Skip to main content

Hammer and Rails

https://www.hammerandrails.com/ | 420 entries published

Purdue's Okayest Blog

Latest Entries

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 […]

about 1 month ago | 6 reads

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 […]

about 1 month ago | 8 reads

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. […]

about 1 month ago | 6 reads

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 […]

about 1 month ago | 3 reads

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 […]

about 1 month ago | 4 reads

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 […]

about 1 month ago | 5 reads

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 […]

about 1 month ago | 5 reads

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 […]

about 1 month ago | 9 reads

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 […]

about 2 months ago | 5 reads

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 […]

about 2 months ago | 6 reads

Purdue Readers React Survey – How Many Big Ten Teams Will Make March Madness?

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. Just one question this week and it’s a more general question about the Big Ten basketball […]

about 2 months ago | 4 reads

Non-Conference Opponents’ Update: January 21

It seems like there is a lot of competition this season for a No. 1 seed not just across the country, but within the Big Ten itself. There are currently four teams in the top 10 nationally from the Big Ten, and Illinois is just outside at No. 11. Whoever wins the league is almost […]

about 2 months ago | 4 reads

UCLA 69, Purdue 67: California Nightmare

CJ Cox’s last second three hit the front of the rim, and bounced harmlessly away as Purdue falls for the first time in the Big Ten, 69-67 to the UCLA Bruins. Behind a 23 point Donovan Dent performance, the Bruins were able to knock off the #4 Purdue Boilermakers. It is just Purdue’s second loss […]

about 2 months ago | 4 reads

Purdue Basketball: UCLA Preview – Stats, Analytics, Analysis

2025-2026 Season Overall Record: 12-6 Big 10 Record: 4-3 Previous 3 Games 1/17: L – 74 – 86 vs Ohio State @ Away 1/14: W – 71 – 60 vs Penn State @ Away 1/10: W – 67 – 55 vs Maryland @ Home UCLA Personnel Starters Bench Note Skyy Clark pulled his hamstring against Iowa and has missed the last […]

about 2 months ago | 7 reads

Trey Kaufman-Renn and the Delaney Dozen

The Big Ten has gone through a lot of changes in the last 15 years. It has gone from the Big Tenleven, to 12 Big 12 Ten (including a really confusing time where the Big Ten had 12 teams and the Big 12 had 10 teams), to the Bigger Ten, and now to the B1GGEST […]

about 2 months ago | 4 reads

Game Preview – #4 Purdue at UCLA

Purdue’s trip out west did not start out on a pretty foot. Purdue played poorly, saw its star point guard go down early, and though Braden Smith would return to the court and Purdue would record its 9th straight win when it hung on 69-64 against USC. Now Purdue hopes to have a healthy Smith […]

about 2 months ago | 4 reads