It makes sense. Purdue is in fact in the USA. Today.

Since football season is effectively over, why not keep on talking about basketball? Not to put pressure on the guys or anything, but we're looking even more forward to hoops season now. Thank Purdue football special teamers for that.

USA Today has proclaimed the Boilermakers are "reloaded" and "ready to make a Final Four run."

Pretty heady stuff, but you should expect to keep hearing it. Remember, this is a program that was projected to be top ten last season and it might have been a bit much for the still-young Boilermakers to handle. Being manhandled by Duke on their own floor certainly added to that, followed by Robbie Hummel's balky back being a problem all season and E'Twaun Moore's play taking a step back from his freshman year. Then an 0-2 conference start had us all worried. However, they wound up making us proud in a year that included a dominating win over eventual Final Four-bound MSU in West Lafayette; an impressive run through the Big Ten Tournament; and a spot in the Sweet 16 during the NCAA Tourney.

But you don't need me to recap the fun of last season. You were all there, enjoying it just like we were. This season promises to be a rush of emotions once again, undoubtedly with highs and lows once again. Make no mistake -- it's going to be exciting between November and March in WestLaf and in the many pockets of this country where we Boiler alums exist.

So read up on USA Today's preview, take it for what it's worth, and keep listening to that train rumbling in the distance.

More coming from us....