It is an odd time for Purdue Men’s Basketball. For the last three seasons there has been a very long lead up to the season. Not only did the team have high expectations each time, with football in the toilet during the end of the Hazell era Purdue fans just wanted some good news. In 2015-16 it was all about the debut of Caleb Swanigan, and he helped Purdue to a 26-7 season before the Big Ten Tournament final and the Little Rock loss.
In 2016-17 expectations were even higher. Swanigan returned and Purdue won the Big Ten.