay Simpson - </b>5.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.7 blocks, 1.0 turnovers</p>
<p><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/229889/bryson-scott">Bryson Scott</a> - </b>5.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.4 blocks, 0.9 turnovers</p>
<p><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/229887/basil-smotherman">Basil Smotherman</a></b> - 3.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.4 blocks, 0.8 turnovers</p>
<p><b>Rank our 3 sophomores by productivity (Same definition for productivity as #6)</b></p>
<p><b>A.J. Hammons - </b>13.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.4 steals, 1.2 blocks, 0.8 turnovers</p>
<p><b>Ronnie Johnson - </b>10.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.2 blocks, 2.1 turnovers</p>
<p><b>Rapheal </b><b>Davis</b><b> - </b>9.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.4 blocks, 0.9 turnovers</p>
<p><b>Rank the top 3 scorers (0.5 for getting #1 right, 0.3 for #2 and 0.2 for #3)</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p>I think Purdue is going to lean on Hammons because he is a difficult matchup for almost anyone. I think he can get the inside-out game working and shooters like <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100175/sterling-carter">Sterling Carter</a>, Stephens, etc. will be much better because of it. I think Hammons needs to eat though, with TJ second and Ronnie third in scoring.</p>
<p><b>Rank the top 3 rebounders (0.5 for getting #1 right, 0.3 for #2 and 0.2 for #3)</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p>If Hammons really think he is NBA ready he needs to be a nightly 15-10 guy, so he should lead Purdue in rebounding. I think Simpson will be second because he'll get a lot of minutes and I can see <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/124179/travis-carroll">Travis Carroll</a> busting his but to be third in rebounds.</p>
<p><b>Who is the breakout player of the year? (This is a bit subjective, but think of it as the player who outperforms general expectation the most, going from good to great, or from a bench warmer to a solid contributor, or maybe a 3* HS recruit making all-B1G frosh team. Think Ryne Smith in 2010-11, DJ Byrd in 2011-12, and Hammons/Sandi in 2012-13.)</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p>I am going to go with either Simpson or Carroll. I think Carroll is a hard worker and it will pay off with a higher contribution in the box score. As for Simpson, he has been built up by coach painter and has been in the program for a year. The time for him to contribute is now.</p>
<p><b>Tie breaker: As a team, what will be our FT%?</b></p>
<p>It has better be over 70%, because anything less is ridiculous.</p>
<p><b>I'd also like to use this opportunity to ask four more questions to get the fans' sentiment:</b></p>
<p><b>i) How would you define a successful season for this year's team? </b>Top five finish in the Big Ten and an NCAA berth with tournament win.</p>
<p><b>ii) In order to achieve that success, what is the </b><b>ONE</b><b> critical factor that is absolutely the MOST important? </b>Shooting MUST improve from the perimeter.</p>
<p><b>iii) What is the absolute minimum that you want to see from this team or else it is just unacceptable? </b>At least a .500 record in big Ten play and winning record overall.</p>
<p><b>iv) Will Hammons go pro after this season? </b>Not unless Purdue wins the Big Ten and/or reaches the Final Four.</p>
https://www.hammerandrails.com/2013/10/23/4961228/purdue-basketball-forecast-2013-14BoilerTMill2013-10-02T13:51:40-04:002013-10-02T13:51:40-04:002013-14 Purdue Basketball: Old Spice & More
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<figcaption>Gregory Shamus</figcaption>
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<p>The second half of Purdue's non-conference basketball schedule features a game against a top 15 team in Oklahoma State. </p> <p></p>
<p>As I discussed in the <a href="http://www.hammerandrails.com/2013/9/26/4774186/2013-14-purdue-basketball-a-look-at-the-early-games">first article</a> in breaking down the schedule game-by-game, Purdue should be 5-0 by the time it heads to Orlando at the end of November for the Old Spice Classic. The first five games are simply way too easy and Purdue has too much talent to expect anything less. They are games where all the new parts, like the three freshmen and transfers <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100414/errick-peck">Errick Peck</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100175/sterling-carter">Sterling Carter</a> can mesh with the returning players.</p>
<p>The season begins in earnest on November 28 with the Old Spice Classic, where Purdue plays probably the best team it will face in the non-conference portion of the schedule.</p>
<p><b>November 28 vs. </b><b>Oklahoma</b><b> </b><b>State</b><b> in </b><b>Orlando</b><b> - </b>The Cowboys are the first team that Purdue will play that was in the 2013 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/march-madness">NCAA Tournament</a>. They were the No. 5 seed in the Midwest region, but got upset in the first round by Oregon, who made a run to the Sweet 16. After finishing 24-9 they have to feel like there is some unfinished business going into 2013-14.</p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p>OSU was a very good team last year. They won at Kansas and lost to the Jayhawks in double overtime at home by one. Kansas State beat them in two out of three games while the worst loss was to either Iowa State or at Virginia Tech.</p>
<p>Oklahoma State will be a good team again thanks to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/174487/marcus-smart">Marcus Smart</a>, who was a consensus lottery pick but decided to return for another year in Stillwater. He averaged 15.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. Le'Bryan Nash, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/174483/phil-forte">Phil Forte</a>, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/124110/markel-brown">Markel Brown</a> all return as double-digit scorers to make OSU a likely top 15 team to start the season. Should Purdue find a way to win, this will be a definite bonus on the postseason resume.</p>
