Doubters are everywhere. Matt Painter understands that. As long as they stay out of Purdue's way, he's fine with it. He embraces it, uses it. It's motivation, you see.

Ever since Robbie Hummel blew out his knee, costing the Boilers an All-American player, speculation has centered on Purdue's vulnerability, that it is no longer worthy of a top NCAA tourney seed, that it cannot repeat as Big Ten tourney champs, that No. 11 Michigan State and No. 5 Ohio State are better positioned to win it all this weekend in Indianapolis, and beyond.

Let 'em speculate, Painter said.

“A lot of people don't think we can win without Robbie. That's a challenge for us.

“There's only one thing to do when people knock you – you prove them wrong and win. We have a lot of proving to do in the Big Ten Tournament. Every game will be difficult.”

As the No. 2 seed the Boilers (26-4) will play Friday against the winner between Indiana (10-20) and Northwestern (19-12) at Conseco Fieldhouse. They swept the Hoosiers and split with the Wildcats.

Without Hummel, Purdue lost to Michigan State and beat Indiana and Penn State. Painter said that no matter what happens in the Big Ten tourney, the Boilers will be anywhere from a first to a third seed in the NCAA tourney.

If the NCAA selection committee looks at Purdue's overall season – a 14-0 non-conference record with wins over Tennessee, West Virginia, Wake Forest and Alabama; a Big Ten co-championship; victories at four of the nation's toughest venues (Michigan State, Wisconsin, Ohio State and Illinois) – it is a top-two seed.

But if the committee focuses on the loss of Hummel and if the Boilers fail to at least make the Big Ten tourney title game, nothing is sure. The only similar incident where a top team lost a standout player just before the NCAA tourney is Cincinnati in 2000. The Bears were cruising toward a No. 1 seed when All-America forward Kenyon Martin broke his leg in the quarterfinals of the Conference USA tourney. They were awarded a No. 2 seed and lost in the second round to seventh-seeded Tulsa.

“The NCAA doesn't have a lot of data of this happening,” Painter said. “I hear the experts bring up one team (Cincinnati) with one player (Martin).

“It's a tough call for them. I'd rather they looked at the whole body of work. Our guys have worked awfully hard to have the resume they have.

“We've continued to improve without Rob. We've continued to build on that.”

Even with Hummel, Purdue would have had a hard time beating Ohio State, which features Big Ten MVP Evan Turner, and the Kalin Lucas-led Michigan State Spartans.

“We can't control what people think,” Painter said. “The only thing we can control is win our first game and prepare for the next opponent.”

As for Purdue earning its first No. 1 NCAA tourney seed since '94?

“We could care less about getting a top seed,” Painter said. “Seeding is important, but it's mostly about the matchups. Sometimes you have a No. 1 or a No. 2 next to your name, but you don't like that second-round matchup. Sometimes you play better against a bigger or a smaller team.

“You want the best number in front of you because it helps in terms of (winning percentages), but not always.”

What the Boilers mostly want are victories. In that, there is no doubt.