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Hammer and Rails

https://www.hammerandrails.com/ | 456 entries published

Purdue's Okayest Blog

Latest Entries

Purdue Basketball: Queens Preview – Analytics and Analysis

Purdue’s Round of 64 (that’s what it’s called these days…Correct?) opponent, Queens University of Charlotte, out of the A-SUN, led by coach Grant Leonard, will make its first trip to the NCAA Tournament in only its fourth season in Division 1 basketball. I covered their roster, broke down the schedule, and reviewed their results earlier […]

about 14 hours ago | 0 reads

Know Your Enemy: The Queens Royals Interview

As a blogger associated with one of the biggest sports blogging networks there are a lot of times when I can rely on the network around me to interview an upcoming Purdue opponent. That’s especially helpful come March. But, as you probably expected, there is no Queens Royals affiliate on the SB Nation team. So, […]

about 21 hours ago | 0 reads

Purdue Readers Reacts Survey: Braden Smith #41 vs. Braden Smith #3

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Purdue fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. Welcome back to another week here at Hammer and Rails. We are Big Ten Tournament Champions […]

2 days ago | 1 read

Purdue Basketball: Queens Royals Season and Roster Review

2025-2026 Season Overall Record: 21-13 Atlantic Sun Conference Record: 13-5 KenPom Ranking: 181 Previous 3 Games 3/8: W – 98-93 (OT) vs Central Arkansas @ A-Sun Championship Game 3/7: W – 90 – 83 vs Austin Peay @ A-Sun Semifinal 3/6: W – 71 – 63 vs West Georgia @ A-Sun Quarterfinal Record vs KenPom Top 100: 0-5 11/8/25: L – […]

3 days ago | 2 reads

Early Preview: Queens, not that Queens

Purdue is in a familiar spot as a top two seed ready to face off a college whose geographical placement reads like a trivia question. This time, Purdue is the #2 seed in the West Region and will play the ASUN Tournament Champs, Queens. Sorry, Oscar, not that Queens. Instead, Queens, a small college from […]

3 days ago | 0 reads

Hammer and Rails 2026 March Madness Bracket Challenge

It’s that time of year where we all have to download the March Madness and ESPN Bracket Apps for 6 weeks before sending them back to hibernation for 46 weeks and we will have another go at creating a group for all of our readers to join and compete. But why stop there? Invite your […]

3 days ago | 2 reads

A Look Back at Fans Purdue Men’s Basketball Predictions

Throughout the season I’ve given you, the readers and Purdue fans, a chance to participate in a survey just about every week. With the regular season over, and the Big Ten Tournament complete, I thought it was a good time to take a look back at some of the predictions you all made throughout the […]

3 days ago | 3 reads

Bracket Breakdown: The West Region

Following their victory in the B1G Tournament against the Michigan Wolverines, Purdue was able to elevate themselves into the 2-seed in the West Region. The Boilers set themselves up as well as they ever have for a run in the NCAA Tourney and will first square off against 15-seeded Queens. With the first stop in […]

3 days ago | 1 read

How The West Will Be Won

Finally, it is NCAA Tournament time. From the moment last season ended we have been waiting to make another run in the best event in all of sports, and now it is here. Purdue started the season on the short list of teams that had a real shot at winning the whole damn thing and […]

3 days ago | 0 reads

Purdue 80, Michigan 72: Postgame Video

We’re excited to be partnering with Lafayette’s newest self-storage center SpaceVault Self-Storage: SpaceVault Self-Storage is more than just a spot to store your extra stuff. We’re a local partner here to make things easier for everyone in Lafayette—residents, students, and businesses alike. SpaceVault started in Lafayette with a pretty simple idea: we wanted storage to […]

3 days ago | 1 read

2 Purdue vs 15 Queens: Opening Odds

Fresh off of 4 victories in 4 days to claim the Big Ten Tournament Title, Purdue will turn its attention to Queens University on Friday in St. Louis. It was announced within an hour of the Boilermakers cutting down the United Center nets that Purdue was included amongst the 2-seeds and they would take on […]

4 days ago | 0 reads

B10 Tournament Championship Preview: Michigan and Purdue Round 2

It doesn’t get much better than this. After meeting just once during the regular season, Michigan and Purdue will get their rematch in the Big Ten Championship Game on Sunday afternoon at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The game comes on the heels of two hard fought close wins for both teams who entered […]

4 days ago | 1 read

Purdue 73 UCLA 66: By the Numbers

Purdue had to grind out a victory against an undermanned UCLA Bruins squad that was without Tyler Bilodeau and lost Donovan Dent early in the first half. It was a game that Purdue pushed their lead into double digits on multiple occasions but could never find the offensive flow to extend the game to a […]

4 days ago | 0 reads

Purdue 73, UCLA 66: Postgame Video

What an impressive game by both teams. First, credit to UCLA for hanging in despite missing their two best players. They took every shot Purdue tried to land and were still tied 62-62 with just under 4 minutes left. Then it was Oscar Cluff time. Cluff is now responsible for this win and the one […]

5 days ago | 0 reads

Purdue 74 Nebraska 58: By the Numbers

A dominating victory over Nebraska sent the Boilers to the semi-finals of the B1G Tourney as they beat the Cornhuskers 74-58. A quick turnaround means a shortened intro here. Let’s get into the numbers! 1,055 Braden Smith is now fully within reach of the all time NCAA record. The senior point guard has the chance […]

5 days ago | 0 reads

B10 Tournament Preview: UCLA vs. Purdue rematch

On Friday night, Purdue and UCLA had two of their best performances of the season and walked away with wins from it. Purdue dominated Nebraska for forty minutes as it tries to secure a 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament and show that tournament version of Purdue, and the end of the season version of […]

5 days ago | 3 reads

Purdue 74, Nebraska 58: Postgame Video

Hey, good things happen when Purdue plays defense! Through four halves of basketball in Chicago Purdue has finally, mercifully, gotten back to playing defense and making teams work on the opposite end of the floor. Should that continue, it will be playing basketball for a few more weeks. Purdue didn’t absolutely need this win. It […]

5 days ago | 1 read