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Purdue Advances to Elite Eight, Faces Arizona After Sweet Sixteen Victory Over Texas

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Purdue Secures Elite Eight Berth with Thrilling Win Over Texas, Prepares for Arizona Showdown

Purdue's men's basketball team has advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, securing a 79-77 victory over Texas in the Sweet Sixteen. The Boilermakers are now set to play top-seeded Arizona for a berth in the Final Four. This progression follows Purdue's advancement past Miami in the Round of 32.

Road to the Sweet Sixteen: Dominating Early Rounds

Purdue entered the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 with a 27-8 overall record (13-7 B1G), holding national rankings of 8th by AP, 13th by Coaches, 9th in NET, and 8th by KenPom. Their opponent in the Round of 32, Miami, held a 26-8 record (13-5 ACC) and was ranked 25th by AP, 23rd by Coaches, 32nd in NET, and 30th by KenPom. The game was played in St. Louis, with the winner advancing to the Sweet Sixteen.

During this initial tournament phase, several Purdue players showcased strong performances:

  • Braden Smith scored 26 points against Queens.
  • Oscar Cluff averaged 15.6 points and 9.8 rebounds through five postseason games.
  • Fletcher Loyer made 54 of 112 three-point attempts (48.2%) over the last 15 games.
  • Trey Kaufman-Renn shot 68 percent in the postseason, averaging 14 points per game.

Purdue was notably ranked as the No. 1 national ranking in offensive efficiency by KenPom.

Miami's roster included Malik Reneau and Ernest Udeh in the frontcourt and guard Tre Donaldson. Following their victory, Purdue advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. Guard CJ Cox sustained a hyperextended knee injury during the game against Miami.

Sweet Sixteen: Purdue vs. Texas Overview

Purdue (27-8 overall, 13-7 B1G) faced Texas (21-8 overall, 9-9 SEC) in the Sweet Sixteen on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 7:10 p.m. ET. The game took place at the SAP Center in San Jose and was broadcast on CBS. Texas entered the matchup with a NET ranking of 42 and a KenPom ranking of 31, having achieved three consecutive tournament wins, including an upset over Gonzaga in the Round of 32.

Key players for Texas included Dailyn Swain, a junior wing forward averaging 17.4 points and 7.5 rebounds, and Matas Vokietaitis, a seven-footer known for rebounding and shot-blocking, who averaged 18.3 points in Texas's three NCAA wins. Former Boilermaker Camden Heide, who had started most games for Texas and shot 46 percent from three-point range, also played a significant role. Senior guard Jordan Hope was questionable for the game due to an ankle injury.

For Purdue, starting guard CJ Cox was likely to play, though his effectiveness following his knee injury against Miami was uncertain.

Purdue led the nation in KenPom offensive efficiency and had shot nearly 58 percent from three-point range in its first two NCAA Tournament wins.

Game Summary: Purdue Defeats Texas 79-77 in a Nail-Biter

Purdue, a No. 2 seed, secured a dramatic 79-77 victory over the No. 11-seeded Texas Longhorns in the Sweet Sixteen. The game was intensely contested, featuring 16 lead changes and tied 10 times throughout.

The decisive play occurred with 0.7 seconds remaining, when Trey Kaufman-Renn scored a game-winning tip-in after a missed shot by Braden Smith. Moments earlier, with 11.9 seconds left, Texas's Dailyn Swain had tied the game at 77 with a three-point play, drawing a foul on Oscar Cluff, who fouled out on the play, and converting the subsequent free throw. Prior to this, Braden Smith had scored on a drive with 38 seconds remaining, contributing to Purdue's lead.

Purdue's Key Performances

  • Trey Kaufman-Renn led the team with 20 points, making his first seven shots.
  • Braden Smith contributed 16 points.
  • Fletcher Loyer scored 18 points, including four three-pointers, though the rest of the team made only 2 of 18 attempts from beyond the arc.
  • C.J. Cox played 31 minutes despite his hyperextended knee, scoring 10 points and making two crucial free throws with 19 seconds remaining.
  • Oscar Cluff added 11 points.

Texas's Effort

For Texas, reports on individual scoring varied:

  • Source 3 reported Tramon Mark scored 29 points, playing with an apparent injured left foot.
  • Source 6 stated Jordan Pope led all scorers for Texas with 29 points on 11 of 15 shooting.
  • Source 3 also mentioned Pope, playing in his native Bay Area, had 12 points.
  • Camden Heide scored three points and had five rebounds before fouling out.

Rebounding and Records

Purdue held a 32-31 rebounding advantage and generated 22 second-chance points from 12 offensive rebounds. Texas coach Sean Miller commented on the rebounding aspect:

"They got us with their size on the offensive rebound, and many times a game is won and lost not on the first shot, but on the second."

The victory marked Purdue's 30th win of the season, establishing a new program record for the most wins by a Purdue class (117 victories) and the most NCAA Tournament wins by a Purdue class (10). Texas concluded its season with a 21-15 record.

Elite Eight: Purdue vs. Arizona Preview

Purdue (30-8, 13-7 B1G) is scheduled to face top-seeded Arizona (35-2, 16-2 Big 12) in the Elite Eight on Saturday, March 29, 2026, at 8:49 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on TBS/TruTV. Purdue seeks to secure its second Final Four berth in three seasons.

Purdue enters the game ranked 8th in AP and 9th in NET. Arizona is ranked 2nd in both AP and NET. KenPom projects Arizona with a 65% chance of winning against Purdue's 35%.

Purdue's Offensive Prowess and Recent Form

Purdue, ranked as the most efficient offense in college basketball by KenPom, is coming off a game with its lowest three-point shooting performance of the season.

  • Fletcher Loyer is averaging 16.5 points over the last 10 games, shooting 50% from three since February.
  • Trey Kaufman-Renn is averaging 21.3 points on 64% shooting in the NCAA Tournament.
  • The team has also been shooting 82% from the foul line in the tournament.

Arizona's Dominant Profile

Arizona is on a 12-game winning streak, averaging 87 points per game, and ranks fourth nationally in offensive efficiency. The team is led by point guard Jaden Bradley and scoring guard Brayden Burries. Arizona averages 5.9 made three-pointers on 16 attempts (37%) and focuses on scoring around the basket and offensive rebounding.

Defensively, Arizona ranks No. 1 nationally in effective field goal percentage defense and No. 3 in overall defensive efficiency, holding opponents to 39% shooting and under 70 points per game. Their interior defense, led by seven-footer Motiejus Krivas, has limited opponents to 44% shooting on two-point attempts.

Purdue's Keys to Victory Against Arizona

Purdue's identified keys to victory against Arizona include:

  • Generating points inside.
  • Limiting frontcourt foul trouble for players like Oscar Cluff and Trey Kaufman-Renn.
  • Achieving efficient double-digit three-point shooting.