Purdue is 0-2 for the first time since 1976, absolutely STUNNED by visiting Valparaiso in a double-overtime nightmare on Friday night. The Boilermakers, who started the season with a loss against No. 15 Gonzaga, reportedly shelled out a hefty $90,000 just to get this second game on the books against Valpo, only to see it turn into a historic upset loss. This was NOT how anyone expected their bid to get back into the AP Top 25 to begin.
Valpo’s Freshman Phenom Rips Purdue’s Defense Apart
The game started like a dream for Purdue. They jumped out to an early 19-4 lead, locking down Valpo and holding them to just two field goals in the entire first half. Seriously, two field goals in 20 minutes! You’d think that kind of dominance would carry them to an easy win. But things started to crumble in the second half. Purdue’s defense, which looked impenetrable early, struggled to contain Valparaiso. The visitors relentlessly chipped away at that lead, eventually tying the score at 48 points with only five and a half minutes left on the clock.
Then the real drama started. Purdue’s C.J. Cox missed a chance at a go-ahead three-pointer, sending the game into its first overtime. That’s when Valparaiso’s true freshman, Rakim Chaney, took over. He put up a career-high 35 points, including a clutch three-pointer that sent the game into a *second* overtime! Even after Chaney fouled out in double overtime, Valpo refused to quit. Justus McNair stepped up, hitting his team’s second buzzer-beater of the game to secure the incredible upset victory. Valparaiso’s big three of Chaney (35 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists), McNair (17 points, 5 rebounds), and JT Pettigrew (11 points, 8 rebounds) were simply too much.
Historical Collapse and Matt Painter’s Tough Start
This 0-2 start is a brutal blow for a Purdue team that was ranked 28th in the preseason AP Poll. That unranked status already broke a streak of 79 straight weeks in the Top 25, and now this. While Daniel Jacobsen put up 28 points and 10 rebounds on 9/13 shooting, and C.J. Cox added 13 points and 12 rebounds, the struggles of others were glaring. Caden Pierce and Omer Mayer, for example, combined for a measly four points. That’s just not going to cut it when you’re trying to contain a hot freshman like Chaney.
This is the first 0-2 start of Matt Painter’s entire coaching career, and you know that’s got to sting. Purdue was supposed to be building momentum, not setting historic lows.
Purdue needs to turn things around, and fast. They’ll have a chance to get their first win on Monday in a home game against Illinois State. If they want to move back toward that ranked status, they have to start playing like the team everyone expected to see. No more letting early leads disappear. No more stunning upsets, especially after paying for the privilege!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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