Post-game analysis: The 3-2-1 and Wrap Video

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Some quick analysis from No. 12 Purdue's 70-56 loss at No. 24 Maryland.

Purdue was going to lose again this season. That was inevitable.

That it's an acceptable loss from a résumé perspective makes this more palatable in the big picture.

And the Boilermakers still have the most favorable path from here on out in the Big Ten race, relative to what the other contenders have left.

Purdue can take solace in the fact it lost to a ranked team on the road while Big Ten co-leader lost at middling Penn State, a land mine the Boilermakers just sidestepped themselves.

Purdue's still in a great spot, as long as this loss doesn't become something more, as long as it doesn't let failure beget failure, one dreadful half seeping into its next game, then maybe leading to another loss, or if this game sets a new blueprint for beating Purdue.

The Boilermakers have been surgical in their off-season execution during their winning streak, but that went by the wayside as Maryland ramped up its pressure on its guards and started making plays itself on the offensive end.

Not often in the calendar year 2019 has Purdue looked this shook.

Its poise has been one of its great attributes and we say that in the context that it's been a bit of a surprise given Purdue's new-ness and how it looked in non-conference play.

Carsen Edwards will fall into the over-aggressiveness trap at times. That's just part of the deal with him and the fine line he has to walk between the aggressiveness that makes him great and the over-aggressiveness that can be his worst enemy.

But everyone lost their cool in that second half.

This has been an offensive team savvy beyond its years, and it didn't look it.

Purdue rushed shots atypical of its recent identity and missed 'em all, just about.

What to make of this at this stage of the season is to Purdue to tell us, it would appear.

Purdue couldn't get Trevion Williams established on the interior, save for a few brief glimpses. In those glimpses, he was productive.

The early foul probably affected him, but Purdue may also not have been as conscious of getting the ball inside, or Maryland might have been defending it well.

Whatever the case, Purdue could have used some higher-percentage offense when it was struggling, not that the Boilermakers didn't miss layups, too.

It's preposterous to say Purdue lacked balance because there was really no strength to balance out in that second half.

Membership Info: Sign up for GoldandBlack.com now | Why join? | Questions?

Follow GoldandBlack.com: Twitter | Facebook

More: Gold and Black Illustrated/Gold and Black Express | Subscribe to our podcast

Copyright, Boilers, Inc. 2019. All Rights Reserved. Reproducing or using editorial or graphical content, in whole or in part, without permission, is strictly prohibited.