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Articles by Casey Abbett
Boilers Suffer First Loss of Season Against the Irish
In its first matchup against cross-state rival Notre Dame since 2014, the Purdue football team fared no better Saturday afternoon in South Bend than in its previous game in Indianapolis seven years ago. No. 12 Notre Dame (3-0) was in command through most of the game in its 27-13 win over the Boilermakers (2-1). Purdue, which has lost its last seven games against Notre Dame, has been looking for its first win against the Irish since 2007.
Steadfast Boilers Defeat Beavers
In the 500th game played in Ross-Ade Stadium, on a chilly and misty Saturday night, the Purdue football team celebrated its milestone at the venerable stadium with a 30-21 victory against Oregon State to open the 2021 campaign. The Boilermakers took the lead for good in the second quarter, 10-7, when senior kicker Mitchell Fineran, in his second year at Purdue after transferring from Mercer University (Macon, Georgia), booted a 48- yard field goal.
Purdue Upset By North Texas In Overtime
North Texas was mean. The Mean Green, a No. 13 seed, upset the fourth-seeded Purdue Boilermakers 78-69, in overtime Friday night in the first round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. For the second game in a row the Boilermakers came back from a double-digit deficit to force an overtime period, and for the second straight game the Boilers came up short in the extra time. As a result, the Mean Green got their first-ever NCAA tournament win.
Purdue Freshmen Lead Boilers Passed Badgers
In what is regarded as the toughest men’s basketball conference in the country, Purdue is inching closer to positioning itself into an envious spot before the Big Ten tournament. The top four Big Ten teams at the end of the regular season receive two byes in the conference tournament, and after No. 23 Purdue’s 73-69 win over No. 25 Wisconsin, the Boilermakers (18-8, 12-6 in the Big Ten) have a half-game lead in fourth place. Purdue slipped by idle No. 7 Ohio State for fourth place.
Boilermakers Tame Nittany Lions, 73-52
A convincing win is uncommon but welcome as Purdue knocked off Penn State, 73-52, Friday night in Happy Valley. With the win, the unranked Boilermakers (16-8, 11-6 in the Big Ten) have jumped into a tie for fourth in the Big Ten with No. 9 Iowa. The top four teams in the Big Ten final regular-season standings receive two byes in the postseason conference tournament (March 10-14).
Boilers Sweep Spartans 75-65
The Purdue Boilermakers returned to the win column Tuesday night against Michigan State, 75-65, a team that’s uncharacteristically struggling this season. But don’t expect the Boilermakers (14-8, 9-6 in the Big Ten) to sympathize with the plight of the Spartans (10-9, 4-9) who appear destined for their worst finish in the Big Ten since Rutgers joined the conference in 2014-15. Purdue with a 9-11 record in the Big Ten last year had similar struggles.
Boilers Lose Late Against Gophers
Turning into the home stretch of their season, the No. 24 Purdue Boilermakers stumbled. Unranked Minnesota pulled out a 71-68 win Thursday night. Down 69-68, after Gophers junior Marcus Carr banked a three-pointer with 14 seconds left, Purdue (13-8, 8-6 in the Big Ten) had the ball for a final opportunity to win the game. Seven seconds into that possession, Boilermakers forward Trevion Williams was whistled for traveling under the basket, an objectionable call after television replay was seen.
No. 24 Boilermakers Lose to Maryland Late
In Purdue’s first game since returning to the AP Top 25, the Boilermakers lost at Maryland in the final seconds Tuesday night, 61-60. Maryland (10-8, 4-7 in the Big Ten) guard Eric Ayala hit the game-winning free throws with three seconds left. Down, 60-59, with time running out the junior was fouled after collecting a rebound off his own missed shot. Oddly enough, it was one of only three offensive rebounds the Terps pulled down in the game.
Purdue Win Streak Snapped Against Michigan
Staggered by the news of losing one of its leading scorers earlier in the day, Purdue was already on the ropes when the Boilermakers played No. 7 Michigan, and the Wolverines provided the knockout punch with a 70-53 victory Friday night. The Boilermakers (11-6, 6-4 in the Big Ten) played without junior guard Sasha Stefanovic (11.1 points per game) who tested positive for COVID-19 early on Friday.
Purdue Sweeps No. 15 Buckeyes, 67-65
Two of the hottest teams in the Big Ten squared off and Purdue notched its biggest road victory of the year over No. 15 Ohio State, 67-65, Tuesday night at Value City Arena in Columbus. It was the fourth win in a row for Purdue (11-5 overall and 6-3 in the Big Ten) and its first road win over a nationally ranked team in the top 15 since 2012. Meanwhile, Ohio State (11-4, 5-4) had its three-game winning streak snapped.