<p><b>November 29 vs. </b><b>Butler</b><b> or </b><b>Washington</b><b> </b><b>State</b><b> in </b><b>Orlando</b><b> - </b>Should Purdue get past its first round opponent the second round game will likely be much easier. Butler suffered two major blows in the offseason when <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145139/roosevelt-jones">Roosevelt Jones</a> was lost to a wrist injury and Brad Stevens left for the Boston Celtics. Still, they parlayed their double Final Fours into a major conference invite and they are no a Big East team. They are also a school used to coaching turnover and still finding success. Though Butler was in the NCAA Tournament last season they are likely headed for a bit of a down year, especially after losing Jones. Give them another year and they will be solid again.</p>
<p>As for Washington State, that also should be a win. The Cougars were 13-19 last season and finished last in the Pac-12 at only 4-14. They had some moments like falling to Gonzaga by two and beating UCLA, but as we saw in March, both of those teams were highly overrated. They also lost 6'10" Australian center <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100923/brock-motum">Brock Motum</a>, who was their best player by far.</p>
<p><b>December 1 vs. </b><b>Siena</b><b>, </b><b>Memphis</b><b>, LSU, or </b><b>St. Joseph</b><b>'s in </b><b>Orlando</b> - I think we can likely eliminate Siena as a possible opponent, because they are most likely the weakest team in the tournament and would be in the 7<sup>th</sup> place game, thus Purdue would only play them for a second time if the Boilers lost both previous games. That leaves Memphis, LSU, or St. Joseph's as the third and final opponent at the Old Spice Classic. All three have benefits in terms of strength of schedule.</p>
<p>Memphis is likely the best team, as they went 31-6 and rolled to a perfect 19-0 record against Conference USA, but were only a No. 6 seed in the NCAAs. They were knocked out in the second round with a loss to Michigan State. They were a good team that lost pretty much any time they played another good team last year, and that included a loss at Xavier, whom Purdue played well.</p>
<p>LSU was 19-12 and was probably the best team in the country that did not play in a postseason tournament. They also brought in a solid recruiting class that included Jarrell martin, the No. 11 player in the country, and Jordan Mickey, the No. 38 player. All told,t hey had three <a href="http://espn.go.com/colleges/basketball/recruiting/school/_/id/99/class/2013">Top 100 recruits according to ESPN</a>, and this is LSU basketball, which hasn't been significant since Shaq was playing.</p>
<p>St. Joseph's is your perpetual decent mid-major. They were 18-14 last season and because they play in a decent conference (Atlantic 10) they have a good shot of making the tournament. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/124228/langston-galloway">Langston Galloway</a> is their top returning scorer.</p>
<p><b>December 4 vs. </b><b>Boston</b><b> </b><b>College</b><b> - </b>Purdue comes home from Orlando for its annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge game. After winning on the road at Clemson last year the Boilers will host Boston College in a critical swing game for the Big Ten. Purdue's surprise win helped the conference hold on to the trophy last year, and the Boilers can get a fifth straight win in the event. The four straight wins for Purdue is the longest active streak for a team from either conference, tied with Illinois.</p>
<p>Boston College is 6-1 all-time in the Challenge with their lone loss coming in 2011 at home against Penn State. They were 16-17 last season and hovers pretty close to .500 all season long. They beat the same Clemson team that Purdue beat twice and had a late loss at home to Duke by a point.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/179809/olivier-hanlan">Olivier Hanlan</a> and Ryan Anderson are both back as their top scorers. Anderson gives them a solid 6'9" post player to build around, while Hanlan is a near 40% three-point shooter. Given that this game is in Mackey Arena, Purdue should be favored.</p>
<p><b>December 7 vs. </b><b>Eastern Michigan</b><b> - </b>This was Purdue's worst loss last year. The Boilers, who were defensively deficient all year, gave up only 47 points and still lost thanks to abysmal shooting. Purdue was 29.8% from the field, 60% at the line, and had 18 turnovers to lose to a very bad MAC team.</p>
<p><br><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100804/derek-thompson">Derek Thompson</a> was their leading scorer in that game with only eight points. This was one of the worst scoring teams in the nation last year at only 56.6 points per game, ranking 339<sup>th</sup> out of 347 teams. They still somehow got to 16-18 and were 7-9 in the MAC.</p>
<p><b>December 14 vs. Butler at Bankers Life Fieldhouse - </b>Purdue is the only team of the four in Indiana that is 0-2 in the new Crossroads Classic, which is on for a third season this year. Since Purdue and Indiana play only once in Big Ten play I don't understand why the organizer don't make it Butler vs. Notre Dame and Indiana vs. Purdue, but we're in a situation where we may play Butler twice and Indiana only once.</p>
<p>As mentioned above, the Bulldogs had some major losses in the offseason including top scorer Rotnei Clarke. Khyle Marshall will be asked to do more, but this is a young team getting adjusted to a new, young coach. They are still a dangerous team because they are going to play tough, fundamental basketball and won't beat themselves. We only need to remember our game with them two years ago, when Purdue completely melted down in the final 10 minutes, as an example of how we can lose to a rebuilding Butler team.</p>
