For the second straight week, the Purdue Boilermakers l sit atop the NCAA Men’s Basketball AP Power Rankings, as they have proven to be a true threat in the approaching March Madness tournament, which tips off March 14. 

   The Boilermakers found themselves in the no. 10 spot on the Coaches Poll to end last season, after they were knocked out of the NCAA tournament by the Cinderella St. Mary’s who made history last March with their impressive playoff run as the no. 15 seed. 

   As of Jan. 31, Purdue has a record of 21-1, with some of their biggest wins against current no. 6 Gonzaga and no. 8 Duke.

   The Boilermaker’s have quickly shown their standout player to be 7’4 center from Toronto, Zach Edey. According to ESPN, Edey has averaged 22.1 points this season, with his season high 38 points against Michigan State. 

   Edey’s recent performance against the Spartan’s helped him receive his fifth Big Ten Player of the Week award in this season alone. Both Edey’s athletic ability and attitude have been praised by teammates and coaching staff.

   According to CBS Sports, “He’s so unselfish,” Boilermakers coach Matt Painter said. “Maybe the best stat is the zero turnovers.”

   Many have already vocalized the possibility for Edey to secure Player of the Year at the end of the season, and if Purdue continues on their hot streak, nothing seems out of the Boilermaker’s reach. 

   There are still several opportunities for other teams to shake up the rankings, both in the remaining weeks of the regular season as well as in the NCAA tournament, which is known for its upsets. The Kansas Jayhawks look to creep their way back to the championship, the SEC looks to have a major presence in the top spots with the current no. 2 Tennessee and no. 4 Alabama, and other basketball powerhouses such as Gonzaga and UCLA hope to stay near the top. 

   If Purdue can pull off a successful quest to the championship, this will be the first time in program history that the Men’s Basketball team has been awarded the trophy. Only time will tell for Purdue, but the Boiler fans will be sure to rally behind their team in hopes of a historic end to their season.