GAMEDAY INFORMATION -- GAME 36 /// NCAA TOURNAMENT SWEET 16
[1 Seed] Purdue (31-4) vs. [5 Seed] Gonzaga (27-7)
Friday, March 29, 2024
7:39 p.m. ET | Detroit, Michigan
Little Caesar's Arena (20,332)
TELEVISION: TBS / TruTV (Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, Evan Washburn)
RADIO: Purdue Global Radio Network (Rob Blackman, Bobby Riddell)
THE NOTES TO KNOW
• The Purdue Boilermakers, the Midwest Region's top seed, aims for their second Elite 8 appearance in the last five tournaments, when it battles No. 18-ranked and fifth-seeded Gonzaga in Friday's Sweet 16 showdown in Detroit. It's the first game against the Bulldogs in the NCAA Tournament since 2000, when the Boilermakers defeated Gonzaga to reach the Elite 8 that season.
• This marks the first time since the 2000 Elite 8 that Purdue will play a team in the NCAA Tournament that it faced during the regular season. Purdue and Wisconsin met four times in 2000, with the Badgers going 3-1 (two games in regular season, one in Big Ten Tounament).
• If Purdue's path to the Final Four looks eerily familiar, it's because it is. In November, Purdue won three games at the Maui Invitational playing Gonzaga, Tennessee and Marquette in order. The Boilermakers face Gonzaga on Friday in the Sweet 16, could possibly face Tennessee in the Elite 8 on Sunday and then could still play Marquette in the Final 4 on April 6.
• Since the 2016-17 season, Gonzaga (7), Purdue (5) and Houston (5) have made the most Sweet 16 appearances. Purdue has made the Sweet 16 seven times under Matt Painter (2009, 2010, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2024).
• Purdue has set a school record for most wins in a season with 31, surpassing the 30 victories accomplished by the 2017-18 team (30-7). Purdue has won at least 26 games 11 times under Matt Painter, including in seven of the last nine seasons (2020, 2021).
• Purdue (29, 29, 31) and Houston (32, 33, 32) are the only schools in America to have at least 29 wins in each of the last three seasons.
• Purdue is 8-0 against nationally-ranked teams this season, with seven of the victories coming against teams ranked in the AP top 12. Gonzaga enters Sunday's game ranked No. 18 in the final Associated Press Top 25. So far, Purdue (8-0) and the 2011-12 Kentucky team (10-0) are the only teams in the last 15 years to play at least eight games against nationally-ranked teams without a loss.
• Purdue owns a 7-0 record against the other members of the Sweet 16, defeating six different teams. No other team in the field is unbeaten against the Sweet 16 field or has defeated more than four Sweet 16 opponents (Connecticut, North Carolina - 4 each).
• Purdue has won 19 straight non-conference, regular-season and postseason games against power-conference OR nationally-ranked teams, the fourth-longest streak in NCAA history. Gonzaga falls in the above category, ranked No. 18 in the AP poll. It's the longest streak since Duke won 20 straight from March 1991 to Feb. 1993.
• Purdue enters the Sweet 16 as one of six teams to rank in the top 20 in both offensive and defensive efficiency via KenPom.com (Purdue, Connecticut, Arizona, Duke, Houston, North Carolina).
• Purdue's 67-point margin in the first two rounds are the largest margin of victory in the first two rounds since 2009 Connecticut (+82).
• Purdue is shooting 42.7 percent from 3-point range in the last 12 games (97-of-227), ranking second nationally in that span (Mount St. Mary's, .432). Fletcher Loyer, Braden Smith and Mason Gillis are a combined 58-of-121 (.479) from deep in that span.
• With his 30 points and 21 rebounds against Grambling, Zach Edey became just the second player in the last 50 years to record a 30-20 game in the NCAA Tournament, joining Maryland's Joe Smith vs. Texas (March 18, 1995) as the only players to do so in the last 50 years.
• Zach Edey became the first player in NCAA history with 800 points, 400 rebounds, 50 assists and 50 blocks in a season, entering the Sweet 16 matchup with 859 points, 422 rebounds, 79 blocked shots and 73 assists. He needs three rebounds to become the fourth player in NCAA history with at least two seasons of 750 points and 425 rebounds (Elvin Hayes - 3; Rick Barry - 2; Oscar Robertson - 2).