<p><b>December 17 vs. </b><b>Maryland</b><b> </b><b>Eastern Shore</b><b> - </b>This is a very, very bad team from one of the lowest rated conferences in the country. Purdue should be able to win with ease even if we started <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145961/neal-beshears">Neal Beshears</a>, Anfernee Brown (a new walk-on), and Stephen Toyra. They were a dismal 2-26 last season with only a double overtime win over Coppin State and a win over Delaware State.</p>
<p>Somehow, they were worse than even Eastern Michigan in scoring. They averaged 54.8 points per game, good for 344<sup>th</sup> nationally and ahead of only Grambling State, Howard, and Northern Illinois. They were 347<sup>th</sup> in shooting from the field at a dismal 35.7%, which was the worst in the country.</p>
<p>Any loss in this game would be catastrophic.</p>
<p><b>December 22 at </b><b>West Virginia</b><b> - </b>Purdue's final non-conference game comes as its only true road game outside of Big Ten play. Purdue and West Virginia agree to play four times in five years starting with that memorable New Year's Day 2010 game that looked like it could be a Final Four preview. If not for Hummel's injury, it might have been, as Purdue throttled the eventual Final Four-bound Mountaineers.</p>
<p>They were down last year, finishing 13-19 with a pretty young team. That included a 79-52 loss in Mackey Arena that was one of Purdue's best games of the season. While they struggled, they played tough at home in close losses to Kansas State and Kansas.</p>
<p><br><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99759/aaric-murray">Aaric Murray</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/174593/eron-harris">Eron Harris</a> return as their top scorers and rarely do Bob Huggins coached teams stay down long. This could be a tricky one.</p>
<p>As for a final analysis, the non-conference schedule looks good for a young team like Purdue's if it wants to gain confidence. It is not particularly home-heavy with five of 13 games either on the road or at a neutral site. It has a nice balance of challenging opponents, but the total heft will only be decided with what Purdue does in Orlando. At the very least, Purdue got a nice break in getting Oklahoma State right off the bat. That is the best team they could have played and they are guaranteed a game against them.</p>
<p>The developments at Butler and the injury to Jones radically shifts expectations as well. If Purdue plays them twice the Boilers should be able to beat them twice. It is not as much of a toss-up as we originally thought.</p>
<p>Just as Purdue should go 5-0 to start, it should have very little trouble with Eastern Michigan, Maryland-Eastern Shore, and any second game against Siena. The toughest game by far is Oklahoma State, with a potential game in Orlando against Memphis or LSU next. Purdue should be favored against Boston College and the road environment at West Virginia will be tough, but Purdue should be the better team.</p>
<p>I think an 11-2 mark heading into non-conference play is very reasonable. Anything else and Purdue is likely sniffing the top 25.</p>
https://www.hammerandrails.com/2013/10/2/4795330/2013-14-purdue-basketball-old-spice-classic-and-remaining-nonBoilerTMill2013-09-26T14:50:44-04:002013-09-26T14:50:44-04:002013-14 Purdue Basketball: The Early Games
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<figcaption>Andy Lyons</figcaption>
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<p>Purdue's 2013-14 basketball schedule features about as easy of an opening five game stretch as possible. </p> <p></p>
<p>Without much to write about today and a bye week coming up it is time to look a little more in depth at the Purdue basketball schedule. Since we know the football schedule years in advance it is easy to do those previews over the summer. With basketball it is a little more tricky. The Big Ten takes awhile to release its schedule and Purdue often does not announce the non-conference portion until mid-summer.</p>
<p>There has been little analysis about the upcoming schedule, so over the next week, with the football team on bye, I'll try to provide some thoughts. First, let's look at the first five games of the year, which should allow the Boilers to get off to a 5-0 start for the first time since 2010-11.</p>
<p><b>11/8/2013</b><b> vs. </b><b>Northern Kentucky</b> - Purdue begins the season with five straight games against smaller conference opponents at home. The first of those games is against the Northern Kentucky Norse, who are playing just their second full season at the Division I level. They have already scored a small recruiting by getting Kokomo's Tayler Persons to come on board in the class of 2014.</p>
<p>Last season was a rough one for the Norse, as expected of a new D-1 program. They were 11-16, but went 9-9 in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Their only non-conference wins were over Hampton and Navy, while the only game against a major conference foe was against Ohio State, a 70-43 loss.</p>
<p>They lost their best player in <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="#">Eshaunte Jones</a>, who was committed to Indiana before Kelvin Sampson set fire to the program, then to Oregon State before playing at Nebraska and transferring to NKU. As for the program itself, the Norse were twice an NCAA Runner-up in Division II, as they lost in the title game in 1996 and 1997.</p>
<p>This should be a game that Purdue wins with ease. Even with a vastly different roster due to transfers and incoming freshmen Purdue will likely have a major size advantage with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/175133/a-j-hammons">A.J. Hammons</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/175135/jay-simpson">Jay Simpson</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/124179/travis-carroll">Travis Carroll</a>, and Donnie Hale. The Norse may be building something nice for the future, but they are still a transitional program that isn't even eligible for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/march-madness">NCAA Tournament</a> last. A loss would be among the worst in program history.</p>
