GAMEDAY INFORMATION -- GAME 34
[4 seed] Purdue (22-11) vs. [13 seed] High Point (29-5)
Thursday, March 20, 2025 | 12:40 p.m. ET
Providence, Rhode Island | Amica Mutual Pavilion (11,648)
TELEVISION: TruTV (Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, Evan Washburn)
RADIO: Purdue Global Radio Network (Rob Blackman, Bobby Riddell)
ABOUT GAMEDAY
• The Midwest's No. 4 seed, Purdue, begins its March Madness quest on Thursday afternoon, when it battles Big South Champion and No. 13 seed High Point in the NCAA Tournament first round. The Boilermakers are looking for their second straight apperance in the Final Four, but for starters, must get by a high-powered High Point offense in the first round.
THE NOTES TO KNOW
BACK OUT EAST: Purdue begins its NCAA Tournament journey away from the Midwest for the first time since the 2019 NCAA Tournament, when the Boilermakers face High Point in Providence in the opening round on Thursday.
• Purdue last ventured out of the Midwest for the NCAA Tournament opening rounds in 2019, when it traveled to Hartford, Connecticut, for the first two rounds. The Boilermakers would defeat Old Dominion and Villanova and eventually reached the Elite Eight.
STREAKING: Purdue will be making its 10th straight trip to the NCAA Tournament, the fourth-longest streak in America. During the last eight tournaments, Purdue has been a top-four seed, the longest streak in the country by four years.
BEEN THERE BEFORE: Prior to the 2021-22 season, the Purdue basketball team scrimmaged Providence in October at Amica Mutual Pavilion before the season tipped off. Purdue last played an official game in the state of Rhode Island in Dec. 1998, an 87-82 loss to Providence.
THE WINNING WAYS: Since the 2016-17 season, Purdue has won 14 NCAA Tournament games, tied for the fifth most nationally.
• In every season since 2016-17 that Purdue has won a first-round game, it advanced to at least the Sweet 16.
DON'T LOOK PAST ANYONE: Since the 2020-21 tournament, Purdue owns a 4-1 record against high-major programs. In the same span, Purdue is 3-3 against mid-major programs.
POLL POSITION: With its No. 22 ranking in this week's AP poll, Purdue is 1-of-10 teams nationally, and the only Big Ten team, to be ranked in every week of the AP top 25 poll.
• Purdue has been ranked in 58 straight Associated Press top-25 polls, the third-longest streak in America (Houston, Tennessee).
SHOOTING STARS: Thursday's first-round game with High Point will be one of two first-round contests that features two top-25 offenses nationally via KenPom (UConn vs. Oklahoma).
• It also features the only matchup with both teams in the top 25 nationally in field goal percentage (High Point - 7; Purdue - 11).
HOW SWEET IT IS: Purdue is aiming for its sixth Sweet-16 appearance in the last eight seasons, advancing the second weekend in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2024.
WE'RE USED TO MARCH MADNESS: Purdue will be making its 36th appearance in March Madness, tied for the 15th-most appearances in NCAA history. Purdue's 49 victories are the 16th most in the country.
THE RECORD-SETTERS: Purdue players have set long-standing career records in the three major statistical categories during the last two seasons.
• Zach Edey broke a 54-year scoring record a year ago, previously set by Rick Mount in 1970. Edey broke a 44-year rebounding record a year ago, previously set by Joe Barry Carroll in 1980. And Braden Smith broke a 48-year assists record, previously set by Bruce Parkinson in 1977.
ONE OF ONE: Braden Smith became the first player in NCAA history to have scored at least 1,300 points, dish out 700 assists and grab 500 rebounds by the end of his junior campaign.
• Smith needs one steal to become the first player since Georgia Tech's Kenny Anderson (1989-90) to have at least 500 points, 275 assists, 150 rebounds and 75 steals in a season.
PAINTER AMONG ELITE: Matt Painter is one of five coaches in America to have at least 16 NCAA Tournament berths in the last 18 tournaments (Few, Self, Izzo, Calipari, Painter).
