WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Fresh off the Hall of Fame Tipoff Classic tournament title, Purdue has been named as the National Team of the Week by multiple platforms, while rising to No. 3 in the country via the AP Top 25.
The ranking is Purdue's highest AP Top 25 ranking since Feb. 5, 2018, which capped off a four-week streak of being ranked No. 3. The Boilermakers also received a first-place vote for the first time since that Feb. 5, 2018, poll.
In addition, Purdue moved to No. 3 in the latest KenPom national rankings, just points behind No. 2 Kansas.
The Boilermakers went to Connecticut in search of where it stood against national powers as Villanova (2016, 2018) and North Carolina (2017) had won three of the last five national championships. In Saturday's win over No. 18-ranked North Carolina, the Tar Heels took a 65-64 lead with about nine minutes to play, before Jaden Ivey took over in a 10-0 run over just 1:09 to take a 74-65 lead and cruise to the finish. Ivey scored 22 points with 10 rebounds and six assists and Purdue had three players score at least 20 points in a game for the first time since Nov. 1997.
In the title game victory over No. 5-ranked Villanova, the Wildcats held a 57-46 lead with just over nine minutes left, before the Boilermakers' offense came to life and the Purdue defense went on lockdown. Purdue scored 34 points over the final 8:41 of the contest, making its final 11 shots of the game, going 10-of-11 from the free throw line and averaging 2.03 points / possession over that span. All five Boilermaker starters scored in double-figures and Purdue has made at least 10 3-pointers in four of its five games this season.
As a result of their efforts, the Boilermakers were named National Team of the Week by four different national media representatives:
The No. 3-ranked Boilermakers will host Omaha at 2 p.m. ET, on Friday. The game is officially sold out.
The ranking is Purdue's highest AP Top 25 ranking since Feb. 5, 2018, which capped off a four-week streak of being ranked No. 3. The Boilermakers also received a first-place vote for the first time since that Feb. 5, 2018, poll.
In addition, Purdue moved to No. 3 in the latest KenPom national rankings, just points behind No. 2 Kansas.
The Boilermakers went to Connecticut in search of where it stood against national powers as Villanova (2016, 2018) and North Carolina (2017) had won three of the last five national championships. In Saturday's win over No. 18-ranked North Carolina, the Tar Heels took a 65-64 lead with about nine minutes to play, before Jaden Ivey took over in a 10-0 run over just 1:09 to take a 74-65 lead and cruise to the finish. Ivey scored 22 points with 10 rebounds and six assists and Purdue had three players score at least 20 points in a game for the first time since Nov. 1997.
In the title game victory over No. 5-ranked Villanova, the Wildcats held a 57-46 lead with just over nine minutes left, before the Boilermakers' offense came to life and the Purdue defense went on lockdown. Purdue scored 34 points over the final 8:41 of the contest, making its final 11 shots of the game, going 10-of-11 from the free throw line and averaging 2.03 points / possession over that span. All five Boilermaker starters scored in double-figures and Purdue has made at least 10 3-pointers in four of its five games this season.
As a result of their efforts, the Boilermakers were named National Team of the Week by four different national media representatives:
- Seth Greenberg (ESPN)
- ESPN.com
- NCAA March Madness
- Dick Vitale
The No. 3-ranked Boilermakers will host Omaha at 2 p.m. ET, on Friday. The game is officially sold out.