WEST LAFAYETTE – Expectations have returned to Purdue.

A year after most expected the Boilermakers to take a step back as they entered the post-Zach Edey Era, coach Matt Painter's team is once again among the small handful of teams expected to contend for a national championship this season. Nearly every poll in the offseason had them ranked in the top three.

Painter, entering his 21st season and coming off his eighth Sweet 16 appearance in March, is not opposed to expectations, but he also emphasized the importance of avoiding complacency because of them.

"It's a good thing," Painter said Wednesday at Mackey Arena following Purdue's first official preseason practice. "You've worked hard to be in a really good position. It helps you from an attention standpoint and a recruiting standpoi

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