Hammer and Rails
Purdue's Okayest Blog
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Purdue Basketball: It’s Time to Work the Jab
I have a post sitting in drafts comparing how Purdue uses its pick-and-roll and post-up game to the way George Foreman used his jab to dominate Heavyweight boxing in the early 70’s. I spent a good bit of time on it, but I’m glad I held off on publishing. I thought this was going to […]
By the Numbers: Preview for Purdue vs. Indiana
Typically we take a look at the stats following a game for our ‘By the Numbers’ series but moving forward we will start mixing in a preview that takes a look at some important numbers heading into each matchup the Boilers will have. This first installment will feature a big game for the Boilers as […]
Purdue Basketball: Indiana Preview – Stats, Analytics, Analysis
2025-2026 Season Overall Record: 13-7 Big 10 Record: 4-5 Previous 3 Games 1/23: W – 82 – 59 vs Rutgers @ Away 1/20: L – 72 – 86 vs Minnesota @ Away 1/17: L – 57 – 74 vs Iowa @ Home Personnel Starters Bench Key Analytics (Per KenPom.com – National Rank in ()) KenPom Ranking – 37 Offense Adjusted Efficiency: 122 […]
Game Preview: #12 Purdue at Indiana
The rivalry is back. #12 Purdue will head to Bloomington, Indiana on a Tuesday night reeling from back to back losses while Indiana is coming off its first win in five games. #12 Purdue 17-3 (7-2) at Indiana 13-7 (4-5) This will be the first matchup between Darian DeVries and Matt Painter as DeVries takes […]
Purdue Reacts Survey: How Many Losses Will Win the Big Ten?
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. This week I’m solely focused on basketball with one Purdue question and one Big Ten question. […]
College Basketball Rankings January 26: Purdue Falls to 12
Last week was a rough one for Purdue. The Boilers lost two games by a total of 8 points, and it led both games by muiple possessions at the final media stop. They are losses that really sting, especially since one came at home. Neither could be called a bad loss. Both were to NCAA […]
College Basketball Rankings January 26: Purdue Falls to 12
Last week was a rough one for Purdue. The Boilers lost two games by a total of 8 points, and it led both games by muiple possessions at the final media stop. They are losses that really sting, especially since one came at home. Neither could be called a bad loss. Both were to NCAA […]
Boiler Alert Podcast: Purdue Falls at Home to Illinois
Losing two games in a row is not something I thought I’d be talking about on this episode, or hell any episode this season, not because I thought Illinois was bad, but because I thought Purdue was that good. Maybe I overestimated them, or maybe this is just a slump they will come back from. […]
By the Numbers: Purdue 82 Illinois 88
Purdue played an overall great game against the Illini but it was to no avail as Keaton Wagler had one of the greatest performances in Mackey Arena history on the way to an 88-82 victory for Illinois. It was an unfortunate loss for a team that has struggled to maintain leads in the last several […]
Purdue Women Defeat IU to Win the Barn Burner Game
The Purdue Women’s Basketball Team hosted IU today in the annual Barn Burner Game, Winning 80 to 69. They had to fend off 37 points from Ciezki, but still came out on top. On their way to victory, Madison Layden-Zay corralled her 500th rebound and broke the record for most 3 pointers made in Purdue […]
Illinois 88, Purdue 82: Postgame Video
It was the Keaton Wegler show in Mackey Arena. This is one that stings because Purdue’s defense was completely out of sorts, but the Boilers were still in control up 4 at the final media timeout. For the second straight game an individual player completely disrupted anything Purdue tried to do defensveily and he either […]
Purdue Men’s Basketball Loses Second In a Row: Illinois 88 – Purdue 82
Coming into this game on a very cold Saturday the question on every Purdue fan’s mind was if the Purdue offense could get hot once again (there’s my one). Well, they started the first half with an incredibly efficient half. Unfortunately for Boilermaker fans Illinois happens to have a guy by the name of Keaton […]
Purdue Basketball: Illinois Preview
2025-2026 Season Overall Record: 16-3 Big 10 Record: 7-1 Previous 3 Games 1/21: W – 89 – 70 vs Maryland @ Home 1/17: W – 77 – 67 vs Minnesota @ Home 1/14: W – 79 – 68 vs Northwestern @ Away Illinois Personnel Starters Bench Key Analytics (Per KenPom.com – National Rank in ()) KenPom Ranking – 42 Offense Adjusted […]
Purdue Basketball: How to Watch #4 Purdue (17-2, 7-1) vs. #11 Illinois (16-3, 7-1) & Fan Discussion
Purdue men’s basketball is coming off of their second loss of the year, and first in the Big Ten, as Illinois comes to town. Just like Purdue, Illinois has just one loss so far in Big Ten play and are part of the logjam at the top of the standings. This is a game where […]
Game Preview: #11 Illinois at #4 Purdue
The two best offenses in the country will battle it out in Mackey Arena on a frigid Saturday afternoon when the #4 Purdue 17-2 (7-1) play host to #11 Illinois 16-3 (7-1). Both teams come into this game hobbling from a loss. For Purdue, it’s a simple matter of scoreboard. After struggling against USC last […]
Purdue Fan Survey Results – How Many Big Ten Teams Will Reach March Madness?
