No. 23 G'town | No. 25 (tie) Baylor | No. 25 (tie) Butler | Full List
No. 24: PURDUE BOILERMAKERS
Last Season: 21-13, 12-6 Big Ten
When Caleb Swanigan decommitted from Michigan State in favor of Purdue, the expectations for the Boilermakers went from big to bigger.
Quite literally, since Swanigan now gives Purdue one of the most formidable frontcourts in college basketball. The freshman power forward, ranked ninth in the ESPN 100, joins Isaac Haas and A.J. Hammons -- two guys who know their way around the rim.
The real question for Purdue, then, becomes who plays in the backcourt. Texas-Arlington's Johnny Hill adds some depth at point guard. The graduate transfer will likely share time with sophomore P.J. Thompson. Rapheal Davis is easily the best backcourt defender, but he hasn't been much of a scorer. In order to keep teams honest and sag off the bigs, the guards are going to have to score. -- Dana O'Neil
Best Case: The Boilermakers return to prominence behind some intimidating size and the return of four of five starters. Purdue won 20 games for the seventh time in nine seasons under Matt Painter, but the Boilermakers have not been quite as good. With A.J. Hammons, Isaac Haas and freshman Caleb Swanigan, Purdue will be NBA sized across the frontline. Swanigan gives Purdue some star power and its first McDonald's All American since 1996. In Rapheal Davis, Matt Painter has one of the nation's best individual defenders. Purdue can be among the top three teams in the Big Ten.
Worst Case: The guard play does not match the size, and Hammons is not motivated to play big-time basketball for a complete game and season against the best.
"They are an older team, but there are two keys: Will their best players -- particularly A.J. Hammons -- be consistent? I'm not as worried about their point guard as most people because they are really set-based and all the point guard has to do is get the ball up the floor. If they can make shots, they can be really good -- because they should be as good as anyone up front."
No. 23 G'town | No. 25 (tie) Baylor | No. 25 (tie) Butler | Full List
