GAMEDAY INFORMATION -- GAME 36
[4 seed] Purdue (24-11) vs. [1 seed] Houston (32-4)
Friday, March 28, 2025 | 10:09 p.m. ET
Indianapolis, Indiana | Lucas Oil Stadium (35,000)
TELEVISION: TBS / TruTV (Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, Evan Washburn)
PURDUE RADIO: Purdue Global Radio Network (Rob Blackman, Bobby Riddell)
NATIONAL RADIO: Westwood One (Kevin Kugler, Robbie Hummel)
ABOUT GAMEDAY
• The fourth-seeded Boilermakers head 65 miles south on I-65 for their Sweet 16 matchup with top-seeded Houston on Friday night in Lucas Oil Stadium. The Boilermakers are aiming for their second straight trip to the Elite Eight, but face America's hottest team, the No. 1 seed Houston Cougars, the owners of 15 consecutive victories. Including Friday's tilt, Purdue will have played a team in the first three rounds of the NCAA Tournament that have won at least 12 games in a row (High Point - 14; McNeese - 12; Houston - 15). High Point and Houston each boasted the nation's longest winning streak in their matchup with Purdue.
THE NOTES TO KNOW
BACK HOME IN INDIANA: Purdue's quest for a second straight Final Four resumes in familiar stomping grounds, just 60 miles down the road in Indiana's Capital city, Indianapolis.
• The Boilermakers are just 1-2 in the city this season, but those games were played in Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
• Since the start of the 2021-22 season, Purdue is 8-3 in Indianapolis, including a pair of wins in last year's NCAA Tournament.
HOUSTON PREVENTS FAMILIAR PATH: In its journey for a second-straight Final Four appearance, Houston prevented what could have been a familiar Midwest Regional path.
• Last year, Purdue toppled Gonzaga and Tennessee in Detroit to reach the Final Four. Houston defeated Gonzaga to reach the Sweet 16, while Tennessee could await the Boilermakers in the Elite Eight.
DOUBLE-DIGIT WINS: Purdue is one of four teams to win both its first- and second-round games by double figures (Purdue, Auburn, Texas Tech, Duke).
20-POINT STAR: Trey Kaufman-Renn leads all players remaining in the NCAA Tournament with 19, 20-point games (tied with Alabama's Mark Sears).
• Over the last five games, Kaufman-Renn is averaging 25.2 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.
NATION'S LEADER AGAIN: Trey Kaufman-Renn leads the country in field goals made with 287, likely ending the season leading the country (next closest player still competing has 238).
• It marks the second straight season that a Purdue player will lead the country in field goals made (2024 - Zach Edey, 336).
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 5-3 against mid-major programs.
SHOOTING STARS: Friday's Sweet 16 game with Houston will be one of two Sweet 16 contests that features two top-10 offenses nationally via KenPom (BYU vs. Alabama).
TWO FOR 300: Braden Smith needs two assists to become the second player in NCAA history to have at least 500 points, 300 assists and 150 rebounds in a season (Murray State's Ja Morant).
• He would become the first Big Ten player ever with 300 assists.
ELITE EIGHT QUEST: Prior to 2019, Purdue hadn't reached an Elite Eight since 2000. The Boilermakers are now looking for their third Elite Eight in the last six tournaments.
• Purdue is one of six schools nationally with multiple Elite Eight apperances in the last five seasons (Arkansas-2, Duke - 3, Gonzaga - 4, Miami - 2, Purdue - 2, UConn - 2).
• Purdue is one of four schools (Alabama, Duke, Purdue, Tennessee) with the chance to reach back-to-back Elite Eights.
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).
• Painter's eight Sweet 16 appearances are the seventh most among active coaches (Izzo, Calipari, Self, Few, Barnes, Sampson).
ALL-AMERICA U.: Since 2021-22 season, Purdue is the only school in America with four consensus All-American awards (2025 - Braden Smith; 2024 - Zach Edey; 2023 - Zach Edey; 2022 - Jaden Ivey). Alabama, Duke, Gonzaga and Kansas have three consensus All-Americans in that span.
SCHOOL RECORDS: Senior Caleb Furst will likely play in his 141st career game on Friday night, tying a school record.
• Braden Smith (1,293) could surpass the school record for minutes played he set last year (1,327), needing to play 34 minutes.
THE QUICK HITTERS: Purdue is dancing again for the 17th time in 21 seasons under head coach Matt Painter. 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 eight NCAA Tournaments, Painter is 16-7.
• Purdue is now 9-3 in NCAA Tournament action since the 2022 tournament (2-1 in 2022; 0-1 in 2023; 5-1 in 2024; 2-0 in 2025).
• Purdue is one-of-six schools to have made both the 2024 and 2025 Sweet 16 (Alabama, Arizona, Duke, Houston, Purdue, Tennessee).
• 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 six trips to the Sweet 16, while Michigan also has six. The rest of the Big Ten has six combined (Wisconsin - 2; MSU - 2; Illinois - 1; Maryland - 1).
• Purdue is 16-3 when having more free throw attempts than its foe. When its foe has more (or the same) attempts, Purdue is 8-8.
• 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).
• Painter and Sampson have combined for 1,217 victories, the most combined wins in a Sweet 16 matchup this season.
• 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 five assists in all nine 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 14-0. During his career, Purdue is 27-3.
• When Trey Kaufman-Renn has at least three assists, Purdue is 11-2. When he has two or fewer assists, Purdue is 13-9.
