We're seven hours from tip-off from the NCAA tournament contest for the Forces of Good...It's Christmas morning for college basketball fans, and it's the final set of tests for a team that belongs in the conversation of whom will earn a spot in the Final Four.

Our Boilers have been generally consistent and pretty damned good. The polls show it, and our eyes see it. Especially down the stretch, this Purdue team showed that even with a long offensive lapse (as they displayed v. MSU in Indy), they can play with the nation's elite.

Time to get over the hump...time to make history.

As Aneesh eloquently stated in this week's Basketball Beat, this team deserves some sort of distinction so future Purdue fans can remember them. Whether it's an Elite 8 appearance or better, something along these lines would suffice. Losing in the round of 32 or 16 simply shouldn't be thought of as an option.

That said, if Matty's boys don't come into their first game dialed in, they can and will lose. Ark Little Rock is a defensive mother that can score...they're athletic and cohesive and are one of just two teams that have racked up 29 or more wins in this year's tourney field.

Purdue should bludgeon them...and make an early statement that they're pissed about the seeding and are earning respect that hasn't been given. In the words of my brother and fellow Boilermaker alum, "Why would the media or committee respect Purdue?"

In their best seasons under Painter, a Sweet 16 is all we've seen. And as J says, his head wants to pick Purdue to the round of 8 or further...but his brain has a hard time allowing it.

Our picks don't matter, dumb media types locking in an upset by UALR doesn't matter...the final score does...Sic' Boilers.

The BSCR of 11.2 is reflective of their strong ending to the season. Their BPI is a similar 12...but the tourney committee placed them at 17.

I can bellyache that this seeding is bullsh*t by whichever metric is used...but it's worth nothing if the team doesn't make it to the second weekend...at minimum. Hammer down...make a bit of history.