<p><b>11/13/2013</b><b> vs. </b><b>Central</b><b> </b><b>Connecticut</b><b> </b><b>State</b><b> - </b>I must say that if Purdue's first two opponents at home were Kentucky and Connecticut instead of their directional little brothers it would create quite a bit of buzz. Instead, Purdue gets a Northeast Conference team that would fight to avoid the play-in games if it made the NCAA Tournament.</p>
<p>The Blue Devils were 13-17 last year and 9-9 in the Northeast Conference. They have made the NCAA Tournament three times in their history, losing all three games in 2000, 2002, and 2007. They were led last season by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145165/kyle-vinales">Kyle Vinales</a>, a 6'1" guard who was a possible transfer in the spring before he decided to return for his junior season. He is an excellent scorer at 21.6 points per game and he shot 36% from long range. Matt Hunter also averaged 15.7 points and 7.7 rebounds, but he is their best post player at only 6'5".</p>
<p>CCSU does not have a single player over 6'7" on the roster, meaning this should be another game where Purdue will be able to do what it wants, when it wants to in the post. The Blue Devils last had a winning record in 2010-11 when they went 19-12 but lost in the semifinals of their conference tournament.</p>
<p>Like NKU, this is not a game in which Purdue should be challenged.</p>
<p><b>11/17/2013</b><b> vs. Rider</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p>This should be the first game in which Purdue might face a small challenge. Rider was a postseason team last year, reaching the second round of the CIT tournament, which is an exclusively low-to-mid-major tournament. Overall the Broncs were a respectable 19-15 and went 12-6 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. They did this despite being one of the lowest scoring teams in the country and ranking 320<sup>th</sup> in assists.</p>
<p>Like CCSU, Rider is 0-3 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, making it in 1984, 1993, and 1994. Their major conference games last year were 12 point losses at South Carolina and Rutgers. They are a decent and balanced low major that returns many of their better players. Because the MAAC is a one-bid league, this might be an NCAA team if they continue to play well together.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/124197/anthony-myles">Anthony Myles</a> is their top returning scorer, but again, they lack size. Their two tallest players are transfers that will not be eligible until the 2014-15 season. Also, this should be a game in which <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/175129/ronnie-johnson">Ronnie Johnson</a> and Bryson Scott can put on a show of assists. They were a good defensive team, so this is a chance for Purdue to play against a solid defense and see what happens.</p>
<p><b>11/20/2013</b><b> vs. </b><b>Eastern Illinois</b><b> </b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p>It seems as if Purdue cannot get out of a season without playing a directional Illinois. Last year it was Western. The year before that we played Northern in the Mackey rededication game. The year before that it was a game against Southern in a tournament in Chicago.</p>
<p>Eastern Illinois was a bad team in the low level Ohio Valley Conference last year. This league is often the domain of Murray State. Last year featured a 12-game losing streak, but the ugliest game was a 59-56 loss to non-D1 Rochester College. The lone highlight was a 79-70 win over Murray State, who just missed a second straight NCAA Tournament.</p>
<p>EIU has not been to the NCAA Tournament since 2001. Their only other appearance was in 1992 when they lost in the opening round to a Final Four-bound Indiana. Purdue should have a field day on the glass as EIU was 328<sup>th</sup> nationally in rebounding and 314<sup>th</sup> in scoring at barely over 60 points per game.</p>
<p>Jay Simpson will likely see a familiar face in this game. Simpson played in high school at Champaign Central in Illinois, while 6'8" forward <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145310/josh-piper">Josh Piper</a> played for crosstown rival Champaign Centennial. Aside from that, the Panthers are a bad OVC team that should present Purdue with little actual challenge.</p>
<p><b>11/24/2013</b><b> vs. </b><b>Siena</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p>The fifth and final home game in the opening stretch comes against a team we could see again at the Old Spice Classic in Orlando. The NCAA rules allow for four games in an exempt tournament like the Old Spice, so Purdue was able to take on a home game against Siena that counts as part of the Old Spice Classic even if it is not part of the tournament as a whole. Depending on how the tournament goes, we could see them again in Orlando.</p>
<p>Siena has fallen hard since Iowa hired away Fran McCaffery. They were one of the worst scoring teams in Division I last year at 60 points per game, good for 324<sup>th</sup> overall. They were only 8-24 and 4-14 in the MAAC. One of their few wins was over Northern Kentucky.</p>
<p>Just four years ago the Saints were an NCAA team and a serious threat to make some noise. In the 2009 Tournament they knocked off Ohio State in the first round before pushing No. 1 seed Louisville in round 2. The next year they were the trendy 27-6 pick that was supposed to knock off Purdue in a 4/13 game after <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26733/robbie-hummel">Robbie Hummel</a> went down. The Boilers won by 8, and that was the last time they were anywhere close to the national radar.</p>
<p>I don't think we can expect much more because of what was lost from a team that wasn't that good in the first place. Forward O.D. Anosike averaged a double-double, but graduated. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/146085/rob-poole">Rob Poole</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/146081/evan-hymes">Evan Hymes</a> are their top returning scorers, but there are seven freshmen on the roster for 2013-14. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/129703/steven-cruz">Steven Cruz</a> is the lone senior and he is a walk-on, so this is a very young and inexperienced team. Like the other four games here, this should be an easy win.</p>
