No. 13 Purdue faces tough test against No. 2 Michigan

Wolverines look to extend 10-game winning streak against Boilermakers

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The second-ranked Michigan Wolverines, who have won their last five games by double digits, will face a tough challenge when they take on the 13th-ranked Purdue Boilermakers on Tuesday in West Lafayette, Indiana. Michigan has been dominant this season, led by a balanced scoring attack, while Purdue is looking to bounce back after a recent three-game losing streak.

Why it matters

This game is a crucial Big Ten matchup between two highly ranked teams with NCAA Tournament aspirations. Michigan is looking to solidify its status as a top contender, while Purdue is hoping to pull off an upset and keep pace in the conference standings.

The details

Michigan has won 10 straight games and is coming off an 86-56 blowout of UCLA, outscoring the Bruins 46-18 in the second half. The Wolverines have had eight different players lead them in scoring this season, making them a difficult team to game plan for. Purdue, on the other hand, has won four straight since a three-game skid, and is led by a strong frontcourt featuring double-double machines Oscar Cluff and Trey Kaufman-Renn.

  • The game will take place on Tuesday, February 16, 2026 in West Lafayette, Indiana.
  • Michigan has won its last 10 games, including an 86-56 victory over UCLA on Saturday.

The players

Dusty May

The head coach of the Michigan Wolverines.

Matt Painter

The head coach of the Purdue Boilermakers.

Yaxel Lendeborg

A Michigan player who led the team with 17 points and 8 rebounds against UCLA.

Oscar Cluff

A Purdue player who recorded a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds against Nebraska.

Trey Kaufman-Renn

A Purdue player who recorded a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds against Iowa.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We took a real step forward tonight in the second half, where we were able to simply regroup and figure out different ways to play good basketball on both sides of the ball.”

— Dusty May, Head Coach, Michigan Wolverines (statenews.net)

“The goal is for us to really play well and do a good job in March, but our front line has to keep showing up like they did (Saturday), like they did against Nebraska. They were big time against Nebraska. You've got one guy getting 10 offensive rebounds, you've got one guy getting 16 defensive rebounds. That pays the bills.”

— Matt Painter, Head Coach, Purdue Boilermakers (statenews.net)

“Braden does a great job of running the show.”

— Matt Painter, Head Coach, Purdue Boilermakers (statenews.net)

What’s next

The winner of this game will take a big step towards securing a high seed in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament.

The takeaway

This matchup between two top-15 teams in the country should provide an exciting and competitive game, as Purdue looks to pull off the upset and hand Michigan its second loss of the season.