Purdue basketball turned Texas' physical play against them in Sweet 16
Purdue basketball embraced Texas' physical play in the Sweet 16, turning the Longhorns' strategy against them for a win.
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Texas wanted to bring a physical, chippy style of basketball to the Sweet 16. Little did the Longhorns know, not only was Purdue basketball expecting it in Thursday, March 26's March Madness battle at SAP Center, the Boilermakers embraced it.
"Personally, I love that," said fifth-year forward Trey Kaufman-Renn , who put back the game-winner with less than a second remaining in the Boilers' 79-77 victory . "That's exactly how I play. " In all, the game featured 32 fouls, including a flagrant when Texas center Matas Vokietaitis swung an elbow that nailed CJ Cox in the face and sent the Purdue guard tumbling back.
Purdue men's basketball: Complete Boilermaker coverage from the Journal & Courier Texas, from the SEC, brought a Big Ten brand of basketball to a team that's built its success bullying teams in a league where that rough-and-rugged style is commonplace. "They were really physical this game," Purdue wing Jack Benter said. "The coaches said before the game that they feel like this was going to be one of the more physical matchups throughout the year.
And they're right. They were really physical. " The Longhorns tried to deny Boilermaker guards Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer.