The Purdue Boilermakers have finally shaken off the ghosts of their 2025 March Madness run. Under the guidance of Coach Matt Painter, they managed to keep things tight against the No.
11 Texas Longhorns. It took a collective effort from Braden Smith, CJ Cox, Fletcher Loyer, and a dramatic last-second tip-in by Trey Kaufman-Renn to propel them into the Elite Eight.
While Kaufman-Renn's clutch play will dominate the highlight reels, he insists there's more to their success than just that moment.
Kaufman-Renn points to Purdue's chemistry as the secret weapon in March Madness
Purdue has been through a lot together, making their journey in March Madness even more compelling. Smith, Loyer, and Kaufman-Renn have been pivotal for Coach Painter since the days of Zach Edey, and their experience was evident against Texas.
Smith confidently took the last shot, with Cox and Loyer ready on the perimeter, poised for a potential three-pointer. When the initial shot missed, Kaufman-Renn, knowing his point guard's tendencies, was perfectly positioned for the game-winning tip-in.
Reflecting on their victory, Kaufman-Renn credited their chemistry for overcoming Texas in March Madness, as he shared with CBS Sports.
"It's what we drew up. We have so much experience with these guys.
It's winning time. So, it's our job to make big plays in big moments.
I didn't feel like we had any nerves, being level-headed. It's a really good team.
We just played, stuck to our gameplan, and pulled it out," Kaufman-Renn explained.
Kaufman-Renn led the Boilermakers in scoring, finishing with an impressive 20 points, hitting 80% of his shots, and grabbing eight rebounds. Loyer added 18 points, shooting 50% from beyond the arc. Smith, orchestrating the offense, contributed 16 points, five assists, and two steals.
This group has a long history together. Kaufman-Renn emphasized that Purdue's hard work and unity were key to their victory, not just in this tournament but in previous ones as well.
"We deserve it. Our team is putting so much work.
These guys love each other. Like I said, we're putting a lot of work," Kaufman-Renn added.
With their strong chemistry and familiarity, Purdue's win over Texas might just be the beginning. They could pose a significant challenge to either the Arkansas Razorbacks or Arizona Wildcats for the West Regional title, and perhaps even emerge as the champions of March Madness.