Men's College Basketball: Dominant Road Win Propels Purdue Back to AP No. 1

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WEST LAFAYETTE, IN — The short reign of the Houston Cougars at the top of the college basketball world has ended. In a powerful statement to the nation, the Purdue Boilermakers (4-0) have reclaimed the No. 1 ranking in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, receiving 44 of 61 first-place votes following a critical week that validated the immense preseason expectations surrounding the program.

Purdue had begun the season ranked No. 1 for the first time in school history, but a closer-than-expected win over Oakland in their second game led to them sliding to No. 2 last week. This week, however, Matt Painter’s squad delivered the signature win the voters needed to see, securing an impressive 87-80 road victory over then-No. 8 Alabama in the season’s first top-10 matchup.

The Return of a Star Fuels the Ascent

The key factor in the Boilermakers’ return to the top was the season debut of forward Trey Kaufman-Renn. Having missed the first two games with injuries, the senior instantly transformed the team’s interior presence and overall balance against the Crimson Tide. Kaufman-Renn was spectacular, racking up 19 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists—a performance so dominant that he became only the third player in the last 30 years to achieve a 15-point, 15-rebound, and 5-assist line in a Top-10 showdown.

He was complemented by an electrifying showing from All-American point guard Braden Smith, who tallied 29 points, with 21 of those coming in a clutch second half, showcasing the poise and offensive firepower the Boilermakers possess. Their combined performance fueled a massive rebounding advantage for Purdue, which outrebounded Alabama 52-28, a staggering differential that erased the impact of the Crimson Tide’s high-volume three-point shooting.

A New Standard of Excellence

The latest ranking adds another layer to the historic run Purdue has enjoyed under Coach Matt Painter, who also celebrated his 500th career win over the weekend. Since the start of the 2021-22 season, the Boilermakers have now been ranked No. 1 in the AP poll for 14 weeks, a total that leads the nation and underscores their sustained success.

While Houston’s brief stay at the top ends—they slide to No. 2 despite a strong week—the message from the voters is clear: the ability to win emotionally charged, physical road battles against elite competition is the metric that matters most. Purdue proved that with their star player back, they are the most complete and formidable team in the country right now, setting the pace for the rest of the Big Ten and the nation.