Kenny Thompson
Trio Leave Huge Shoes to Fill for Purdue Basketball
Braden Smith may not have repeated as the Big Ten Conference Player of the Year or become the first two-time winner of the Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s best…
Read MoreBig Man U Has Proud History With Purdue Basketball
Photos courtesy Purdue Athletics. During Matt Painter’s 21-year tenure leading the Purdue men’s basketball program, the Boilermakers have become known as “Big Man U.” In an era when history is…
Read More10 Players Who Helped Boiler Hoops Power Forward
Purdue may be known as “Big Man U” these days but it historically also has produced outstanding power forwards. This top 10 list is talented, led by three first-team All-Americans.…
Read MoreRoller-Coaster Season for Purdue’s Boilermakers Continues Into NCAA
The roller-coaster ride taken by the Purdue men’s basketball team since the dawn of 2026 is once again on an upward trajectory. Becoming the first No. 7 seed to win…
Read MoreBehind the Mic With Purdue Announcers Rob Blackman, Bobby Riddell
Every play-by-play announcer dreams of a signature call. Think Al Michaels and the 1980 Olympic hockey semifinal between the U.S. and Soviet Union. “Do You Believe in Miracles? Yes!” To…
Read MoreRemembering the Too-Short Life of Purdue Great Rondale Moore
These are the toughest columns to write. My friend and longtime Journal and Courier colleague Jeff Washburn used to write heartfelt tributes for high school athletes who died too young…
Read More50+ Years Later, The Rocket Still Tops List of Boiler Shooting Guards
It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone aware of Indiana’s tradition of producing great high school basketball shooters that 70 percent of Purdue’s Top 10 shooting guards from the…
Read MoreNo Controversy Here; Drew Breezes Into NFL Hall of Fame
As expected, Purdue legend Drew Brees was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Fittingly, his enshrinement ceremony will be held at Tom…
Read MoreKen Thompson Takes Point With Best of Boilermaker Hoopsters
Today begins a five-week series where I rank the best point guards, shooting guards, small forwards, power forwards and centers in Purdue men’s basketball history. I don’t want to pretend…
Read MoreFrom Honor Rolls to Rushmore . . . Purdue’s Best Back to the ‘80s
Purdue’s 69-64 victory at USC last Saturday marked the 1,000th win during the Gene Keady-Matt Painter era, which dates to the 1980-81 season. Unlike the popular perception outside Tippecanoe County…
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