Purdue Wins Eighth Straight Against Hoosiers
In the only rivalry that matters, the Purdue Boilermakers extended their winning streak over Indiana to eight games, 81-69, in Bloomington on Thursday night. The only longer winning streak over the Hoosiers, nine games, dates back from 1929 to ‘35 when the late great John Wooden played at Purdue. Purdue took command early on the Hoosiers’ home floor when freshman forward Mason Gillis scored on a putback three minutes into the game to give Purdue (9-5) a 7-6 lead.
Fighting Illini Defeat Boilermakers, 66-58
It’s been a long time since the Purdue Boilermakers played a string of three straight road games against opponents ranked in the nation’s top 15. But after facing their third of the three on Saturday night, against No. 15 Illinois, they fared no better than in 1989, the last time it happened. The Fighting Illini (8-3) defeated the Boilermakers, 66-58, at State Farm Center in Champaign. In ‘89, Purdue lost to Ohio State (15), Indiana (13) and Michigan (13) in three straight on the road.
Boilers Slain By Scarlet Knights 81-76
Since Rutgers joined the Big Ten in 2014, the Scarlet Knights have been one of Purdue’s punching bags in conference play. But not anymore. No. 14 Rutgers (7-1) defeated the Boilermakers, 81-76, at the Rutgers Athletic Center in Piscataway, N.J., for the Scarlet Knights’ third win in a row over the Boilers (7-4) after losing eight straight to them at one point.
Boilermakers Lose To No. 4 Iowa, 70-55
In a game against the highest ranked team this season, perhaps after Tuesday night’s game, the Boilermakers found out that they’re not quite ready for the prime time. In Iowa’s Big Ten opener, the Hawkeyes dug in as the conference’s highest ranked team with a convincing win, 70-55, over the Boilermakers. In the Big Ten preseason media poll, Iowa (7-1) was picked by the coaches to finish second behind Illinois. Iowa’s only loss this season was against top-ranked Gonzaga.
Purdue Defeats Notre Dame 88-78
With an already successful record in recent years against in-state college basketball rivals, the Purdue Boilermakers didn’t waiver from their success at the annual Crossroads Classic. They beat Notre Dame, 88-78, Saturday in Indianapolis. With 16 wins in their last 18 games against in-state schools, marked only by losses last year against Butler, ranked No. 17 at the time, and two years ago against the Fighting Irish (2-4) at the Crossroads.
Boilers Top Buckeyes, 67-60
To open the Big Ten season, Purdue entered the game with solid credentials but untested against any ranked team until Wednesday night at Mackey Arena. After a 67-60 win over No. 20 Ohio State, the Boilermakers have a better self-identity. The Boilermakers (5-2) discovered they can deal with duress as they did early in the second half when the Buckeyes (5-1) cut Purdue’s lead to four, 48-44, the Boilermakers’ smallest second-half margin.
Huskers Derail Boilermakers, 37-27
In what was a pivotal football game this season for both Purdue and Nebraska, a 37-27 loss to the Huskers on Saturday keeps the Boilermakers spiraling downward. Both teams entered the game with some urgency to turn around their respective seasons. The Boilermakers were in a position to even their record on the season with a victory, but instead dropped their fourth straight after starting out the year with two victories. Meanwhile, the Huskers’ only victory this season was against Penn State, Nov.
Boilermakers Lose Third Straight 37-30
What started as a promising season for the Purdue football team with a 2-0 start has gone sour quickly after a 37-30 loss Saturday to a Rutgers team that had lost four straight. Purdue (2-3) led by ten points at halftime, 23-13, but things really went down hill for the Boilermakers in the second half. Coming out of the break, Rutgers (2-4) scored 21 points in the third quarter, including a 100-yard kickoff return.
Boilermakrs Feel the Payne In Controversial Loss to Minnesota
In a controversial finish, Minnesota held on to edge Purdue, 34-31, in a rare Friday night Big Ten game for the Boilermakers. The play in question was an offensive pass interference call with less than a minute left in the game on Boilermaker sophomore tight end Payne Durham. The Boilermakers (2-2) were in a position to win the game on a 19-yard apparent touchdown pass that would have given the Boilermakes the lead. But Durham was flagged in the end zone.
