{"id":168330,"date":"2026-03-19T16:56:34","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T16:56:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/168330\/"},"modified":"2026-03-19T16:56:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T16:56:34","slug":"senior-laden-purdue-pivots-to-march-mode-vs-newbie-queens-field-level-media-professional-sports-content-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/168330\/","title":{"rendered":"Senior-laden Purdue pivots to ‘March mode’ vs. newbie Queens – Field Level Media – Professional sports content solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

ST. LOUIS \u2014 For the third time in four years, Purdue enters the NCAA Tournament with a top two seed and a lot of experience.<\/p>\n

All-American point guard Braden Smith\u2019s next assist will tie him with Duke great Bobby Hurley (1,076) atop the NCAA\u2019s all-time list. Smith is the only player in NCAA history to have at least 1,500 points, 1,000 assists and 500 career rebounds.<\/p>\n

No. 2 seed Purdue (27-8) is a top four seed for the ninth straight tournament and squares off with No. 15 Queens University (21-13) on Friday night in a West Region first-round matchup. It\u2019s the first ever Big Dance for the Royals. Boilermakers coach Matt Painter has a 24-16 record in the NCAA Tournament, including an Elite Eight team in 2019 and a national runner-up in 2024.<\/p>\n

The Boilermakers jumped back to their feet in time for the Big Ten tournament, where Smith was the MVP and Purdue beat Michigan to claim the title. It helped erase doubt stemming from four losses in the final six games of the regular season.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a great sign,\u201d Painter said. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of teams \u2014 and we\u2019ve been one of those teams before that have just played great and then all of a sudden get into tourney time and not play as well. It\u2019s a little bit of a mix, like you\u2019ve got to keep working towards getting better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Painter, two wins shy of 500 at Purdue, orchestrates the No. 1 offense in efficiency rating with Smith and classmates Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn striving together for their 115th win as Boilermakers.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s March, it\u2019s what you work for growing up. It\u2019s what you work for all offseason,\u201d Loyer said. \u201cObviously, you want to build that resume in the regular season, but now it\u2019s time to really go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Queens won the Atlantic Sun tournament in overtime and makes its debut in the NCAA Tournament behind a high-scoring offense (84.9) that made more than 10 3-pointers per game. But the Royals also allowed more than 82 points per game.<\/p>\n

Head coach Grant Leonard, a Milwaukee native who coached high school basketball and worked part-time jobs along his route to Queens, is familiar with Purdue from his roots in Big Ten country.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s keeping the focus on Queens this week, but don\u2019t be surprised if his loud sweater catches some attention. He\u2019s won several this year, and last week donned the Ted Lasso \u201cBelieve\u201d number. Being Irish, Leonard said he has a St. Patrick\u2019s Day theme ready for St. Louis. It\u2019s all part of embracing the moment and keeping heat off of his players.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s there to be afraid of?\u201d Leonard said.<\/p>\n

Six Royals average more than 10 points per game, led by senior Nasir Mann (13.4 points per game).<\/p>\n

In the Atlantic Sun championship game, guard Chris Ashby drained 10 3-pointers. He made 11 in a January game against Bellarmine.<\/p>\n

\u2013Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media<\/p>\n

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