Boilermakers Ranked No. 3 in Preseason AP Top 25 Poll
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue men’s basketball team is ranked No. 3 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll released earlier today – the Boilermakers’ highest preseason ranking since the 1987-88 season.
The ranking marks the seventh time in the last seven years that Purdue has been ranked in the AP preseason poll (2015 – 23rd; 2016 – 15th; 2017 – 20th; 2018 – 24th; 2019 – 23rd; 2020 – UR; 2021 – 7th; 2022 – UR; 2023 – 3rd).
It marks the second time in the last three years that Purdue has been ranked in the preseason top 10. Prior to the current stretch, the Boilermakers had been ranked in the top 10 just twice in the previous 33 seasons.
The Boilermakers garnered 1,436 points to easily outdistance Michigan State (1,346 points) in the fourth spot. Kansas was ranked No. 1 (1,548 points) while Duke (1,466 points) was second. Marquette, UConn Houston, Creighton, Tennessee and Florida Atlantic rounded out the top 10.
In addition to Purdue and Michigan State, Illinois is 25th among Big Ten teams. Wisconsin (26th), Maryland (30th) and Indiana (40th) are among others receiving votes.
Among non-conference teams, Purdue will face No. 11 Gonzaga, No. 12 Arizona, No. 24 Alabama and RV Xavier. The Boilermakers could also face potentially No. 9 Tennessee, No. 1 Kansas and No. 5 Marquette in Maui. In addition, Purdue will battle No. 14 Arkansas in a charity scrimmage on Oct. 28, in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Purdue’s 17 straight weeks ranked in the top five is the longest streak in America and it has been ranked in at least one AP poll in nine straight years, the longest streak in school history.
The Boilermakers open the regular season Nov. 6, when Samford visits Mackey Arena. Single-game tickets and mini-plan packages are available starting Tuesday, Oct. 17, by calling the Purdue Athletics Ticket Office at 800.49SPORT or online at PurdueSports.com.
Purdue will also host Grace College in an exhibition game on Nov. 1, beginning at 7 p.m. ET, in Mackey Arena. Tickets remain available for the exhibition contest as well.