• Braden Smith needs became the fifth player in NCAA history with 425 points, 250 assists and 200 rebounds in a season (UCLA's Lonzo Ball, BYU's Kyle Collinsworth, Cal's Jason Kidd, Michigan State's Magic Johnson).
• Purdue is looking for its second Elite 8 appearance in the last five tournaments, last making the Elite 8 in 2019. Prior to the 2019 appearance, Purdue's last Elite 8 was in 2000.
• Purdue scored 57 points in the second half against Utah State with Zach Edey scoring just two points after halftime.
• In addition, Braden Smith picked up his second foul with Purdue leading 25-24 in the first half. Purdue outscored Utah State 24-9 for the remainder of the half (7:17 of game time).
• Purdue is averaging 83.9 points per game, an increase of 11.2 points per game from a year ago, the Boilermakers' highest increase in scoring average since the 1992-93 to 1993-94 season (+13.5).
• Purdue ranks 11th nationally in scoring offense, its highest NCAA ranking in the 19 years under Matt Painter.
• The Boilermakers rank second nationally in rebound margin (behind Saint Mary's) at +11.5. Purdue led the country a year ago (+10.8).
• Purdue is second nationally behind Kansas (66.9) in assist rate, assisting on 65.4 percent of all its made field goals.
• Two of the nation's best offenses will face off Friday. The Boilermakers are third nationally in offensive efficiency, while Gonzaga is seventh.
• In NCAA play. Purdue is second among remaining teams in scoring (92.0 PPG; behind Houston) and first in assists (26.0 APG) and rebound margin (+24.5). The Boilermakers are fourth in scoring defense (58.5 PPG) behind Duke, Tennessee and UConn.
• Purdue is 25-0 when it has 13 or fewer turnovers on the season. The Boilermakers are 6-4 when they have 14 or more turnovers.
• Purdue has started the same starting five in all 35 games. Purdue has never had a season where it started the same five all season.
• A year ago, Purdue shot 32.2 percent from 3-point range, a number that ranked 281st nationally. This year, Purdue is at 40.9 percent, leading the country in 3-point percentage. Purdue had one player (Braden Smith) shoot over 36.0 percent from deep a year ago. This year, Purdue has seven players over 36.0 percent and another (Lance Jones) at 35.8 percent.
• Purdue is 39-1 (Nebraska; Jan. 2024) in its last 40 games when making 10 or more 3-pointers. Purdue made 11 in the win over Utah State.
• During this senior group's career (since 2010-11), Purdue is 48-2 when shooting 50.0 percent or better from the field (losses to Indiana - Feb. 4, 2023; Michigan State - Feb. 26, 2022).
• Since the 2020-21 season, Purdue is 38-4 when having single-digit turnovers. In the four losses, Purdue is 20-of-82 (.244) from deep.
• Zach Edey's assist-to turnover ratio over his four years (FR - 0.26; SOPH - 0.69; JR - 0.68; SR - 0.95).
• Zach Edey has scored at least 22 points in 12 straight games. He has grabbed at least 12 rebounds in eight of those games. He has dished out at least two assists in eight straight games.
• Zach Edey became the first player since Lew Alcindor (1967-68) to have at least 50 points, 35 rebounds and to shoot better than 65.0 percent from the field in the first two NCAA Tournament games.
• Zach Edey became the first player since Memphis' Larry Kenon in 1975 to have at least 30 points, 20 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 assists in an NCAA Tournament game.
• Zach Edey is trying to become the first player to lead the country in scoring and reach a Final Four since Oscar Robertson in 1960.
• Over the last 25 games, Fletcher Loyer has the nation's third-best 3-point percentage at 49.4 percent (42-of-85). Only North Texas' John Buggs (.511) and Kentucky's Reed Sheppard (.500) are higher. Coincidentally, Mason Gillis is ninth in that span (.468).
• Mason Gillis' 40.8 career 3-point percentage (146-of-358) is the sixth-best percentage in school history. His season 3-point percentage of 47.8 (54-of-113) is third in school history. Fletcher Loyer's 44.9, 3-point percentage (57-of-127) is 10th in school history.
