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Most of the season, Purdue's played the favorite.

It had a number next to its name in the rankings from start to finish, played through an entire Big Ten season as one of the league's premiere teams and has been led by one of college basketball's most recognized faces, Caleb Swanigan.

It came to the point that when the Boilermakers struggled at times, it became reasonable to wonder how well they'd handled that role of kingpin, the team more likely than others to draw the best opponents can give, because of its reputation.

But for one of the few times this season and first time in a long while, Purdue may now take the floor as an underdog.

Not because the Boilermakers aren't playing well — they've moved into the Sweet 16 and have lost to just one team since Feb. 1 — but because of the challenge they've been handed.

Thursday, Midwest No. 4 seed Purdue meets No. 1 seed Kansas.

In Kansas City, about 40 miles from Lawrence.

It will be the Jayhawks' fifth game this season in the Sprint Center.

"I think we're a heck of a team and we've had a great year, but they're a great team, as well," Purdue point guard P.J. Thompson said. "They're a No. 1 seed for a reason. I think it's going to be an underdog situation, because we're playing Kansas in Kansas City, but I felt like the Iowa State game was almost a home game for them. I know we had a lot of fans there, but I saw a lot of Iowa State fans. It felt like they packed the place."

Purdue was outnumbered in Milwaukee on Saturday night, yes.

This might be an entirely different deal.

"I believe (Purdue fans) are going to do their best to be supportive," forward Vincent Edwards said, "… but it's going to be us against the world, or that's how it's going to feel on that court. We have to do a good job sticking together, talking to each other and keeping our composure."

Purdue won the Big Ten this season because it was able win closely contested games in difficult environments. Maryland might have been the game that turned the Boilermakers' season in a championship direction. Michigan State was one of the most impressive wins Purdue's recorded in recent seasons, but a game where the Boilermakers had to dominate in the final minutes to win as comfortably as they did. Indiana and Ohio State didn't have great seasons by their standards, but that didn't make Purdue's narrow wins in Bloomington and Columbus, respectively, particularly easy.

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