In the college sports landscape when it comes to post season births the argument of quality of schedule versus number of wins is at constant debate. The Purdue Boilermakers will find themselves embroiled in this debate as the Big Ten tournament gets started. Did they get enough wins in a very tough schedule?
Bracketology has Purdue a high seed for the NIT Tournament after the loss at home to Rutgers. Predictions for them to get in to March Madness is to probably win the whole Big Ten tournament. Starting Thursday the Boilermakers take on #19 Ohio State with the winner getting #9 Michigan State on Friday. Winning both games would be a huge boost but still possibly not enough.
Looking at Painter's squad resume the Boilers are 5-9 in Quad 1, 3-5 in Quad 2, 3-0 in Quad 3 and 5-1 in Quad 4. Purdue swept Iowa, crushed Michigan State and Virginia and beat a ranked VCU team. The problem was the road games in the conference and missing a few opportunities in non-conference. Texas, at Marquette, Florida State, both Illinois games, Penn State, Rutgers and the big one was at Nebraska. Purdue is (16-15, 9-11) but just one more win in and out of conference would make them (18-13, 10-10) and probably still on the bubble but the Boilers were in the picture before the Rutgers game and would have more solid ground to stand on with just two more wins.
The argument for the Boilermakers has been a consistently tough schedule where the transitioning team was constantly challenged, but did they win enough? The argument of tougher schedule versus wins is in their own conference. Indiana is a projected 10 seed for March Madness as long as they don't blow it against a Nebraska team waving the white flag.
The Hoosiers are (19-12, 9-11) 2-9 in Quad 1, 6-2 Quad 2, 3-1 Quad 3 and 8-0 in Quad 4. Reviews of the IU season is they fell short in signature wins but have gotten help from other bubble teams stepping forward. In the non-conference they beat Florida State, not to be overlooked, Connecticut and Notre Dame but lost to Arkansas. Those are the only four games of note that stand out in a weak non-conference, as proven by their 11-1 Quad 3 and 4 wins. The Hoosiers took care of business and held serve in the Big Ten.
As a Purdue fan Painter's squad deserves credit for a tough schedule but the transitioning team couldn't hold up to the rigors of the season. It is even more frustrating when the Boilermakers swept IU that played a weak non-conference schedule but they took care of business. Credit to Archie Miller realizing his team needed the boosts of some easier wins in the non-conference, especially for a Big Ten Conference that looks like it'll get ten teams in to the dance.
After the Elite 8 berth, almost Final 4, hopes were high even with the loss of Carsen Edwards and Ryan Cline. However, the truth is it was a really tough schedule for a transitioning team. Of course you never want your team to miss the NCAA Tournament but a chance to get in more games in the NIT and, even possibly win the championship, could be a spring board for a team that will return most of the core. The pressure of post season play will give this young Boiler squad a chance to redefine their pecking order with their leader last year leaving last season.