QUICK HITTERS
• Matt Painter is dancing again for the 17th time in 21 seasons as a head coach (1 at Southern Illinois; 16 at Purdue). Purdue has only missed three NCAA Tournaments since Painter's watch started in the 2005-06 season (2006, 2013, 2014).
• In his first nine NCAA Tournaments of his career, Matt Painter went 8-9. In his last seven NCAA Tournaments, Painter is 14-7.
• Purdue is one-of-six schools nationally with two Elite Eight apperances in the last five seasons (Arkansas, Duke, Gonzaga, Miami, UConn). During that span, the rest of the Big Ten has combined for three Elite Eight showings (Michigan, MSU, Illinois).
• Since 2016-17, Purdue has five trips to the Sweet 16, while Michigan also has five. The rest of the Big Ten has four (Wisconsin - 2; MSU - 1; Illinois - 1).
• C.J. Cox is from Lexington, Massachusetts, just a 59-minute drive to Providence. It will be the closest game from Cox's hometown this season.
• Myles Colvin was born in Providence, back when his father, Rosevelt Colvin, was winning Super Bowls with the New England Patriots.
• With Braden Smith earning first-team All-America honors, a Purdue player has earned at least one first-team accolade in four straight seasons (Jaden Ivey - 2022; Zach Edey - 2023, 2024; Braden Smith - 2025). Houston and Kansas have two first-team All-Americans in that span.
• Braden Smith has just four games this year (Marshall, Penn State, Auburn, Indiana) in which he didn't score at least 10 points or dish out at least 10 assists.
• When Braden Smith has a double-double during his career, the Boilermakers are 18-1 (losing to Illinois in the regular-season finale).
• Smith has had at least six assists in all seven NCAA Tournament games, including two games of 10 or more (15 vs. Gonzaga; 10 vs. Grambling).
• When Fletcher Loyer makes at least three 3-pointers this season, the Boilermakers are 13-0. During his career, Purdue is 26-3.
• When Trey Kaufman-Renn has at least three assists, Purdue is 10-2. When he has two or fewer assists, Purdue is 12-9.
• Purdue is 14-3 when having more free throw attempts than its foe. When its foe has more (or the same) attempts, Purdue is 8-8.
[4 seed] Purdue (22-11) vs. [13 seed] High Point (29-5)
Thursday, March 20, 2025 | 12:40 p.m. ET
Providence, Rhode Island | Amica Mutual Pavilion (11,648)
TELEVISION: TruTV (Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, Evan Washburn)
RADIO: Purdue Global Radio Network (Rob Blackman, Bobby Riddell)
ABOUT GAMEDAY
• The Midwest's No. 4 seed, Purdue, begins its March Madness quest on Thursday afternoon, when it battles Big South Champion and No. 13 seed High Point in the NCAA Tournament first round. The Boilermakers are looking for their second straight apperance in the Final Four, but for starters, must get by a high-powered High Point offense in the first round.
THE NOTES TO KNOW
BACK OUT EAST: Purdue begins its NCAA Tournament journey away from the Midwest for the first time since the 2019 NCAA Tournament, when the Boilermakers face High Point in Providence in the opening round on Thursday.
• Purdue last ventured out of the Midwest for the NCAA Tournament opening rounds in 2019, when it traveled to Hartford, Connecticut, for the first two rounds. The Boilermakers would defeat Old Dominion and Villanova and eventually reached the Elite Eight.
STREAKING: Purdue will be making its 10th straight trip to the NCAA Tournament, the fourth-longest streak in America. During the last eight tournaments, Purdue has been a top-four seed, the longest streak in the country by four years.
BEEN THERE BEFORE: Prior to the 2021-22 season, the Purdue basketball team scrimmaged Providence in October at Amica Mutual Pavilion before the season tipped off. Purdue last played an official game in the state of Rhode Island in Dec. 1998, an 87-82 loss to Providence.
THE WINNING WAYS: Since the 2016-17 season, Purdue has won 14 NCAA Tournament games, tied for the fifth most nationally.
• In every season since 2016-17 that Purdue has won a first-round game, it advanced to at least the Sweet 16.
DON'T LOOK PAST ANYONE: Since the 2020-21 tournament, Purdue owns a 4-1 record against high-major programs. In the same span, Purdue is 3-3 against mid-major programs.
