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GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 26, ISSUE 3 11 Whose start is more impressive? Kyle Charters Although the women aren't undefeated and aren't ranked in the top-25 — the Boilermakers are receiving votes — their 8-2 start through mid-December was impressive because it was so unexpected. Really, no one predicted this, aside perhaps from Sharon Versyp and the rest of her team. The evidence suggested Purdue was headed the other direction, following a dismal 2014-15 season in which the Boilermakers lost 20 games and won only 11. And what was left? Arguably their top two players graduated, leaving Versyp to build around a backcourt of April Wilson and Ashley Morrissette, the same backcourt that combined to shoot only 35.5 from the field, 25.2 percent from three-point range. That didn't seem to be a recipe for success, not at all. But Wilson and Morrissette have been outstanding, combining for 27.7 points per game, on 44.3 percent shooting, while averaging 4.5 three-pointers per game. Purdue might not make the NCAA — navigating the Big Ten will be tough — but it's given itself a chance. That wasn't a thought in October. Brian Neubert Well, the Butler game obviously was a buzzkill of the highest order after the Boilermakers had done almost everything right through the season's first 11 games. Was Purdue perfect? Certainly not. There have been very real defensive vulnerabilities just waiting to be exposed, for one thing. But otherwise, Purdue looked the part of one of the best teams in college basketball and passed every test that came its way right out of the chute. That was impressive, but this is a good team with good players and enough experience and maturity to be good. That should be its expectation. The Boilermakers are better than what they showed against Butler, though, and my guess is that what you see the remainder of the season will more resemble the 11-0 team than it does the team that collapsed in so many ways in yet another Crossroads Classic loss. It's up to Purdue now, though, to prove that Butler game to be more a post-finals week aberration than a red flag about things to come. ALL THE WAY TO 11 Winning 11 games in a row is no easy feat, as only six Boilermaker men's basketball teams have done so since World War II. But if history is any teacher, teams that win that many in a row are destined for good things: Final Big Ten Season Streak Record Place NCAA 1987-88 16 29-4 1st Sweet 16 1993-94 14 29-5 1st Elite Eight 1995-96 11 26-6 1st Round of 32 2007-08 11 25-9 2nd Round of 32 2009-10 11 29-6 1st (t) Sweet 16 2015-16 11 ? ? ? 1987-88 1993-94 1995-96 2009-10 2007-08