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Team: Purdue Boilermakers
Conference: Big Ten Conference
Coach: Matt Painter
Record: 26-8 overall, 12-6 in conference
KenPom Rank: 10
Good wins: at Wisconsin, over Wisconsin, Michigan State at home.
Impact Players: AJ Hammons leads the Boilers with 15 points and eight rebounds per game. Freshman phenom Caleb Swanigan adds another eight rebounds per game. The Boilers play four players who are 6'8" or taller in their rotation, with PJ Thompson feeding the post.
How did they get in?: Starting out 10-0 and only losing one game at home to Iowa is a strong record; they also reached the finals of the Big Ten Tournament, though they only received a five-seed.
How far can this team go in the NCAA Tournament?: The size of Purdue is imposing. The depth means that Purdue's bigs don't have to worry about getting tired but being needed on the floor. Two of those bigs - Swanigan and Vince Edwards - take a number of the three-pointers. But if they get behind, there is a question of whether the Boilers have reliable guards. This looks like a Round of 32 team at best as a five-seed.
Last time in the NCAA Tournament: 2015, where they lost in the first round.