• Lance Jones' 73, 3-pointers this season are tied for the 15th most in a season in Purdue history.
[1 Seed] Purdue (31-4) vs. [5 Seed] Gonzaga (27-7)
Friday, March 29, 2024
7:39 p.m. ET | Detroit, Michigan
Little Caesar's Arena (20,332)
TELEVISION: TBS / TruTV (Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, Evan Washburn)
RADIO: Purdue Global Radio Network (Rob Blackman, Bobby Riddell)
THE NOTES TO KNOW
• The Purdue Boilermakers, the Midwest Region's top seed, aims for their second Elite 8 appearance in the last five tournaments, when it battles No. 18-ranked and fifth-seeded Gonzaga in Friday's Sweet 16 showdown in Detroit. It's the first game against the Bulldogs in the NCAA Tournament since 2000, when the Boilermakers defeated Gonzaga to reach the Elite 8 that season.
• This marks the first time since the 2000 Elite 8 that Purdue will play a team in the NCAA Tournament that it faced during the regular season. Purdue and Wisconsin met four times in 2000, with the Badgers going 3-1 (two games in regular season, one in Big Ten Tounament).
• If Purdue's path to the Final Four looks eerily familiar, it's because it is. In November, Purdue won three games at the Maui Invitational playing Gonzaga, Tennessee and Marquette in order. The Boilermakers face Gonzaga on Friday in the Sweet 16, could possibly face Tennessee in the Elite 8 on Sunday and then could still play Marquette in the Final 4 on April 6.
• Since the 2016-17 season, Gonzaga (7), Purdue (5) and Houston (5) have made the most Sweet 16 appearances. Purdue has made the Sweet 16 seven times under Matt Painter (2009, 2010, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2024).
• Purdue has set a school record for most wins in a season with 31, surpassing the 30 victories accomplished by the 2017-18 team (30-7). Purdue has won at least 26 games 11 times under Matt Painter, including in seven of the last nine seasons (2020, 2021).
• Purdue (29, 29, 31) and Houston (32, 33, 32) are the only schools in America to have at least 29 wins in each of the last three seasons.
• Purdue is 8-0 against nationally-ranked teams this season, with seven of the victories coming against teams ranked in the AP top 12. Gonzaga enters Sunday's game ranked No. 18 in the final Associated Press Top 25. So far, Purdue (8-0) and the 2011-12 Kentucky team (10-0) are the only teams in the last 15 years to play at least eight games against nationally-ranked teams without a loss.
• Purdue owns a 7-0 record against the other members of the Sweet 16, defeating six different teams. No other team in the field is unbeaten against the Sweet 16 field or has defeated more than four Sweet 16 opponents (Connecticut, North Carolina - 4 each).
• Purdue has won 19 straight non-conference, regular-season and postseason games against power-conference OR nationally-ranked teams, the fourth-longest streak in NCAA history. Gonzaga falls in the above category, ranked No. 18 in the AP poll. It's the longest streak since Duke won 20 straight from March 1991 to Feb. 1993.
• Purdue enters the Sweet 16 as one of six teams to rank in the top 20 in both offensive and defensive efficiency via KenPom.com (Purdue, Connecticut, Arizona, Duke, Houston, North Carolina).
• Purdue's 67-point margin in the first two rounds are the largest margin of victory in the first two rounds since 2009 Connecticut (+82).
• Purdue is shooting 42.7 percent from 3-point range in the last 12 games (97-of-227), ranking second nationally in that span (Mount St. Mary's, .432). Fletcher Loyer, Braden Smith and Mason Gillis are a combined 58-of-121 (.479) from deep in that span.
• With his 30 points and 21 rebounds against Grambling, Zach Edey became just the second player in the last 50 years to record a 30-20 game in the NCAA Tournament, joining Maryland's Joe Smith vs. Texas (March 18, 1995) as the only players to do so in the last 50 years.
• Zach Edey became the first player in NCAA history with 800 points, 400 rebounds, 50 assists and 50 blocks in a season, entering the Sweet 16 matchup with 859 points, 422 rebounds, 79 blocked shots and 73 assists. He needs three rebounds to become the fourth player in NCAA history with at least two seasons of 750 points and 425 rebounds (Elvin Hayes - 3; Rick Barry - 2; Oscar Robertson - 2).
