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Instead of staring down a double-digit deficit and folding last week against Nevada, Purdue’s defense rose up and its offense produced a big touchdown. It was a statement in overcoming in-game adversity Coach Darrell Hazell hadn’t quite seen during his first three seasons.

And it’s one reason Hazell said he feels “really confident” about the Boilermakers heading into Big Ten play Saturday.

Purdue (2-1) enters conference play above .500 for the first time under Hazell after beating Nevada and Eastern Kentucky and losing to Cincinnati in the new shortened non-conference schedule.

But Hazell’s teams still have yet to win back-to-back games — or even compete in games following a victory, with the margin nearly in the three-touchdown range. So he knows what needs to be preached this week: Consistency.

“We have to be consistent in our energy, our style of play and relaxing, not tensing up, and being able to play the way we’re capable of playing because we’ll match up (against Maryland),” Hazell said Tuesday during his weekly press conference.

“Obviously the big thing is (too many) turnovers, but I think our energy has been good in all three games. I think our details can always improve in certain areas, but I like the way we’re trending right now.”

Purdue did a handful of things really well in non-conference play. It was the least-penalized team in the Big Ten with only eight for an average of 30.3 yards per game, and its passing game statistically has been one of the league’s best in several categories. The latter was helped by Purdue allowing only one sack over its three games — that’s tied for fewest among league teams, some of which already have played conference games — and leading the league in third-down conversions (.592).

But Purdue also struggled in several areas in the first three games, sitting last in the league in turnover margin (-6) and near the bottom of the conference in most major defensive categories. The Boilermakers still haven’t solved how to get off the field on third downs defensively, ranking last in the league (57-percent opponent conversions) and it ranks in double-digits in the league in run defense (10th, 168.7), scoring defense (11th, 25.3) and total defense (13th, 387.7).

Hazell was encouraged, though, by the defense’s ability to stop Nevada’s running game (68 yards) and the way Purdue did it — partly by an adjustment by defensive coordinator Ross Els.

“We went into the game thinking we were going to be a two-high team and stop the run with a two-high safety look and then as the game evolved, I thought he did a nice job of just dropping (a safety) in the box enough to keep them off-balance but also to get an extra hat in the box,” Hazell said. “So I thought he did a really nice job of calling the game on Saturday.”

Purdue will need to continue to show it is better against the run, though, instead of having one good game — and Maryland with its zone-read offense certainly will provide another challenge. But with that, the Boilermakers also need to learn how to get opponents off the field on third down. In third-and-short scenarios, when opponents need four yards or fewer, opponents are converting 68 percent of the time. As would be typical, Purdue is better in third-and-long situations (nine yards-plus) at 23 percent.

“When you’re in third-and-three and third-and-four, those are hard to stop when you’re hitting quick outs and quick hitches and those things, but I still think it comes back to our actual technique,” Hazell said. “We have not been in blown coverages and (allowing) guys wide open in those situations, we’ve been in pretty good coverage, (but) we just haven’t made some of those third-down plays.”

It’s been the opposite on offense.

Though Purdue has been plagued by turnovers — QB David Blough has thrown seven interceptions and the team has lost three fumbles — the offense generally has moved the ball well.

Purdue is third in the Big Ten in total offense (494.0) and second in passing (317.3) but ninth in scoring (29.7).

Perhaps the best stat: Purdue converted a whopping 69 percent (9-of-13) of third downs that required at least nine yards over the first three games. Most of the time, though, new offensive coordinator Terry Malone has kept the Boilermakers to more-manageable third-down situations. Purdue converted eight of its nine third-and-ones and was 13-of-20 when it needed four yards or fewer in non-conference play.

“We’re getting some great calls by Coach Malone, putting guys in some matchups,” Hazell said. “Guys are making the plays. Protection has been outstanding for us. So all those things combined are what’s leading to the success on third down for us.

“(Malone has) been really good. He’s ahead of the sticks, the defenses, most of the time. He’s putting guys in position to succeed. He’s giving the quarterback enough options but not too many, so he always has an out. So he’s been really good for the first three weeks.”

Now, it’s just a matter of Purdue building its strengths and shoring up weaknesses.

Hazell said every day is a work in progress.

“I feel like we have a good football team,” Hazell said on the Big Ten teleconference Tuesday. “They’re starting to understand all the things it takes to win games. They’re playing hard and they’re playing fast with some confidence. I’m sitting here feeling good about our team, but we have a long way to go.”

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