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Purdue basketball struggles in preseason voting after two early losses

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Nov 9, 2026, 3:46 PM

Last updated Nov 9, 2026

College Sports

Summary

Purdue's performance has prompted reevaluation in preseason voting, following losses to Gonzaga and Valparaiso. The Boilermakers dropped out of top 25 consideration as the voter's initial expectations did not align with current roster capabilities. Despite the setbacks, teams like Duke, Illinois, and UCLA maintained strong rankings, with UCLA moving to No. 6 after notable victories. Other teams such as Arizona, Arkansas, and Miami have also faced early challenges but against ranked opponents. Future rankings could continue to shift as teams like Illinois and Duke prepare for upcoming games.

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By the Numbers

•Purdue lost to Gonzaga and Valparaiso in early season games.
•UCLA moved to No. 6 after wins against Arizona and North Florida.
•Duke, Illinois, and Virginia maintain top rankings among voters.
•Arizona, Arkansas, Michigan, and Miami lost to ranked opponents.

Latest Updates

3:46 PMYahoo Sports — Good Morning, Illini Nation: How I voted this week

What they're saying

"
Nov. 9—I'm not afraid to admit when I was wrong, and I was clearly wrong about Purdue being a top 25-caliber team ahead of the 2026-27 season. I put too much credence into Matt Painter's ability as a coach and not enough into the fact this Boilermakers roster is not on the same level as the last 4-5 years. Losses to Gonzaga (reasonable) and Valparaiso (great for the Rev, not so much if you're ...
— Yahoo Sports

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