Purdue Basketball – On the Road to Redemption

Purdue turned a lot of heads last year on its way to winning the Big Ten by three games.

This year Purdue will have a top-ranking next to its name and a target on its back, but for a team that was ranked #1 for seven weeks last season, there’s a lot of unfinished business for a roster that remains mostly the same.

Purdue lost 4 of 6 during the late stretch of the Big Ten last year and then lost in the first round of the NCAA after going undefeated into Big Ten play. This year, the Big Ten will test them early and often on the road.

3 of Purdue’s 5 conference losses were on the road last year.

These three games will be Purdue’s toughest tests on the road next year.

Purdue will get just a day to welcome in the new year before taking a trip to Maryland, the site of Purdue’s most lopsided loss last season. Kevin Willard’s first season at Maryland was nothing short of a miracle at times, turning an ensemble of transfers from all over the place into a team with bullies for guards and a whole bunch of physicality that made it to the round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament.

While last season’s squad required transfers, this next season of Terrapin basketball will be bolstered by one of the best recruiting classes in the Big Ten with the addition of three Top100 recruits according to Rivals.

Deshawn Harris-Smith headlines the 2023 class which adds athleticism, play making, and skill in the back court and on the wing. Jahnathan Lamothe is the 91st ranked commit in the nation, a 6’4″ shooting guard, and Jamie Kaiser Jr. is the 64th best ranked prospect out of Bradenton, Florida and a 6’6″ guard that gets at it on both ends of the floor.

Jahmir Young will be back after an at times contentious off season that saw the senior guard consider transferring and going pro before deciding to use his COVID year of eligibility, providing the Terrapins with stability in the back court and one of the best on ball guards in the conference.

Maryland’s size, especially on the perimeter, was almost enough to knock Purdue off in Mackey Arena when Purdue narrowly pulled off a 58-55 slogfest. When Purdue went into Maryland, Purdue got rocked in the second half after taking a lead into the first half. Maryland out rebounded Purdue by 12, held Purdue to 2 of 13 shooting from three, and was relentless in the paint against Edey and company.

Purdue will play two early Big Ten games in December before finishing its non-conference schedule and go on Holiday break. It’ll come back for one final non-conference game against Eastern Kentucky before the road trip to Maryland. Purdue won the Big Ten by three games last season, but it will have games circled on the calendar to prove itself a more complete team than last years.

This should be a good one.

After half a decade of dominance, Purdue was swept by IU last year, including a 79-71 loss in Mackey Arena….