POLL POSITION: With its No. 22 ranking in this week's AP poll, Purdue is 1-of-10 teams nationally, and the only Big Ten team, to be ranked in every week of the AP top 25 poll.
• Purdue has been ranked in 58 straight Associated Press top-25 polls, the third-longest streak in America (Houston, Tennessee).
SHOOTING STARS: Thursday's first-round game with High Point will be one of two first-round contests that features two top-25 offenses nationally via KenPom (UConn vs. Oklahoma).
• It also features the only matchup with both teams in the top 25 nationally in field goal percentage (High Point - 7; Purdue - 11).
HOW SWEET IT IS: Purdue is aiming for its sixth Sweet-16 appearance in the last eight seasons, advancing the second weekend in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2024.
WE'RE USED TO MARCH MADNESS: Purdue will be making its 36th appearance in March Madness, tied for the 15th-most appearances in NCAA history. Purdue's 49 victories are the 16th most in the country.
THE RECORD-SETTERS: Purdue players have set long-standing career records in the three major statistical categories during the last two seasons.
• Zach Edey broke a 54-year scoring record a year ago, previously set by Rick Mount in 1970. Edey broke a 44-year rebounding record a year ago, previously set by Joe Barry Carroll in 1980. And Braden Smith broke a 48-year assists record, previously set by Bruce Parkinson in 1977.
ONE OF ONE: Braden Smith became the first player in NCAA history to have scored at least 1,300 points, dish out 700 assists and grab 500 rebounds by the end of his junior campaign.
• Smith needs one steal to become the first player since Georgia Tech's Kenny Anderson (1989-90) to have at least 500 points, 275 assists, 150 rebounds and 75 steals in a season.
PAINTER AMONG ELITE: Matt Painter is one of five coaches in America to have at least 16 NCAA Tournament berths in the last 18 tournaments (Few, Self, Izzo, Calipari, Painter).
QUICK HITTERS
• Matt Painter is dancing again for the 17th time in 21 seasons as a head coach (1 at Southern Illinois; 16 at Purdue). Purdue has only missed three NCAA Tournaments since Painter's watch started in the 2005-06 season (2006, 2013, 2014).
• In his first nine NCAA Tournaments of his career, Matt Painter went 8-9. In his last seven NCAA Tournaments, Painter is 14-7.
• Purdue is one-of-six schools nationally with two Elite Eight apperances in the last five seasons (Arkansas, Duke, Gonzaga, Miami, UConn). During that span, the rest of the Big Ten has combined for three Elite Eight showings (Michigan, MSU, Illinois).
• Since 2016-17, Purdue has five trips to the Sweet 16, while Michigan also has five. The rest of the Big Ten has four (Wisconsin - 2; MSU - 1; Illinois - 1).
• C.J. Cox is from Lexington, Massachusetts, just a 59-minute drive to Providence. It will be the closest game from Cox's hometown this season.
• Myles Colvin was born in Providence, back when his father, Rosevelt Colvin, was winning Super Bowls with the New England Patriots.
• With Braden Smith earning first-team All-America honors, a Purdue player has earned at least one first-team accolade in four straight seasons (Jaden Ivey - 2022; Zach Edey - 2023, 2024; Braden Smith - 2025). Houston and Kansas have two first-team All-Americans in that span.
• Braden Smith has just four games this year (Marshall, Penn State, Auburn, Indiana) in which he didn't score at least 10 points or dish out at least 10 assists.
• When Braden Smith has a double-double during his career, the Boilermakers are 18-1 (losing to Illinois in the regular-season finale).
• Smith has had at least six assists in all seven NCAA Tournament games, including two games of 10 or more (15 vs. Gonzaga; 10 vs. Grambling).
• When Fletcher Loyer makes at least three 3-pointers this season, the Boilermakers are 13-0. During his career, Purdue is 26-3.
• When Trey Kaufman-Renn has at least three assists, Purdue is 10-2. When he has two or fewer assists, Purdue is 12-9.
• Purdue is 14-3 when having more free throw attempts than its foe. When its foe has more (or the same) attempts, Purdue is 8-8.