In a twist that added a bit of flair to the Big Ten Tournament championship game, Purdue's star guard Braden Smith found himself in an unfamiliar jersey. Smith, known for donning the No. 3, switched to No. 41 after a rip in his original jersey. While the broadcast left fans guessing, the change was confirmed by a team spokesperson.
Smith started the game against Michigan with a rocky 0-for-3 shooting in his usual No. 3.
But once he slipped into the nameless No. 41, it seemed to bring a change in his fortunes. He nailed his first shot in the new jersey and wrapped up the first half with an impressive stat line: seven points, five assists, and zero turnovers.
The Boilermakers, seeded seventh, managed to keep pace with the top-seeded team, heading into halftime tied at 38.
Beyond the jersey drama, Smith is closing in on a significant milestone. He now needs just seven more assists to match Bobby Hurley’s career record of 1,076.
With his fifth assist in the game, he surpassed Ronald Moore, formerly of Siena, for the most career assists in conference tournament play. It’s clear that Smith’s impact goes beyond his jersey number, as he continues to leave his mark in the record books.