Purdue Soars Above UCLA in College Basketball Rankings, Ending Four-Game Losing Streak!

Purdue has faced some tough times recently, enduring its first four-game losing streak in five years. A big part of the problem has been their defense, especially inside the arc. Without star player Zach Edey, Purdue has struggled to guard effectively. In a recent game against UCLA, they allowed the Bruins to shoot an impressive 59.4% on 2-point shots. Not great. But there’s always a bright side. Purdue made up for it with a strong 3-point performance, leading to a 76-66 victory at Mackey Arena.

In that game, the Boilermakers took 22 shots from beyond the arc, sinking 11 of them. Braden Smith had an outstanding night, hitting 6 of his 10 attempts from deep, while Fletcher Loyer contributed with 3 out of 5. Coach Matt Painter noted how well his team managed the ball, finishing the game with only nine turnovers—a significant improvement compared to earlier games.

Trey Kaufman-Renn shone the brightest, scoring 29 points on 11 of 15 shooting. He’s been impressive this season, averaging 19.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game in just over 30 minutes. His current field goal percentage is a career-high at 61.0%, which compares favorably to Edey’s performances over the last two seasons.

As for the rankings, Purdue stands at No. 16 in the latest CBS Sports Top 25 and 1. They have a crucial home game against Rutgers coming up on Tuesday, followed by their final regular-season game on Friday at Illinois. It’s an important time for the team as they look to bounce back and secure a strong position heading into the postseason.