<p>Overall, Purdue has a lot of talent, so much so that anything less than a convincing 5-0 against this opening slate would be very disappointing. It is not so much that we're playing five low major teams, it is that we're playing five <i>bad</i> low major teams in the first five games. Among them, Rider is the only one that has been anywhere close to good in the past few seasons. They still aren't as good as the Bucknell team that stunned Purdue in Mackey to start last season.</p>
<p>The bulk of Purdue's non-conference schedule heft will come from the Old Spice Classic and games against Boston College, Butler, and West Virginia. These five teams will be lucky to be above 200 in the RPI at the end of the season, so any loss would be an anchor to Purdue's NCAA profile.</p>
https://www.hammerandrails.com/2013/9/26/4774186/2013-14-purdue-basketball-a-look-at-the-early-gamesBoilerTMill2013-08-28T14:15:15-04:002013-08-28T14:15:15-04:002013-14 Purdue Basketball Schedule: B1G Schedule
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Purdue's 18 game Big Ten Schedule has finally been released. </p> <p></p>
<p>We now pause in the middle of everything football to announce some important basketball news. First, Trevon Blueitt of Indianapolis' Park Tudor High will make an official <a href="http://blogs.indystar.com/recruitingcentral/archives/4081">visit on September 7<sup>th</sup> to Purdue</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The 6-6 Bluiett, who cut his list to Arizona, Butler, Indiana, Michigan, Purdue, UCLA and Xavier earlier this month, has scheduled a visit to Purdue next weekend, a source said. The Boilermakers host Indiana State in a football game on Sept. 7.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Bluiett is making a visit to UCLA this weekend and he only gets five, so you have to assume that Purdue has made his top 5.</p>
<p>Second, the Big Ten finally got around to releasing the Men's basketball schedule for the coming season. Here it is August 28, almost two months away from when exhibition games start, and they are just now releasing the Big Ten schedule.</p>
<p>As a reminder, here is the non-conference schedule:</p>
<p><b>October 30 </b><b>Indianapolis</b><b> (Exhibition)</b></p>
<p><b>November 4 </b><b>Wayne</b><b> State (Exhibition)</b></p>
<p><b>November 8 </b><b>Northern Kentucky</b></p>
<p><b>November 13 </b><b>Central</b><b> </b><b>Connecticut</b><b> </b><b>State</b></p>
<p><b>November 17 Rider</b></p>
<p><b>November 20 </b><b>Eastern Illinois</b></p>
<p><b>November 24 </b><b>Siena</b><b> (Old Spice Classic, but played at Mackey Arena)</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p><b>November 28: vs. </b><b>Oklahoma</b><b> </b><b>State</b><b> at Old Spice Classic, </b><b>Orlando</b><b>, </b><b>FL</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p><b>November 29: vs. </b><b>Washington</b><b> </b><b>State</b><b> or </b><b>Butler</b><b> at Old Spice Classic, </b><b>Orlando</b><b>, </b><b>FL</b></p>
<p><b>December 1: vs. Siena, Memphis, LSU, or St. Joseph's</b> <b>at Old Spice Classic, </b><b>Orlando</b><b>, FL</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p><b>December 4 </b><b>Boston</b><b> </b><b>College</b><b> (ACC/Big Ten Challenge)</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p><b>December 7 </b><b>Eastern Michigan</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p><b>December 14 vs. </b><b>Butler</b><b> at Bankers Life Fieldhouse (Crossroads Classic)</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p><b>December 17 </b><b>Maryland-Eastern</b><b> </b><b>Shore</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p><b>December 21 at </b><b>West Virginia</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p>Now, onto the 18 game Big Ten slate:</p>
<p><b>December 31: </b><b>Ohio</b><b> </b><b>State</b><b> - </b>This game is a 1 p.m. game on ESPN2</p>
<p><b>January 5 at </b><b>Minnesota</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p><b>January 12 </b><b>Nebraska</b><b> - </b>Noon or 4:30pm</p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p><b>January 15 at </b><b>Illinois</b><b> - </b>9pm tipoff</p>
<p><b>January 18: </b><b>Penn</b><b> </b><b>State</b><b> - </b>This is a 7 p.m. ESPNU game.</p>
<p><b>January 21 at Northwestern - </b>9pm tipoff</p>
<p><b>January 25 </b><b>Wisconsin</b><b> - </b>5pm tipoff</p>
<p><b>January 30 at </b><b>Michigan</b><b> - </b>Purdue played well against Michigan last year and this is a 9pm game on ESPN or ESPN2.</p>
<p><b>February 2 at </b><b>Penn</b><b> </b><b>State</b><b> - </b>11:30am tipoff</p>
<p><b>February 5: </b><b>Minnesota</b><b> - </b>8:30pm tipoff</p>
<p><b>February 8 at </b><b>Ohio</b><b> </b><b>State</b><b> - </b>6pm tipoff</p>
<p><b>February 15 </b><b>Indiana</b><b> - </b>By the time this game comes around it will have been 1,087 days since Purdue had last beaten Indiana, which is far, far too long. It is a Saturday afternoon 4 p.m. game on ESPN or ESPN2 as it should be.</p>
<p><b>February 20 </b><b>Michigan</b><b> </b><b>State</b><b> - </b>This is an ESPN or ESPN2 game at 7pm.</p>
<p><b>February 23 at </b><b>Nebraska</b><b> - </b>Noon or 4:15pm tipoff</p>
<p><b>February 26 </b><b>Michigan</b><b> - </b>7pm tipoff</p>
<p><b>March 1 or 2 at </b><b>Iowa</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p><b>March 5 at </b><b>Wisconsin</b><b> </b>- 9pm tipoff</p>
<p><b>March 8 or 9 Northwestern </b></p>
https://www.hammerandrails.com/2013/8/28/4668486/2013-14-purdue-basketball-schedule-big-ten-schedule-releasedBoilerTMill2013-07-16T17:21:48-04:002013-07-16T17:21:48-04:002013 Old Spice Classic: Purdue To Face Oklahoma St
