We’re getting to the point where every Big Ten game matters in some way. Either it helps Purdue’s overall strength of schedule by getting the maximum amount of teams into the NCAA Tournament, pulls a team into the top 100 to erase a “bad loss”, or it helps Purdue in the overall standings.
And let’s talk about the definitions of a “bad loss”. One definition in the context of the overall standings sees Minnesota as a bad loss. It was a home game and Purdue needs to defend its home floor. It is, after all, the easiest place to win Big Ten games.