Purdue Falls On Homecoming Night To Northwestern 27-20
Purdue was forced to shake off its share of rust after an unexpected week off, but was unsuccessful as No. 23 Northwestern defeated the Boilermakers, 27-20, at Ross-Ade Stadium Saturday night. The Boilermakers (2-1) were off because last weekend’s opponent, Wisconsin, was unable to host because of COVID concerns. Last week’s layoff affected the Boilermakers offense the most with just two rushing yards on the night and only four third down conversions in 17 tries. “I (give) credit to Northwestern.
Purdue Saved By The Bell Against Illinois
On a Halloweeen afternoon, Purdue’s football team faced off against a depleted Illinois team and secured a 31-24 victory in Champagne, but the Boilermaker faithful got a scare late in the game. Head Coach Jeff Brohm returned to the sideline after he contracted COVID-19 last week, but Purdue was still without redshirt sophomore wide receiver Rondale Moore, a starter out for the second straight week for undisclosed reasons.
Purdue Rallies Against Iowa Without Brohm And Moore
Purdue’s football team returned to the field Saturday to begin a season not many thought would take place only a few weeks ago. The Boilermakers won their opening game against Iowa, 24-20, by overcoming several obstacles. To begin with, Coach Jeff Brohm, the brains behind the Purdue offense, was absent because of a positive test for COVID-19 earlier in the week. Along with Brohm, redshirt sophomore star wide receiver Rondale Moore attended the game, but was not in uniform for undisclosed reasons.
Rutgers Spoils Senior Day For Purdue 71-68
In what may be the final blow to Purdue’s chances of making the NCAA tournament, Rutgers shattered the Boilermakers’ hopes with an overtime win, 71-68. Like Purdue, Rutgers was looking for a strong finish to the regular season before the Big Ten tournament starts Wed. (March 11) in Indianapolis. With a 10-9 record in the Big Ten entering Saturday’s game, the Scarlets Knights had a one game edge over the Boilermakers (9-10).
Boilers Beat Hoosiers For A Seventh Straight Time
The Purdue Men's basketball team snapped a four-game losing streak against in-state rival Indiana Thursday night, capturing a much needed 57-49 victory. This game was a must-win for Purdue (15-14) as it continues to try to make its case for a bid to the NCAA tournament in a few weeks. While the team’s chances are faint, the opportunity still remains for Purdue to make a run at the Big Dance with a few games left to play.
Purdue Falls Flat Against Michigan 71-63
It has not been home-sweet-home for Purdue’s men’s basketball team this season. Michigan handed Purdue its fourth loss at Mackey Arena this season, 71-63, on Saturday afternoon. The Boilermakers’ fourth home loss this season equals the number of combined losses at Mackey Arena over the previous four seasons. Purdue struggled out of the game with ten missed shots of 13 taken in the opening minutes. Michigan struggled, too, from the outset.
Free Throws Carry Wisconsin Over Purdue 69-65
Unlike the last meeting when Purdue dominated Wisconsin, the Badgers outlasted the Boilers in a 69-65 victory on Tuesday night at Kohl Center. With only four regular-season games left, Purdue drops to 14-13 overall and 7-9 in the Big Ten after their third straight loss, which puts the Boilers in a precarious situation for their hopes of making the NCAA tournament. The pressure is on. Purdue’s only lead in the game lasted 16 seconds.
Purdue Falls At Home To #13 Penn State
As opposed to Purdue’s last home game against Iowa, ranked No. 17 six days ago when the two teams met, the Boilermakers’ most effective weapon against the Hawkeyes--the three-point shot--was used against them on Tuesday night. No. 13 Penn State made 14 three-pointers in its 88-76 win over the Boilermakers at Mackey Arena. Ten of the Nittany Lions’ three-pointers came in the first half, while the Boilers only made four of 14 from three-point range, and missed all eight attempts in the first half.
Purdue Hits 19 Three Pointers In Blowout Win Over #17 Iowa
Purdue men’s basketball fans greeted 17th ranked Iowa with derisive cheers from the moment the Hawkeyes hit the Mackey Arena floor for warmups on Wednesday night. And they never let up after the upset-minded Boilermakers dominated the game, 104-68. After Iowa opened the scoring 18 seconds into the game on Luka Garza basket, Purdue responded with 17 unanswered points and set the tone.
Purdue Steals Win Against Northwestern
Purdue’s men’s basketball team nabbed its first Big Ten road win with a 61-58 victory at Northwestern. The Boilermakers were 0-5 in Big Ten road games prior to their game at Evanston. Overall this season, Purdue had only one road triumph at Ohio U. on Dec. 17. In the game’s final three minutes, the Boilermakers put together their surge with an 11-0 run. It was marked the first time this season Purdue (12-10, 5-6 in the Big Ten) won a game trailing at halftime. Northwestern had a 29-25 lead the break.
