Ryan Walters addresses Purdue being ranked last in the Big Ten

Expectations aren’t too high for Purdue coming into this season with them finishing in last place in the Big Ten Media Poll. Even so, Ryan Walters can now flip that the other way around and use it as a form of motivation for the Boilermakers

Walters discussed their spot in the voted on standings during his time at the podium at Big Ten Media Days. He said that it’s not a fact that he’s going to be able to keep out of their minds. So, with that being the case, he wants it to be something that inspire them to outperform those opinions and finish anywhere else but there in the Big Ten.

“Obviously, as much as you try not to read things and the opinions of your program or yourself or your players, you still hear it, right?” said Walters last week in Indianapolis. “If you’re not reading it, your folks are or your friends are or it gets back to you.”

“I would be naive not to address it with the team and not talk about the elephant in the room,” Walters said. “I did mention a large chip on the shoulder of everybody in that building. 18 out of 18 is a large reason why.”

Purdue is coming off their first season under Walters where they finished 4-8. That also included a 3-6 mark in conference play for them to sit towards the bottom of the league standings. Among that overall record was an opening loss at home to Fresno State. It also had a skid of six losses in seven that turned into seven losses over nine.

2024 won’t be much easier for Walters the Boilermakers. Over their three nonconference games, two of them include Notre Dame and going out west to play Oregon State. They’ll then play opponents like Nebraska, Wisconsin, Oregon, Ohio State, and Penn State during play in the Big Ten.

All that leads to some low projections for this fall at Purdue. The media in Indy last week picked them to finish last among the new expanded league. Athlon also had them finishing in last while Phil Steele had them tied for last with Michigan State. Meanwhile, On3’s Andy Staples and Cody Bellaire set their ceiling at no better than five wins with their floor at just two for the year. Vegas also has their win total no higher than at 4.5.

This very well could be a long season up in West Lafeyette based on preseason predictions. That makes no difference to Walters or Purdue, though, with how they’re viewing that latest snub by the media voters.