We’ve reached the end of the week with snow coming just around the corner but a red hot game between Illinois and Purdue less than 24 hours away. This week there was just one question in the fan survey as the other one became moot after Purdue’s loss to UCLA this week so I had […]
Purdue Men’s Basketball Staff Roundtable: Is It Time to Change the Starting Lineup?
It’s been a rough few games for the Boilermakers as they’ve needed strong second halves, or even final 10 minutes to beat a number of their recent opponents. The game against UCLA resulted in them allowing an 8-0 run to finish the game and lose to UCLA. So I wanted to ask the staff about […]
Purdue Sports Video – January 23
It is a very chilly Friday afternoon and a snowstorm is headed towards West Lafayette, but that doesn’t mean Hammer & Rails is without some HAWT PRESS CONFERENCE action today across multiple sports. Naturally, football news is on the backburner witht he season being long over. Indiana’s recent national championship (words that I honestly never […]
By the Numbers: Purdue 67 UCLA 69
The Boilers suffered just their second loss of the season with a 67-69 loss to the UCLA Bruins on the second game of their west coast trip this season following defeating USC. Purdue struggled against a very average UCLA team on both ends of the court, a trend that has followed them for the past […]
Luke Ertel Named to Mid-Season High School Naismith Player of the Year Watch List
The Purdue Boilermakers and Head Coach Matt Painter have one of the best recruiting classes in 2026 ranked #5 behind only Duke, Michigan State, Kansas, and Maryland. Leading that group is Mt. Vernon senior Luke Ertel, ranked as the 41st player in the country, 4th at his position of combo guard, and #1 in the […]
Boiler Alert Podcast: IU Wins the Natty in Football; Purdue Men’s Basketball Loses to UCLA
It’s been a dark week to be a Purdue sports fan. First, the Indiana Hoosiers, the team with the most losses in football, just completed one of the most improbable turnarounds in sports history and won the football national title on Monday. Where does this leave Purdue football and Purdue fans? How do you recover […]
Purdue Readers React Survey – How Many Big Ten Teams Will Make March Madness?
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. Just one question this week and it’s a more general question about the Big Ten basketball […]
Non-Conference Opponents’ Update: January 21
It seems like there is a lot of competition this season for a No. 1 seed not just across the country, but within the Big Ten itself. There are currently four teams in the top 10 nationally from the Big Ten, and Illinois is just outside at No. 11. Whoever wins the league is almost […]
UCLA 69, Purdue 67: California Nightmare
CJ Cox’s last second three hit the front of the rim, and bounced harmlessly away as Purdue falls for the first time in the Big Ten, 69-67 to the UCLA Bruins. Behind a 23 point Donovan Dent performance, the Bruins were able to knock off the #4 Purdue Boilermakers. It is just Purdue’s second loss […]
Purdue Basketball: How to Watch #4 Purdue (17-1, 7-0) at UCLA (12-6, 4-3) & Fan Discussion
Purdue takes on UCLA tonight, and I do mean tonight, in the second game of their west coast swing. After surviving a scare from USC in their first game all eyes will be on if the Boilermakers can improve in this one. Special focus will be on TKR who has had a rough three games […]
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