Take a moment to recognize what Purdue has done before the country begins filling out brackets and questions about last year become the talk of the town.
The Boilermakers are not only the first team since Ohio State in 2006 and 2007 to win back-to-back Big Ten titles outright, but they are also the first since Indiana in 1975 and 1976 to win consecutive conference titles by a margin of multiple games. Throughout both conference seasons, those Hoosiers were unbeaten. After defeating Illinois 77-71 on the road on March 5, these Boilermakers have a 31-8 record (.795) going into their last regular-season game. They also lead Illinois by three games.
Purdue finished three games clear of Northwestern and Indiana for second place in the previous season. In addition to celebrating their 26th straight league regular-season title this year, the Boilermakers hope to become the first squad to win the conference tournament twice in a row since Michigan’s victories in 2017 and 2018.
Purdue’s well-documented NCAA Tournament problems will eventually come to an end, but for the time being, that streak is noteworthy.
This is the current season-long composition of the Big Ten. Rankings are based on games completed as of March 7.
Hail to the champions, who have provided answers to all but the most important question: what will March hold?
That Illinois is unquestionably the second-best team in the league may speak more to the credit of the Big Ten than to Illinois’s credit. In any case, if this team could play more reliable defense, it might be Brad Underwood’s first-ever Sweet 16 squad.
The Wildcats will soon be dancing in consecutive seasons for the first time in school history, so don’t let a two-game losing streak heading into Boo Buie’s senior day fool you.