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Purdue has a very difficult draw in the Old Spice Classic at Thanksgiving. </p> <p>We now know the draw for the Old Spice Classic in Orlando and it will be a tough one. Purdue will open with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/oklahoma-st-cowboys">Oklahoma St. Cowboys</a>, featuring <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/174487/marcus-smart">Marcus Smart</a> as one of the top returning players in the country, on November 28 at Noon on ESPN2. Oklahoma State is a consensus preseason Top 25 team, mostly because of Smart, and they will be a great schedule boost.</p>
<p>In the second game Purdue will play either Butler or Washington State. If Purdue wins game 1 it will play the Washington State-Butler winner at 1:30pm on November 29. If Purdue loses it gets the Washington State-Butler loser at 11am on the 29th.</p>
<p>The final round would have Purdue facing Siena, Memphis, LSU, or St. Joseph's on December 1. Memphis would be the team favored to reach the final in that half of the draw.</p>
<p>For RPI purposes, Purdue facing Oklahoma State-Butler-Memphis is best. Since we're already playing Siena as a non-bracketed game in this event at home on November 24 (<a href="http://www.purduesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/071613aaa.html">explained here</a>) it is possible that Purdue can play two teams twice out of conference in Siena and Butler, yet Indiana only once in conference.</p>
<p>Playing Butler twice helps since they are now Big East and will still be a good team, but Siena was bad last year and two games against them does little to help. Ultimately I would like to see Purdue win two games down in Orlando, preferably one of them against Oklahoma State, Butler, or Memphis who will be the highest rated teams in terms of RPI. Playing LSU or Washington State would at least help with them being from a higher-level conference.</p>
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https://www.hammerandrails.com/2013/7/16/4529544/2013-old-spice-classic-purdue-to-face-oklahoma-stateBoilerTMill2013-05-16T11:16:41-04:002013-05-16T11:16:41-04:00Fred Glass' Offer a Ploy to Make Purdue Look Weak
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<figcaption>Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>IU AD Fred Glass wants a Purdue non-conference game in Bloomington, but what are his motives?</p> <p>As most in the Hoosier State are aware of by now, Purdue and Indiana basketball will face off only one time next year, a game that will take place in West Lafayette. Understandably, this has left many in the state of Indiana slightly perturbed. How can perhaps the Big Ten's strongest rivalry only be slated for one matchup during conference play?</p>
<p>Indiana University AD Fred Glass set out Tuesday to try to make this right, saying he hopes to talk to Purdue AD Morgan Burke about scheduling a non-conference game in Bloomington between the two teams.</p>
<p>"I think all of our fans would like to see us play twice, home and away, even though the Bloomington game would not count as a conference game," Glass said. "I hope they accept our invitation to play in Bloomington. I'm not sure why they wouldn't."</p>
<p>And while I'll get to Glass' shyster ways here shortly, first we need to question the people that put these two teams in this position to begin with. For the third time in seven years, IU and Purdue will face off only one time during the conference season. This is the rivalry that ESPN calls one of the two or three best in the sport. While we strap ourselves in to watch IU/Penn State and Purdue/Nebraska matchup twice next year, the top rivalry in the country's most basketball crazed state will only see the court once. Rightfully so, Fred Glass, along with every other person in the state of Indiana, doesn't think this is right.</p>
<p>"I talked to the (Big Ten) deputy commissioner in charge of scheduling, and he agreed that it's something that's something worth exploring and worth raising on the agenda," Glass said when asked about establishing protected rivalries in basketball.</p>
<p>So the deputy commissioner, the man in charge of scheduling for one of the most powerful and established athletic conferences in the country, needs somebody else to raise the idea of protected rivalries? If you take one thing from reading this, let it be that. The people at fault for this sit in the Big Ten Headquarters in Park Ridge, IL.</p>
<p>But in steps Hero of the People, Fred Glass, here to save the rivalry.</p>
<p>"Let's play a non-conference game in Bloomington! "</p>
<p>Might make sense on the surface, right? Play a non-conference game in Bloomington this year, and IU returns the favor with a non-conference game in West Lafayette the following season. Wrong.</p>
<p>When Maryland and Rutgers join the Big Ten for the 2014-15 season, new conference schedules will have to be made, and as a result the "one-play" between IU and Purdue likely turns into a one-year occurrence. This means Purdue would get no return game to West Lafayette in 2014-2015. Fred Glass knows this.</p>
<p>He also knows that days before hatching his diabolical plan, Purdue released its <a target="_blank" href="http://www.purduesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/050913aaa.html">2013-2014 non-conference schedule</a>, a schedule that already has the maximum 13 non-conference opponents on it. When asked about switching Crossroads Classic opponents so the two teams could play at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Glass cited his athletic department's contract with Notre Dame in the December matchup as a roadblock. Did Glass expect Purdue to break a contract with one of its own non-conference opponents to make things work, something Glass himself wasn't willing to do?</p>
<p>Fred Glass knew Purdue's hands were tied when he floated the idea of adding a non-conference game in Bloomington. And good for him. It was a savvy move for the Hoosiers. He knows Purdue isn't going to go out of their way to play an IU team that has beaten them by an average of 23 points the last four times they've played. Why would Purdue give the Hoosiers a game down in Bloomington when it's likely IU would never have to pay it back?</p>