Boilermakers Top Badgers 70-51
Following a rare loss at home to the fighting Illini earlier this week, the Purdue Boilermakers bounced back to beat the Wisconsin Badgers, 70-51, Friday night at Mackey Arena. The Boilers shot out of the gate and never looked back in a much-needed Big Ten victory at home, a big turnaround after the Boilermakers had an anemic offensive performance against the Fighting Illini. A pair of runs in the first half, 13-2 and 12-2, allowed Purdue to control the tempo of the game.
Boilermakers Come Up Short In Double Overtime Against #19 Michigan
The last outing for the Purdue men's basketball team, against an unranked Illinois squad, resulted in the team's lowest point total in 70 years (in a 63-37 loss). So the Boilermaker offense had a lot of work to do before facing #19 Michigan in Ann Arbor Thursday. In their first of three straight games against top-25 opponents, the Boilermakers fell to the Wolverines, but forced them into double overtime to do it, 84-78.
Fighting Illini Stifle Boilermakers 63-37
Though the rosters are the same no matter where they play, when the Purdue men's basketball team takes their home court in Mackey Arena, they have been a much different team. They’ve scored more at all levels, defended better, rebounded with more tenacity and played with more energy. Sunday’s game was played in Champaign, Illinois. The 63-37 defeat represented Purdue's lowest point total of the season so far.
Fighting Illini Stifle Boilermakers 63-37
Though the rosters are the same no matter where they play, when the Purdue men's basketball team takes their home court in Mackey Arena, they have been a much different team. They’ve scored more at all levels, defended better, rebounded with more tenacity and played with more energy. Sunday’s game was played in Champaign, Illinois. The 63-37 defeat represented Purdue's lowest point total of the season so far.
Purdue Scrapes By Minnesota In Double Overtime, 83-78
The beginning to a new year is always a time of great excitement and promise. So many things to look forward to and goals to achieve. The Purdue Boilermakers and Minnesota Golden Gophers delivered on the promise of excitement with a double overtime thriller in Mackey Arena to get the year started Thursday.
Boilermaker Men Rout Central Michigan 97-62
Maybe it was holiday home cooking. Or perhaps it was just a comfortable arena and an overmatched mid-major opponent. Either way, the Purdue men's basketball team returned home to Mackey Arena Saturday after a lackluster three-game swing across the Midwest, and produced one of its best offensive perfromances of the season in a 97-62 drubbing of Central Michigan.
Purdue Men Fall To Butler In The Crossroads Classic
In 49 states it's just basketball, but in Indiana and at the Crossroads Classic it means a little something more. It means bragging rights against in-state rivals and more importantly an opportunity to define a team's early season. More often than not, this tournament has been a disappointment for Purdue's men's basketball team which came in with a 2-6 record all-time in the event.
Boilers Win Ugly Against Northwestern, 58-44
After a statement win against fifth-ranked Virginia earlier this week, the Purdue Men's basketball team opened the Big Ten regular season campaign at home against Northwestern Sunday, in a game that again pointed out this season's up-and-down offense. The 58-44 victory was relatively easy, but showed vulnerability as the conference season gets underway. Both teams seemed to be allergic to scoring early in the early in the ballgame, logging empty possession after empty possession.
Purdue Men Stifle Defending National Champions 69-40
The last time the Purdue men's basketball team met the Virginia Cavaliers is a sore subject for the Boilermaker faithful. It was March in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament in Louisville, with Virginia winning in overtime, following a last-second basket to tie the game and send it into the extra frame. Virginia would eventually capture its first national championship and the Boilermakers would go home thinking about what could have been.
Purdue Men Roll Over Jacksonville State
The Purdue Men's basketball team feasted in its last home game before Thanksgiving Saturday, cruising to a 74-40 victory. Purdue used a 20-8 run from the opening tip to take a commanding lead that they never relinquished. The Boilers had a stellar night shooting the basketball, especially in the first half, when they hit nearly 70 percent of their shots. While they did wobble through a scoring drought in the game's closing minutes, they still shot 55 percent on the night.
Wisconsin Ends Boilers' Bowl Hopes In 45-24 Triumph
Taking on a hot Wisconsin team led by their record-breaking running back would be a tall order for any team in the Big Ten this late in the season, but for the Purdue football team, riddled with injuries and misfortune all season long, was too much. While they were surprising and held their own in the first half, Wisconsin had their number in the second half and won, 45-24, thus ensuring Purdue cannot reach the six wins needed to qualify for a bowl game berth.
