Texas Basketball vs. Purdue: 5 takeaways from monster win over Boilermakers

The Texas basketball team left it all out on the court as it racked up a quality victory over a Big Ten squad in the Purdue Boilermakers.

A three-game losing streak coming into a key Dec. 9 matchup at home at the Frank Erwin Center hung over the heads of the entire Texas basketball coaching staff and locker room. Texas basketball needed a win to get back on track as home underdogs to cap the weekend against the Purdue Boilermakers.

Heading into this meeting against Purdue, Texas basketball was trending in the opposite direction than its opposition. Purdue was coming off a gigantic win over a conference foe, and top 25 ranked team in both polls, in the Maryland Terrapins. Texas basketball was coming off three losses against the Michigan State Spartans, Radford Highlanders, and VCU Rams.

The losses for Texas basketball against Radford and VCU were unacceptable following the sparkling performance in the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational. Head Texas basketball coach Shaka Smart needed a victory to right the shit with just three non-conference games remaining before the start of Big 12 play.

All that the Horns have left on the non-conference slate now includes the Grand Canyon Antelopes, Providence Friars, and UT-Arlington Mavericks. Texas had yet to kick off Big 12 play this season, but Purdue had a few conference games in the Big Ten before traveling to the Forty Acres on Dec. 9.

It’s hard to imagine Texas heading into Big 12 play in a good spot with more than three losses out of non-conference play. Texas didn’t take full advantage of an opportune non-conference slate against a few teams that could take part in the NCAA Tournament this season.

Here’s a look at the five takeaways from the narrow victory for the Texas Longhorns over the Purdue Boilermakers at the Frank Erwin Center on Dec. 9.