<p>What if the Boilermakers were to move some things around and make it work? Glass sees it as a way to capitalize on another year where IU looks to be the top dog in the state and a way to build upon the Hoosiers success in the rivalry the past two years. However you can bet if the rosters were reversed, Glass wouldn't be knocking down the door to play a heavily favored Boilermaker squad. He knows this is the last year before Purdue poises itself to jump back into the mix for a Big Ten title.</p>
<p>In the end, good for Fred Glass. His role as an athletic director is to give his university every step it can get above the competition. But don't be fooled into thinking Glass genuinely just wanted to keep the tradition of the home and away alive. His goal was to make Purdue look weak and scared by pressuring them into a game they have no way, or reason, to make work.</p>
https://www.hammerandrails.com/2013/5/16/4336826/glass-non-conference-offer-a-ploy-to-make-purdue-look-weaktschapman2013-05-14T16:20:13-04:002013-05-14T16:20:13-04:00Big Ten Releases Single-Play Opponents
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<img alt="yeah, Delaney needs to GTFO" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/VkM2dqqg9chLUGs6NW2pe6DcLbw=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/13152711/20130309_jrc_ss1_054.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>yeah, Delaney needs to GTFO | USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The news is not good about the four teams Purdue will only play once during the 2013-14 Basketball season. </p> <p>Get ready for an absolute metric truckload of horse crap.</p>
<p>The Big Ten released the single play opponents for the 2013-14 basketball season, the last one in which there will only be 12 Big Ten teams. Once again, the conference offices were completely and utterly stupid in what they failed to do:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Purdue">#Purdue</a> 2013-14 <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23B1G">#B1G</a> single-play opponents are Indiana (home), Michigan State (home), Illinois (away) and Iowa (away).</p>
— GoldandBlack.com (@GoldandBlackcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/GoldandBlackcom/status/334399931987136513">May 14, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Yes, Purdue and Indiana, arguably the most tense rivalry in the conference when it comes to basketball over several decades, will only play once. this is the fifth time the league has been dumb enough to have them play only once too, as they did it in 2001-02 (when I was a senior, costing me a home game against IU AS A SENIOR!), 2002-03, 2007-08, and 2008-09. In 2002-03 the teams played a second game in Indianapolis at the RCA Dome as the "Duel in the Dome", but unless they hastily re-organize the Crossroads Classic and make Butler and Notre Dame play each other which they should) The Boilermakers and Hoosiers only play once.</p>
<p>At least it is in West Lafayette.</p>
<p>We catch a break getting Michigan State and a rising Iowa team only once. it also means two games each against Northwestern, Penn State, and Nebraska, whom Purdue finished ahead of last season. Still, not only does this deny Purdue another strong game on the road, it is ridiculous that two bitter rivals that sell out every game against each other will only play once. People complained 10 years ago when it happened. They complained five years ago. You would think the league would not be this stupid.</p>
<p>Then again, I give you adding Rutgers and Maryland.</p>
<p>At least now I have absolutely zero reason to torture myself by watching a single second of basketball in Bloomington this winter. Also, the league was dumb enough to have Michigan and Ohio State only play once:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Per @<a href="https://twitter.com/11w">11w</a>, OSU plays Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin just once. Pretty easy draw.</p>
— Dylan Burkhardt (@umhoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/umhoops/status/334399357052915713">May 14, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
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This is different though. That is mostly a football rivalry. Indiana vs. Purdue in basketball is part of this state's identity and lifeblood. You are raised on one side or the other if you grow up here and you wait for those two winter nights when everything is on the line.</p>
<p>Thank you, Big Ten. Way to screw it up.</p>
https://www.hammerandrails.com/2013/5/14/4331212/2013-14-purdue-basketball-schedule-big-ten-releases-single-playBoilerTMill2013-05-09T15:54:08-04:002013-05-09T15:54:08-04:002013-14 Purdue Basketball Non-Conference Analysis
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p></p>
<p>If Purdue is going to return to the NCAA Tournament in 2014 it will have a solid building base to start from with its non-conference schedule. The @BoilerBall Twitter officially released the 13 game non-conference schedule today, and the 18-game Big Ten slate is coming later. I tracked it in an earlier entry today, but here is the full list:</p>
<p><b>October 30 </b><b>Indianapolis</b><b> (Exhibition)</b></p>
<p id="paragraph2"><b>November 4 </b><b>Wayne</b><b> State (Exhibition)</b></p>
<p id="paragraph3"><b>November 8 </b><b>Northern Kentucky</b></p>
<p id="paragraph4"><b>November 13 </b><b>Central</b><b> </b><b>Connecticut</b><b> </b><b>State</b></p>
<p id="paragraph5"><b>November 17 Rider</b></p>
<p id="paragraph6"><b>November 20 </b><b>Eastern Illinois</b></p>
<p><b>November 24 </b><b>Siena</b><b> (Old Spice Classic)</b></p>
<p><b>November 28-December 1: Old Spice Classic, Orlando, FL (includes:</b><b> </b><b>Butler</b><b>, LSU, </b><b>Memphis</b><b>, </b><b>Oklahoma</b><b> State, </b><b>St. Joseph</b><b>'s, </b><b>Siena</b><b>, and </b><b>Washington</b><b> </b><b>State</b><b>)</b></p>
<p><b>December 4 </b><b>Boston</b><b> </b><b>College</b></p>
<p><b>December 7 </b><b>Eastern Michigan</b></p>
<p><b>December 14 vs. </b><b>Butler</b><b> at Bankers Life Fieldhouse</b></p>
