Purdue's one-and-done loss to Minnesota in the Big Ten Tournament was disappointing, but perhaps it was better for the long-run.
Carsen Edwards, coming off another poor shooting display, admitted to playing through a sore back in the postgame locker room:
Edwards has missed 49 of his last 66 shots from the field (just under 26%) and is shooting an even worse 21% (14-for-66) from three-point range over the last month. While there's always been a streakiness to his shooting, you have to wonder when and how much the back injury has been a factor.
If Purdue gets a Friday first round game, that'll be a full six days without a game for Edwards to rest that back. Let's hope he can get it right because the Boilers' next loss ends their season.