[4 seed] Purdue (24-11) vs. [1 seed] Houston (32-4)
Friday, March 28, 2025 | 10:09 p.m. ET
Indianapolis, Indiana | Lucas Oil Stadium (35,000)
TELEVISION: TBS / TruTV (Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, Evan Washburn)
PURDUE RADIO: Purdue Global Radio Network (Rob Blackman, Bobby Riddell)
NATIONAL RADIO: Westwood One (Kevin Kugler, Robbie Hummel)
ABOUT GAMEDAY
• The fourth-seeded Boilermakers head 65 miles south on I-65 for their Sweet 16 matchup with top-seeded Houston on Friday night in Lucas Oil Stadium. The Boilermakers are aiming for their second straight trip to the Elite Eight, but face America's hottest team, the No. 1 seed Houston Cougars, the owners of 15 consecutive victories. Including Friday's tilt, Purdue will have played a team in the first three rounds of the NCAA Tournament that have won at least 12 games in a row (High Point - 14; McNeese - 12; Houston - 15). High Point and Houston each boasted the nation's longest winning streak in their matchup with Purdue.
THE NOTES TO KNOW
BACK HOME IN INDIANA: Purdue's quest for a second straight Final Four resumes in familiar stomping grounds, just 60 miles down the road in Indiana's Capital city, Indianapolis.
• The Boilermakers are just 1-2 in the city this season, but those games were played in Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
• Since the start of the 2021-22 season, Purdue is 8-3 in Indianapolis, including a pair of wins in last year's NCAA Tournament.
HOUSTON PREVENTS FAMILIAR PATH: In its journey for a second-straight Final Four appearance, Houston prevented what could have been a familiar Midwest Regional path.
• Last year, Purdue toppled Gonzaga and Tennessee in Detroit to reach the Final Four. Houston defeated Gonzaga to reach the Sweet 16, while Tennessee could await the Boilermakers in the Elite Eight.
DOUBLE-DIGIT WINS: Purdue is one of four teams to win both its first- and second-round games by double figures (Purdue, Auburn, Texas Tech, Duke).
20-POINT STAR: Trey Kaufman-Renn leads all players remaining in the NCAA Tournament with 19, 20-point games (tied with Alabama's Mark Sears).
• Over the last five games, Kaufman-Renn is averaging 25.2 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.
NATION'S LEADER AGAIN: Trey Kaufman-Renn leads the country in field goals made with 287, likely ending the season leading the country (next closest player still competing has 238).
• It marks the second straight season that a Purdue player will lead the country in field goals made (2024 - Zach Edey, 336).
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 5-3 against mid-major programs.
SHOOTING STARS: Friday's Sweet 16 game with Houston will be one of two Sweet 16 contests that features two top-10 offenses nationally via KenPom (BYU vs. Alabama).
TWO FOR 300: Braden Smith needs two assists to become the second player in NCAA history to have at least 500 points, 300 assists and 150 rebounds in a season (Murray State's Ja Morant).
• He would become the first Big Ten player ever with 300 assists.
ELITE EIGHT QUEST: Prior to 2019, Purdue hadn't reached an Elite Eight since 2000. The Boilermakers are now looking for their third Elite Eight in the last six tournaments.
• Purdue is one of six schools nationally with multiple Elite Eight apperances in the last five seasons (Arkansas-2, Duke - 3, Gonzaga - 4, Miami - 2, Purdue - 2, UConn - 2).
• Purdue is one of four schools (Alabama, Duke, Purdue, Tennessee) with the chance to reach back-to-back Elite Eights.
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).
• Painter's eight Sweet 16 appearances are the seventh most among active coaches (Izzo, Calipari, Self, Few, Barnes, Sampson).
ALL-AMERICA U.: Since 2021-22 season, Purdue is the only school in America with four consensus All-American awards (2025 - Braden Smith; 2024 - Zach Edey; 2023 - Zach Edey; 2022 - Jaden Ivey). Alabama, Duke, Gonzaga and Kansas have three consensus All-Americans in that span.
SCHOOL RECORDS: Senior Caleb Furst will likely play in his 141st career game on Friday night, tying a school record.
• Braden Smith (1,293) could surpass the school record for minutes played he set last year (1,327), needing to play 34 minutes.
THE QUICK HITTERS: Purdue is dancing again for the 17th time in 21 seasons under head coach Matt Painter. 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 eight NCAA Tournaments, Painter is 16-7.
• Purdue is now 9-3 in NCAA Tournament action since the 2022 tournament (2-1 in 2022; 0-1 in 2023; 5-1 in 2024; 2-0 in 2025).
• Purdue is one-of-six schools to have made both the 2024 and 2025 Sweet 16 (Alabama, Arizona, Duke, Houston, Purdue, Tennessee).
• 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 six trips to the Sweet 16, while Michigan also has six. The rest of the Big Ten has six combined (Wisconsin - 2; MSU - 2; Illinois - 1; Maryland - 1).
• Purdue is 16-3 when having more free throw attempts than its foe. When its foe has more (or the same) attempts, Purdue is 8-8.
• 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).
• Painter and Sampson have combined for 1,217 victories, the most combined wins in a Sweet 16 matchup this season.
• 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 five assists in all nine 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 14-0. During his career, Purdue is 27-3.
• When Trey Kaufman-Renn has at least three assists, Purdue is 11-2. When he has two or fewer assists, Purdue is 13-9.