No. 1 Purdue out to back up preseason ranking, starting vs. Evansville

(Photo credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images)

Purdue goes into the 2025-26 college basketball season with the biggest possible bullseye across its chest.

The Boilermakers enter their Nov. 4 season opener at home against Evansville ranked No. 1 in the preseason for the first time in program history. It's easy to see why: Their best players are back in unanimous preseason All-American Braden Smith and forward T