Purdue Sweeps 12 Games to Secure 12-0 Big Ten Standout as No. 1 Seeds Advance for Championship!
Braden Smith is within striking distance of the NCAA assists record, and the Boilers will get another crack at Michigan. Here's what stood out:
CHICAGO — Purdue men's basketball's Chicago marathon extended into Sunday with a return to the Big Ten Tournament championship game. The 7 seed Boilermakers knocked off 6-seed UCLA 73-66 on Saturday at the United Center. They'll now face 1 seed Michigan, which needed Yaxel Lendeborg's last-second shot to beat Wisconsin 68-65 in the other semifinal.
Purdue will try to win a fourth game in four days for its first conference tournament championship since 2023. Here's what I liked and disliked, and what the Boilers' win means. What I liked in Purdue basketball's win vs UCLA in 2026 Big Ten Tournament With starting forward Tyler Bilodeau already out with a knee injury , UCLA lost starting point guard for the final nine-plus minutes of the first half.
Painter used that opportunity to give Braden Smith an extended break, too. The Boilers scored seven unanswered points without him to expand their lead to 26-17. With Smith back in on the half’s final play, UCLA nearly thwarted any chance at a clean look.
But Jack Benter knocked down a 3 to beat the halftime buzzer and send Purdue into the break up 34-27. Dent was ruled out for the rest of the game at halftime. Fletcher Loyer hit 3s on the first two possessions of the second half.
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