Purdue Basketball Team Gets Great News

Good news Purdue fans: JaJuan Johnson is out of the NBA draft. (AP Images)

Bodog will release its 2010-11 NCAA basketball futures odds again very soon, and look for the odds on Purdue to win next season’s national title to get much shorter now.

The Boilers are a lock to be a preseason Top 5 team with the news that both center JaJuan Johnson and guard E'Twaun Moore told coach Matt Painter on Saturday that they would return for their senior season. With those two back and a healthy Robbie Hummel – is it me or have those three guys been in school since like 2001? – the Boilermakers will be loaded.

“We're obviously happy to have two players of the caliber of E'Twaun Moore and JaJuan Johnson returning to our team," Painter said. "Their dedication, leadership and work ethic are key components of our team, and we're looking forward to helping them develop as both people and basketball players over the next year."

Moore was an honorable mention Associated Press All-American and a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2010 after leading Purdue in scoring and assists with averages of 16.4 and 2.7 per game, respectively (he was named team MVP). Johnson was a second-team All-Big Ten pick in 2010 and led the Boilermakers in rebounds with an average of 7.1 per contest, and ranked third on the team with a clip of 15.5 points per game. Last season, Purdue finished 29-6, shared the Big Ten regular-season title with Michigan State and Ohio State and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

However, will the Boilermakers even be Big Ten favorites next season? Probably not, because Final Four team Michigan State brings back pretty much everyone (other than Raymar Morgan) and Ohio State welcomes a stellar recruiting class. The Big Ten easily should be the best conference in college basketball next season.

Get your 2010-11 NCAA basketball futures at Bodog