Weekend Preview- Boilers two wins from the Final Four
By ZACH VOGT (@ZachVogt30)
ISL Contributor
The two words every Purdue fan wanted to say after the NCAA Tournament opening weekend: “Still Dancing.” And now the two words that remain: “It’s time.”
The top-seeded Purdue Boilermakers took care of business in historic fashion in Indianapolis over the weekend, securing a 78-50 win over Grambling State in game one, and followed that up with a dominating 106-67 win over Utah State in game two. The massive win over Utah State was the second-largest 1 versus 8 win in NCAA Tournament history, and the largest since 1999. The win also secured Purdue their 31st win of the year, the most in a single season in program history.
Now, it’s time to look ahead to the second weekend – the stopping point in years past for this program.
This is the fifth Sweet 16 in the last seven NCAA Tournament appearances for Purdue, with only one of them resulting in an Elite 8 appearance, which was the infamous 80-75 loss to Virginia in 2019.
Purdue will tip-off Friday at 7:39 PM EST vs. Gonzaga in a rematch of the Maui Invitational quarterfinals back in November, a game in which Purdue won 73-63. Let’s take a look at Gonzaga:
The Gonzaga Bulldogs of the West Coast Conference:
•27-7 Overall (14-2 Conference)
•Head Coach: Mark Few
•The Bulldogs have qualified for every NCAA Tournament since 1999.
•Net Ranking: 17th
•KenPom Rankings: 12th Overall – 7th Off – 41st Def
The Bulldogs are led by forwards Graham Ike and Anton Watson. Ike is averaging 16.4 PPG, and 7.3 RPG while shooting 61.2% from the field. Watson is averaging 14.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG, and 2.6 APG while shooting 40.8% from 3.
Gonzaga won their Round of 64 game vs. McNeese State 86-65, and then followed that up with a convincing 89-68 win over Kansas in the Round of 32.
Tipping off at approximately 10:09 PM EST Friday night is the opposing Sweet 16 matchup in the Midwest Region between Tennessee and Creighton. That is a game that has all the makings for a March Madness classic. The winner of Purdue/Gonzaga will take on the winner of Tennessee/Creighton Sunday afternoon.
Let’s take a look at them:
The Tennessee Volunteers of the SEC:
•26-8 Overall (14-4 Conference)
•Head Coach: Rick Barnes
•This is the 26th NCAA Tournament appearance for the program
•Net Ranking: 7th
•KenPom Rankings: 8th Overall – 30th Off – 3rd Def
The Volunteers are led by Naismith Award Finalist, Dalton Knecht. He is averaging 21.1 PPG, and 4.9 RPG while shooting 39.1% from 3.
Zakai Zeigler also serves as an elite facilitator, averaging 6.0 APG, while also averaging 1.8 steals.
Tennessee made it to the Sweet 16 by cruising to an 83-49 win over Saint Peter’s in the Round of 64, and then grinding out a 62-58 win over Texas in the Round of 32.
Purdue beat Tennessee 71-67 in the semifinals of the Maui Invitational.
The Creighton Blue Jays of the Big East:
•25-9 Overall (14-6 Conference)
•Head Coach: Greg McDermott
•This is the program’s 24th appearance in the NCAA Tournament
•Net Ranking: 11th
•KenPom Rankings: 11th Overall – 11th Off – 23rd Def
The Blue Jays are led by arguably the best trio in the country in Baylor Scheierman, Trey Alexander, and Ryan Kalkbrenner who are all averaging over 17 PPG, with Scheierman leading the way with 18.3 PPG. Scheierman also brings in 9.1 APG, and 4.0 APG.
Creighton made it to the Sweet 16 by pulling away from Akron 77-60 in the Round of 64, and then surviving a 2OT classic with Oregon, 86-73. It’s an experienced group who made a deep run recently in this Tournament as well.
Purdue did what they needed to do during the opening weekend, but from this point forward, the stakes are only going to get higher and higher. From this point forward, every detail will matter.
Every minute.
Every possession.
Every play.
From this point forward, it all matters.
It has been 44 years since Purdue has been to a Final Four. They are now the 1 seed, in their home region, with a home crowd backing them every step of the way.
It’s time for the drought to end. 44 years has gone on long enough. It’s time to do it.
Do it for Gene Keady.
Do it for the Big Dog.
Do it for Matt Painter.
Do it for the Baby Boilers.
Do it for Raphael Davis.
Do it for Carsen Edwards & Ryan Cline.
Do it for the fans.
It’s time. 7:39 Friday night. Two more wins. Two. More. Wins.
