Purdue moved to No. 1 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll six weeks ago for the first time in school history. It was a great and meaningful achievement. But the Boilermakers responded by going 6-2 in their subsequent eight games with zero wins over top-60 KenPom.com opponents and losses at Rutgers and to Wisconsin at home.
It wasn’t a great stretch.
Consequently, and understandably, Purdue was a slight underdog at Illinois on Monday; a loss was the projected outcome. But the nation’s best offensive team performed like the nation’s best offensive team in an afternoon affair, limited All-American Kofi Cockburn, and recorded a 96-88 double-overtime victory that reminded the nation Matt Painter does indeed have a legitimate title contender.
“They’re the best basketball team we’ve played,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood told reporters afterward.
Worth noting: Illinois has played Arizona.
The 50-minute victory was highlighted by Sasha Stefanovic’s 22 points on 6-of-11 shooting and improved Purdue to 6-2 in the first two quadrants with zero additional losses. The Boilermakers now own wins over four top-25 KenPom teams — Villanova, Illinois, Iowa and North Carolina. They remain No. 6 in Tuesday morning’s updated CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 daily college basketball rankings with a game at Indiana on tap.
That showdown is scheduled for Thursday.
It’ll be the first of two regular-season meetings between the in-state rivals and an opportunity for Indiana to secure the type of signature win it’s yet to record under first-year coach Mike Woodson, whose Hoosiers are 2-4 in the first two quadrants so far this season with losses to Wisconsin, Iowa, Penn State and Syracuse.
Itching for more college hoops analysis? Listen below and subscribe to the Eye on College Basketball podcast where we take you beyond the hardwood with insider information and instant reactions.