<p><b>December 17 </b><b>Maryland-Eastern</b><b> </b><b>Shore</b></p>
<p><b>December 21 at </b><b>West Virginia</b></p>
<p>Purdue will have an extremely young team next season with only two seniors (as it stands right now) and no juniors, but there is still enough there to build a respectable non-conference resume before getting into Big Ten play, which always has plenty of resume win chances.</p>
<p>In 2012-13 Purdue played three teams that made the NCAA Tournament at the end of the year during the non-conference schedule. A big reason Purdue didn't make the tournament is that the Boilers lost all three of these games to Bucknell, Villanova, and Notre Dame.</p>
<p>Purdue can play a similar number of teams this year, depending on how the Old Spice Classic shakes out. There is the guaranteed game against Butler, who reached the round of 32 and near knocked off Marquette. Purdue could play them twice depending on the Old Spice Classic. Oklahoma State and Memphis also made last year's tournament.</p>
<p>Teams such as West Virginia, Boston College, St. Joseph's, and Siena have played in recent NCAA Tournaments while any game against LSU or Washington State at least has the stigma of playing a major conference opponent. </p>
<p>Here are the 2012-13 records of all opponents:</p>
<p><b>Northern Kentucky</b><b> - 11-16, 9-9 Atlantic Sun - </b>It should be noted 2012-13 was the first season at the Division I level for the Norse.</p>
<p><b>Central</b><b> </b><b>Connecticut</b><b> </b><b>State</b><b> - 13-17, 9-9 Northeast - </b>CCSU made the tournament as recently as 2007, losing to Ohio State in round 1</p>
<p><b>Rider - 19-15, 12-6 MAAC</b> - Rider played in the fourth tier CIT Tournament last season, reaching the second round. They also had only two seniors, so they could be the MAAC favorites and an NCAA team in 2013-14.</p>
<p><b>Eastern Illinois</b><b> - 11-21, 6-10 </b><b>Ohio</b><b> </b><b>Valley</b><b> - </b>Eastern Illinois last made the NCAAs in 2001.</p>
<p><b>Siena</b><b> - 8-24, 4-14 MAAC - </b>After making three consecutive NCAA Tournaments under Fran MCCaffery in 2008, 2009, and 2010 they have fallen apart a bit. We remember them as Purdue's first round opponent in 2010 when every expert thought the Boilers were ripe for an upset because of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26733/robbie-hummel">Robbie Hummel's</a> injury. They also are breaking in a new coach.</p>
<p><b>LSU - 19-12, 9-9 </b><b>SEC</b><b> - </b>LSU was a win short of 20 wins and didn't even receive an NIT or CBI invite. SEC basketball, everyone!</p>
<p><b>Memphis</b><b> - 31-5, 16-0 Conference </b><b>USA</b><b> - </b>Purdue's best possible non-conference opponent depending on what Butler does. Their only losses last year were to VCU, Minnesota, Louisville, Xavier, and Michigan State.</p>
<p><b>Oklahoma</b><b> </b><b>State</b><b> - 24-9, 13-5 Big 12 - </b>Like Memphis, the Cowboys got to the NCAA Tournament and won a game. They should be pretty good led by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/174487/marcus-smart">Marcus Smart</a>, who might be the best player that did not declare early for the draft.</p>
<p><b>St. Joseph</b><b>'s - 18-14, 8-8 </b><b>Atlantic</b><b> 10 - </b>You always know any game against the Hawks will be a tough affair, as they play pretty solid basketball. This team lost in the first round of the NIT to St. John's.</p>
<p><b>Washington</b><b> </b><b>State</b><b> - 13-19, 4-14 Pac-12 - </b>The Cougars finished in a last place tie in the Pac-12 with the same Oregon State team that beat Purdue. They last went dancing in 2008 when they reached the Sweet 16.</p>
<p><b>Boston</b><b> </b><b>College</b><b> - 16-17, 7-11 ACC - </b>BC reached the 2009 tournament, but they have struggled since moving to the ACC. They came within a point of beating both Duke and Miami at home this past year.</p>
<p><b>Eastern Michigan</b><b> - 16-18, 7-9 </b><b>MAC</b><b> - </b>Of all the losses last year, and there were a lot, this one pissed me off the most. We had no business only scoring 44 points against a crappy MAC team that was 339<sup>th</sup> nationally in scoring.</p>
<p><b>Butler</b><b> - 27-9, 11-5 </b><b>Atlantic</b><b> 10 - </b>It never hurt to have two possible games against a good team like Butler, and the Bulldogs are the premier team in the state of Indiana. In fact, they have been for some time now minus the slight dip in 2012.</p>
<p><b>Maryland-Eastern</b><b> </b><b>Shore</b><b> 2-26, 2-14 MEAC - </b>They have never made the tournament and<b> </b>they would have been the worst team in Division I last season if not for Grambling State going 0-28 and losing every game by double digits except for the final one.</p>
<p><b>West Virginia</b><b> 13-19, 6-12 Big 12 - </b>Bob Huggins' teams are rarely awful two seasons in a row and this was a young team that took some lumps last season. Think of them as similar to Purdue in that light, making this a good road game Purdue could use if its resume is on the Bubble.</p>
<p><b>Teams Purdue has no valid excuse to lose to: </b>Northern Kentucky, Central Connecticut State, Rider, Eastern Illinois, Siena, Eastern Michigan, Maryland-Eastern Shore</p>
<p><b>Possible NCAA Teams: </b>Rider, Butler, Oklahoma State, Memphis, LSU, St. Joseph's, Boston College, West Virginia</p>
<p><b>Sneaky upset team if Purdue isn't paying attention: </b>Rider</p>
<p><b>Best three wins Purdue could get: </b>Memphis, Oklahoma State, Butler (x2?)</p>
<p><b>Worst loss if it happened: </b>Maryland-Eastern Shore</p>
<p><b>Purdue's worst-case scenario for an at large bid: </b>9-4 with losses to Memphis, Oklahoma State, a split with Butler, and at West Virginia</p>
<p><b>Way too early prediction from T-Mill: </b>10-3. I see Purdue dropping a close one at West Virginia (but learning a lot in the process) and possibly two in Orlando depending on the draw. I wouldn't be surprised if Purdue lost to Butler, but beat West Virginia while dropping two in Orlando, either.</p>
https://www.hammerandrails.com/2013/5/9/4316508/2013-14-purdue-basketball-non-conference-schedule-analysisBoilerTMill