Purdue Set for Sweet 16 Showdown Against Texas
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Purdue basketball is back in the Sweet 16 for the seventh time in the last nine NCAA Tournaments, ready to take on the surprising 2026 March Madness underdog, Texas.
The No. 2 Boilermakers (29-8) are gearing up at the SAP Center in California to face the No.
11 Longhorns (21-14) in a West Regional semifinal. Purdue cruised through the first two rounds with double-digit wins, while Texas clawed its way out of the First Four, toppling two teams expected to still be in the mix.
Purdue breezed past Queens in the opening round and overcame a tough Miami squad in the second. Meanwhile, Texas edged out North Carolina State, BYU, and Gonzaga, with former Boiler Cam Heide sinking a crucial late 3-pointer to upset No. 3 Gonzaga.
This matchup brings together two coaches with rich NCAA Tournament histories. Purdue's Matt Painter notched his 525th career win and 500th with the Boilermakers after defeating Miami.
On the other side, Texas coach Sean Miller has amassed 508 career victories across his tenures at Xavier, Arizona, and now Texas. Miller's Xavier team once ousted Purdue from the 2008 NCAA Tournament, but Purdue got the better of his squad in a 2023 regular-season clash.
Painter holds a 24-16 record in the NCAA Tournament, while Miller stands at 24-10, though two of those wins were vacated from Arizona's 2016-17 Sweet 16 appearance.
Game Details and Broadcast Info
Purdue and Texas are set to tip off at 7:10 p.m. EST on Thursday, March 26.
For those on the West Coast, that's 4:10 p.m. PT, just before the Arkansas vs.
Arizona matchup. The game will be broadcast on CBS, with Jim Jackson and Brian Anderson calling the action, and Allie LaForce reporting from the sidelines.
Injury Updates and Predictions
A key storyline is the health of Purdue's starting guard, CJ Cox, who left the game against Miami with a hyperextended knee. Coach Painter is hopeful about Cox’s recovery, and Cox himself mentioned he could have returned if necessary.
With Cox averaging 8.5 points and shooting 38.4% from beyond the arc, his presence is crucial for Purdue's defense and overall game plan. Despite this, Purdue is favored to win, with predictions leaning towards an 84-73 victory over Texas.
Historical Context and Recent Performances
Historically, Texas has the edge over Purdue, winning four of their six encounters. However, Purdue claimed victory in their latest meeting during the 2022 NCAA Tournament. This marks the fourth NCAA Tournament matchup between these two teams.
In their recent triumph over Miami, Fletcher Loyer was on fire, scoring 24 points and hitting all his 3-point attempts. Before his injury, Cox added 11 points, including a key trio of 3-pointers. Trey Kaufman-Renn also shone with 19 points and 9 rebounds.
Against Queens, Braden Smith made history by becoming the NCAA's all-time leader in assists, surpassing Duke legend Bobby Hurley. Kaufman-Renn and Smith were unstoppable, combining for 51 points in a dominant 104-71 victory.
As the excitement builds for the Sweet 16, Purdue is poised to continue its impressive tournament run, with fans eagerly anticipating the clash against Texas.