1 ideal path for Purdue Boilermakers to make Big Ten Tournament title game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Purdue Boilermakers are going to attempt to wipe the slate clean as their Big Ten Tournament journey begins Thursday evening from the United Center in Chicago.
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Purdue will play the winner of the No. 10-No. 15 matchup between the Indiana Hoosiers and Northwestern Wildcats, tipping off Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network).
The Boilermakers are familiar with both programs, having played against them a combined total of three times this season and winning two. The Boilermakers (23-8) took down the Hoosiers (18-13) in their rematch at Mackey Arena Feb. 24, 93-64, exacting revenge from a Jan. 27 loss in Bloomington where they fell 72-67.
Meanwhile, as is common every season, the Wildcats (14-18) hung tough with the Boilermakers but could not keep their home upset momentum alive, falling short, 70-66.
Assuming Purdue gets by a team fighting for their NCAA Tournament bubble lives or beats a team that can only make the 68-team field by winning the conference tournament, this is where possible pairings get really interesting.
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Friday’s likely matchup could see the Boilermakers play the Nebraska Cornhuskers (26-5), a team that came out of nowhere and finished the regular season at No. 11 after being in regular-season conference title contention all year long. The Cornhuskers fell to the Boilermakers in their lone matchup this season, 80-77, Feb. 10 in overtime.
If Purdue wins that game, it could be staring down the barrel of having to play the UCLA Bruins (21-10) or Michigan State Spartans (25-6), barring any potential upsets. Luckily for the Boilermakers in this win-or-go-home format, they lost to both Michigan State (76-74) and the Bruins (69-67), making either opportunity a revenge spot with a trip to the title game looming.
Again, a revenge opportunity is entirely possible should the Michigan Wolverines or Illinois Fighting Illini (24-7) await Purdue come Sunday. Illinois freshman guard Keaton Wagler stunned Purdue with 46 points at Mackey Arena in January, clinching an 88-82 win in one of the league’s most exciting games to date.
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The Wolverines, meanwhile, escaped West Lafayette with a hard-fought win, 91-80, Feb. 17.
A major question for Purdue, though, is whether it can remain consistent. It finished 1-3 over its final four games as it fell to the Spartans, Ohio State Buckeyes (20-11) and Wisconsin Badgers (22-9) before the tournament takes shape.
We’ll find out Thursday night whether Purdue can find its postseason form.
