Kenny Thompson
Series Continues With 2 Greatest Players in Boiler History
The greatest player in Purdue football history headlines this week’s edition of the best Boilermakers by number. Another player on this list could make an argument for that title had he been allowed to play offense more than once in his four-year career. And then there’s the single-game rushing yards record-holder who went on to…
Read MoreVeteran Sports Scribe Taking Wait-And-See Approach With Purdue
The days of Purdue athletics being described as “cheap” are over. Athletic director Mike Bobinski, university president Mung Chiang and the Purdue University Board of Trustees, whether willingly or figuratively kicking and screaming, really had no choice to be part of the revenue sharing agreement that is a major part of the House vs. NCAA…
Read MoreCurrent Run Reminiscent of Pacers’ ABA Glory Days
The Indiana Pacers may be playing for the organization’s first NBA championship this month but there are those of us old enough to remember when Indianapolis was title town in the early 1970s. Roger Brown, Mel Daniels, Freddie Lewis and former Purdue star Billy Keller played on three ABA championship teams back in the days…
Read MoreZach Edey, Daniel Jacobsen, Ryan Day, Curt Cignetti and Other Notes
Yahoo Sports NBA Draft analyst Krysten Peek called him “one of the worst picks I’ve seen in draft history.” That was her instant analysis of Purdue great Zach Edey going ninth overall to the Memphis Grizzlies last June. “If I’m wrong, I’m happy to take the L,” Peek said. One of the worst picks in…
Read MoreIt’s All About Purdue Boilermakers, By The Numbers, This Week
While playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv in Europe’s top professional basketball league, Omer Mayer wore No. 10. That number was unofficially off limits to Mayer when the 6-4 guard signed to play the 2025-26 season with Purdue. Only five Boilermakers since the 1950s have worn No. 10 but it will always be associated with Rick…
Read MorePurdue Football Rebuilding; Question is: How Good Will They Be?
Not since the years after the Civil War has there been a bigger reconstruction project than the one facing Barry Odom in his first few months as Purdue football head coach. OK, so I’m exaggerating but let the numbers tell the story of how the Boilermaker program is being rebuilt from the studs. 25 That’s…
Read More‘Old School’ Purdue Using Portal to Set Up 2025-26 Run
Unlike several Big Ten schools which recruit new teams each season from the transfer portal, Purdue men’s basketball prospered during the past 10 years mainly with high school recruits. But like he did when recruiting misjudgments sent the Boilermakers spiraling to the bottom of the Big Ten in 2014, Matt Painter has adjusted to the…
Read MoreThings Looking up for Purdue Basketball and Maybe Football
November can’t get here soon enough for Purdue men’s basketball fans. Not since the Troy Lewis-Todd Mitchell-Everette Stephens Boilermakers in 1987-88 have expectations been higher in West Lafayette. Now that the Final Four curse has been broken, a national championship does not seem out of the question to a normally pessimistic fan base. Some even…
Read MoreTaking Look at Boiler Gridders and NFL Draft Possibilities
Thanks to offensive lineman Marcus Mbow, Purdue’s streak of having an NFL Draft pick will extend to 26 of the past 27 years next weekend. Mbow, who gave up his senior season to enter the draft, is projected as the sixth-best guard in the draft and ranked 84th overall by The Athletic’s Dane Brugler. “Mbow…
Read MoreDespite ESPN Blunder, Purdue’s Braden Smith Getting Deserved Attention
Today, the Bob Cousy Award. Tomorrow? Maybe the Wooden Award. It’s heady times for former Indiana Mr. Basketball Braden Smith, who took home the award as the nation’s best point guard during Final Four Week in San Antonio. Presuming Smith returns to Purdue for his senior season, some national media members think he could join…
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