Overrated, first-round exit, washed; as a Purdue basketball fan, I’ve heard it all. Purdue was ranked number one in the preseason AP poll and started the season on a 17-1 run, but that level quickly deteriorated, along with fans’ hopes, as they ended their regular season 6-7. Even with this, after Purdue beat the likes of Nebraska and Michigan en route to a Big Ten tournament title, it is clear the team led by coach Matt Painter should be considered national title contenders.

Purdue’s underdog Big Ten tournament win was one for the ages, and showcased that Purdue has all the skills needed to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament. Purdue played four games in a row from Thursday to Sunday, and they never showed any signs of tiredness or weakness. For a tournament that involves winning six games in a row, this is key.

For Purdue, one of their biggest assets throughout the whole season has been senior guard Braden Smith. Averaging 14.3 points and 9.0 assists per game according to Purdue, Smith has provided Purdue with the consistency they’ve needed all season, even in their losses. Along with this, during the March 20 first-round game against Queens, Smith passed Bobby Hurley to set the record for most total assists throughout one’s collegiate career. Smith has proven time and time again that he’s a valuable asset to Purdue, but it’s not just him.

After the loss of Zach Edey, Purdue struggled in the 2024-2025 season. The remedy to this has been picking up fifth-year senior center Oscar Cluff from South Dakota State. At 6 ’11’’, Cluff has provided some clutch moments in the paint. From dunks to and-ones, Purdue typically does better when they have a big man on their team, and Cluff gives Purdue just that.

Rounding out the rest of the starting line-up, Fletcher Loyer, Trey Kaufman-Renn, and C.J. Cox are the epitome of showing up when it counts. When playing Northwestern on March 4 and trailing for the majority of the game, Cox put up a career high of 27 points which led the Boilers to a four-point victory. The same goes for Loyer and Kaufman-Renn, with both averaging 14.1 points per game.

Looking past the starting five, Purdue specializes in the depth of their team. With Harris, Jacobsen, Mayer, and Benter, each of these bench players average over 12 minutes a game. Even in close games, Painter trusts more than just the starters to deliver points for the team. When playing the best teams in the country, it’s good to know that there’s more than just five players that can provide valuable minutes for the team.

The teamwork and resilience of Purdue was extremely evident in the second-round win against Miami on March 22. Even with Smith only making three out of 12 field goal attempts and Cox leaving the game after a knee injury, the rest of the team stepped up. Loyer only missed one shot all game and he and Kaufman-Renn combined for 43 points.

When one player is down, the rest of Purdue steps up. They’ve delivered dominant performances in the postseason so far and are beginning to live up to the preseason number one hype. With the final four in Indianapolis this year, practically a home game for Purdue, this is their year more than ever to finally claim that national championship title.