The Purdue Boilermakers, coming in as a No. 7 seed, made a statement in the Big Ten Tournament by toppling the top-seeded Michigan Wolverines, 80-72, in a thrilling final showdown.
This late-season surge has propelled Purdue to a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, setting the stage for a promising run. The Boilermakers are led by a trio of seasoned seniors: Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer, and Trey Kaufman-Renn, each eager to make their last ride memorable.
Braden Smith, the savvy point guard, was the standout performer, earning the Big Ten Tournament MVP honors with a stat line that included 14 points, 11 assists, and five rebounds in the final. However, the game took an unexpected turn when Smith swapped his jersey from No. 3 to No. 41 after ripping his original in frustration over missed shots.
Smith explained, “I ripped it - fully with both hands like Superman style. I was really frustrated.”
He decided to channel his frustration into the jersey rather than outwardly, which seemed to reset his focus. Despite missing all three of his attempts from beyond the arc, he finished strong with a 6-of-12 shooting performance and was perfect from the free-throw line.
Reflecting on the jersey switch, Smith mused, “I think when I ripped my jersey and switched to 41, I think that helped. Maybe wear 41 next game. Maybe it’ll help a little bit.”
Since joining Purdue in the 2022-23 season, Smith has been a cornerstone for the team, starting 145 games and leading them to the national title game in 2024. His accolades include being named the Big Ten Player of the Year and a consensus All-American in the 2024-25 season. Now, he's on the brink of breaking Bobby Hurley’s career assists record of 1,076, needing just two more in the NCAA Tournament.
Purdue, with a 27-8 record, faced some turbulence late in the regular season, losing four of their last six games and dropping to seventh in the Big Ten standings. However, they rediscovered their rhythm in the conference tournament, defeating Northwestern, Nebraska, UCLA, and Michigan in succession.
The Boilermakers are set to kick off their NCAA Tournament journey against the 15th-seeded Queens University Royals at 7:35 p.m. ET on Friday, with the game broadcast on truTV and HBO Max. With their momentum and Smith’s leadership, Purdue is a team to watch closely.