Skip to main content

Hammer and Rails

Purdue's Okayest Blog

Latest Entries

Indiana 72, Purdue 67: Postgame Video

Purdue basketball is a broken team right now. It felt like something wasn’t riht in closer-than-expected wins over Washington, Penn State, and Iowa at home, but exactly one week ago from when I am writing this the Boilermakers were leading in the second half at UCLA, looking to stay in first place at 8-0. Now […]

Indiana 72, Purdue 67: Avalanched in Bloomington

Purdue’s descent continues as it drops its third straight game after a 17-1 start to the season. Purdue went up against its in-state rival Indiana at Assembly Hall and walked away with a 72-67 defeat after a terrible first half helped to bury the Boilers in Bloomington. Purdue matched IU on offense to start, but […]

Purdue Football Announces 2026 Game Dates

As we are in the full swing of basketball season, Purdue football announced today its full upcoming schedule for the 2026 season. We previously knew the opponents that Purdue would play but now the game dates are known as well. They are as follows: 9/05 – Indiana State at Purdue9/12 – Wake Forest at Purdue9/19 […]

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 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 […]

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 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 […]