Purdue Men's Basketball Bounces Back After Two-game Skid
After a head-scratching loss to Marquette earlier this week, the Purdue men's basketball team returned home to Mackey Arena Saturday afternoon to try to make it back to .500 on the season. And, as happened the last time the two teams played, in 2017, the Boilers easily defeated Chicago State -- this time 93-49. Toward the start of the game it looked as though the home team could be in for another long one as they struggled to generate quality offense against the Cougar zone defense.
Purdue Men Struggle In Crunch Time In Loss To Marquette
The Purdue men's basketball team had won all of its meetings against the Marquette Golden Eagles prior to Wednesday's game. They were a perfect 9-0, dating back to early last century. That streak, like Purdue's home win streak that was snapped against Texas last weekend, came to an end as Purdue fell 65-55 in Milwaukee. Marquette boasts one of the best scorers in the land, Markus Howard, who sat at the top of the NCAA scoring list last season.
Longhorns Defeat Boilers 70-66
Not since Febraury of 2018 had the Purdue men's basketball team lost at home, coming into Saturday night. That changes as the 23rd-ranked Boilermakers were thwarted 70-66 by Texas in a back-and-forth grinder of a game. Sasha Stefonavic got off to a hot start after missing the team's first game with an ankle injury. He hit his first four three point attempts, but made just one shot the rest of the game.
Purdue Escapes Against Northwestern, 24-22
Early in the preseason, a matchup between Northwestern and Purdue in early November might have been thought of as a must-watch game, with serious implications for the Big Ten West standings. Fast forward to Saturday and the two teams have played like anything but contenders -- both having been plagued with injuries and misfortune all season long.
Purdue Men Defend Home Court On Banner Night, 79-57
The Purdue Men's basketball team is now 1-0 on the season after a 79-57 win over Wisconsin-Green Bay -- a question easily answered after the unveiling of the team's 24th Big Ten regular season championship banner, commemorating a 2018-2019 season that went better than almost anyone predicted. Now come the harder questions for Head Coach Matt Painter's team. The team that earned the banner last season left big shoes to fill as only two starters from that squad remain, Nojel Eastern and Matt Haarms.
Illinois Rushing Attack Reigns In 24-6 Win Over Purdue
When it rains, it pours. It rained from start to finish on the Boilermaker football team Saturday, and it was the Illinois Fighting Illini that poured it on from beginning to end. With the storm grounding the Boilermaker offense and the defense ill-equipped to stop an Illinois team picking up momentum, Purdue fell to Illinois for the first time in three tries, 24-6 -- even though the Illini gained just 26 yards through the air.
Illinois Rushing Attack Reigns In 24-6 Win Over Purdue
When it rains, it pours. It rained from start to finish on the Boilermaker football team Saturday, and it was the Illinois Fighting Illini that poured it on from beginning to end. With the storm grounding the Boilermaker offense and the defense ill-equipped to stop an Illinois team picking up momentum, Purdue fell to Illinois for the first time in three tries, 24-6 -- even though the Illini gained just 26 yards through the air.
#23 Iowa Beats Purdue 26-20
After a strong performance last weekend from the Boilermaker football team in a win over Maryland, the squad failed to capitalize Saturday on several opportunities to beat a ranked opponent on the road for the first time in nearly a decade. After a questionable onside kick attempt late in the game failed, Iowa turned a short field into a touchdown that sealed an eventual 26-20 victory. The biggest problem for the Boilermakers on this day was ball security in the red zone.
Boilermakers Top Terrapins 40-14
It's common on a crisp afternoon in early fall for the gusts blowing across Ross-Ade Stadium to travel as fast as 30 mph. But it had been a foul wind blowing against the Purdue football team in the weeks leading up to its breezy homecoming game against the Maryland Terrapins Saturday. The Purdue team that took the field -- still with many freshmen seeing significant minutes -- looked more experienced than the group that was overmatched in last week's loss to Penn State.
Penn State Football Stomps Purdue 35-7
The Purdue football team faced a perfect storm of unfortunate circumstances in their game Saturday. Both of their best offensive players were out with injuries. The weakest pass defense in the confrence went up against a strong air attack. And a generally inexperienced team with ten freshman in the starting lineup was forced to try to pick up the slack. All of those challenges, compounded with a road trip to the home of the 12th-ranked team in college football in Penn State.
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