• Braden Smith needs became the fifth player in NCAA history with 425 points, 250 assists and 200 rebounds in a season (UCLA's Lonzo Ball, BYU's Kyle Collinsworth, Cal's Jason Kidd, Michigan State's Magic Johnson).
• Purdue is looking for its second Elite 8 appearance in the last five tournaments, last making the Elite 8 in 2019. Prior to the 2019 appearance, Purdue's last Elite 8 was in 2000.
• Purdue scored 57 points in the second half against Utah State with Zach Edey scoring just two points after halftime.
• In addition, Braden Smith picked up his second foul with Purdue leading 25-24 in the first half. Purdue outscored Utah State 24-9 for the remainder of the half (7:17 of game time).
• Purdue is averaging 83.9 points per game, an increase of 11.2 points per game from a year ago, the Boilermakers' highest increase in scoring average since the 1992-93 to 1993-94 season (+13.5).
• Purdue ranks 11th nationally in scoring offense, its highest NCAA ranking in the 19 years under Matt Painter.
• The Boilermakers rank second nationally in rebound margin (behind Saint Mary's) at +11.5. Purdue led the country a year ago (+10.8).
• Purdue is second nationally behind Kansas (66.9) in assist rate, assisting on 65.4 percent of all its made field goals.
• Two of the nation's best offenses will face off Friday. The Boilermakers are third nationally in offensive efficiency, while Gonzaga is seventh.
• In NCAA play. Purdue is second among remaining teams in scoring (92.0 PPG; behind Houston) and first in assists (26.0 APG) and rebound margin (+24.5). The Boilermakers are fourth in scoring defense (58.5 PPG) behind Duke, Tennessee and UConn.
• Purdue is 25-0 when it has 13 or fewer turnovers on the season. The Boilermakers are 6-4 when they have 14 or more turnovers.
• Purdue has started the same starting five in all 35 games. Purdue has never had a season where it started the same five all season.
• A year ago, Purdue shot 32.2 percent from 3-point range, a number that ranked 281st nationally. This year, Purdue is at 40.9 percent, leading the country in 3-point percentage. Purdue had one player (Braden Smith) shoot over 36.0 percent from deep a year ago. This year, Purdue has seven players over 36.0 percent and another (Lance Jones) at 35.8 percent.
• Purdue is 39-1 (Nebraska; Jan. 2024) in its last 40 games when making 10 or more 3-pointers. Purdue made 11 in the win over Utah State.
• During this senior group's career (since 2010-11), Purdue is 48-2 when shooting 50.0 percent or better from the field (losses to Indiana - Feb. 4, 2023; Michigan State - Feb. 26, 2022).
• Since the 2020-21 season, Purdue is 38-4 when having single-digit turnovers. In the four losses, Purdue is 20-of-82 (.244) from deep.
• Zach Edey's assist-to turnover ratio over his four years (FR - 0.26; SOPH - 0.69; JR - 0.68; SR - 0.95).
• Zach Edey has scored at least 22 points in 12 straight games. He has grabbed at least 12 rebounds in eight of those games. He has dished out at least two assists in eight straight games.
• Zach Edey became the first player since Lew Alcindor (1967-68) to have at least 50 points, 35 rebounds and to shoot better than 65.0 percent from the field in the first two NCAA Tournament games.
• Zach Edey became the first player since Memphis' Larry Kenon in 1975 to have at least 30 points, 20 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 assists in an NCAA Tournament game.
• Zach Edey is trying to become the first player to lead the country in scoring and reach a Final Four since Oscar Robertson in 1960.
• Over the last 25 games, Fletcher Loyer has the nation's third-best 3-point percentage at 49.4 percent (42-of-85). Only North Texas' John Buggs (.511) and Kentucky's Reed Sheppard (.500) are higher. Coincidentally, Mason Gillis is ninth in that span (.468).
• Mason Gillis' 40.8 career 3-point percentage (146-of-358) is the sixth-best percentage in school history. His season 3-point percentage of 47.8 (54-of-113) is third in school history. Fletcher Loyer's 44.9, 3-point percentage (57-of-127) is 10th in school history.
• Lance Jones' 73, 3-pointers this season are tied for the 15th most in a season in Purdue history.