Purdue Powers Past McNeese, Heads to Sweet Sixteen
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The NCAA Tournament crucible intensifies with each passing round. Teams face increasingly formidable opponents, and the margin for error shrinks considerably. This reality became starkly apparent for No. 12 McNeese as they succumbed to the superior size and strength of No. 4 Purdue in a 76-62 defeat during the second round of the Midwest region.
The Cowboys, fresh off a stunning upset of No. 5 Clemson where they held an 18-point lead at halftime, found themselves on the opposite end of a similar deficit against the Boilermakers. Purdue, showcasing their physicality and skill, proved too much for the Southland Conference champions to handle.
"Purdue was more aggressive from the start," acknowledged McNeese coach Will Wade. "They were tougher and more aggressive than we were, and we thought we were on Thursday. We couldn’t carry that over. We couldn’t fill our tanks back up quick enough to bring that again. They’re a great team, really well-coached, great players."
The victory propelled Purdue into the Sweet Sixteen for the second consecutive year, marking their third appearance in the last four tournaments and the eighth overall under the guidance of veteran coach Matt Painter. After comfortably dispatching No. 13 High Point in the opening round, last year’s national runner-up enters the second weekend with two decisive wins at the Amica Mutual Pavilion, boasting a combined 26-point margin of victory.
Adding to the Boilermakers’ advantage, the regional action now shifts to Indianapolis, a location essentially serving as a home court advantage. This move comes at an opportune time, as Purdue appears to be hitting its stride after a turbulent period towards the end of the Big Ten regular season. The team stumbled, losing six of their final nine games leading up to the postseason, a stretch culminating in a disheartening 86-68 loss to eventual conference champion Michigan in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals.
"I think everyone kind of looks at the tournament as a new season," offered senior forward Caleb Furst. "A much shorter season, but yeah, definitely."
A defining characteristic of Purdue’s two tournament victories has been their dominance in the paint and on the glass. Even with the anticipated departure of two-time national player of the year Zach Edey to the NBA, the Boilermakers possess the size and strength to control the area around the basket, effectively neutralizing more guard-oriented opponents such as High Point and McNeese.
The statistics paint a clear picture of Purdue’s rebounding prowess. They outrebounded their opponents by a staggering 86-48 margin, with 31 of those rebounds coming on the offensive end. This dominance translated into second-chance opportunities, with the Boilermakers accumulating a combined 62 second-chance points, including a decisive 38-22 advantage over McNeese.
"I really like the fact that we did a great job in these two games rebounding the basketball," remarked Painter. "It’s really put us in a great position from a possession standpoint."
This relentless physicality and pressure can overwhelm opponents, disrupting their game plans and leading to breakdowns. A pivotal moment occurred in the first half against McNeese when Purdue forward Trey Kaufman-Renn, after muscling his way to the basket against three defenders, drew a foul. The ensuing frustration boiled over as McNeese coach Will Wade and guard Christian Shumate received technical fouls for their vehement protests against the officiating. Purdue capitalized, converting three of four free throws to extend their lead to a commanding 53-28.
Purdue’s experience seems to be a significant asset in navigating the pressures of tournament play. The roster is laden with veteran players who have tasted both the highs of a national championship run and the lows of a shocking first-round exit. Players like Furst, Kaufman-Renn, and guards Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer possess valuable postseason experience, allowing them to guide and mentor younger players.
"They lead by example, but more importantly, they’re always talking to us, always verbal," explained freshman guard Gicarri Harris. "We’re getting to the point where if I see something, I say something, too."
While victories over double-digit seeds from smaller conferences provide a positive start, they offer limited insight into how Purdue will fare against elite opponents like Houston or Gonzaga, who await them in the Sweet Sixteen. Prior to the postseason, the Boilermakers had only defeated one eventual tournament team, UCLA, since January 24.
The key to advancing beyond the Sweet Sixteen and into the Elite Eight hinges on Purdue’s ability to seamlessly integrate their physical style of play with accurate three-point shooting and a more controlled offensive tempo. Heading into Saturday’s game, the Boilermakers were averaging just over 10 turnovers per game, but committed a concerning 19 turnovers against the aggressive McNeese defense.
"We have to execute well, we have to shoot the ball well. That’s not really pressure, that’s just a fact," emphasized Painter. "We’ve got to clean up our turnovers and keep rebounding because both teams that are going to play in the next game are very, very good teams across the board, but also elite at rebounding the basketball."
Regardless of the identity of their next opponent, Purdue intends to adhere to the established style of play that has fueled one of the most successful periods in the program’s recent history.
"We know that we make it through the right process, the results will come," concluded Furst.
The Boilermakers will face a tough test as they look to continue their tournament run. They are set to face either No. 1 Houston or No. 8 Gonzaga for a spot in the Elite Eight.
