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Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Purdue basketball gets rival Indiana twice. How does rest of Big Ten schedule shake out?
WEST LAFAYETTE ― Purdue basketball's quest for a third Big Ten regular season title in four years now has its path. On paper, the Boilermakers' 20-game league schedule for 2025-26 appears to be favorable. Advertisement Purdue faces rival Indiana, as well as Iowa and Wisconsin twice each, once on the road and once at Mackey Arena. Other Purdue Big Ten home games: Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Oregon, Penn State and Washington. Other Purdue Big Ten road games: Maryland, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Rutgers, UCLA and USC. Purdue's west coast trip, after traveling to Washington and Oregon last season, will be the double dip in Los Angeles, marking its first appearance at USC's Galen Center and its first game at Pauley Pavilion since 1999 when former Purdue coach Gene Keady faced former Boilermaker assistant Steve Lavin. Advertisement More: Oscar Cluff was destined to be a boilermaker. His world tour found Purdue's 'basketball heaven' The dates and times for Purdue's Big Ten contests will be finalized at a later date. Purdue is expected to be one of the favorites to win the conference, returning Big Ten Player of the Year Braden Smith along with seniors Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn, a first-team all-Big Ten selection in 2025. Purdue also returns pivotal pieces Gicarri Harris and CJ Cox and gets center Daniel Jacobsen back from a fractured tibia suffered last season. The Boilermakers also add incoming freshmen Omer Mayer and Antione West to package with transfers Oscar Cluff and Liam Murphy. Advertisement More: BoilersXTRA: What Omer Mayer s commitment means for Purdue basketball In addition to 20 Big Ten games, Purdue's schedule also includes a trip to the Bahamas for the Baha Mar on Nov. 20-21 (field not yet announced). Purdue's known other non-conference games include a trip to Alabama, Auburn in a neutral site game in Indianapolis and home contests with Iowa State, Kent State and Marquette. Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@ and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking. Michigan Wolverines guard Tre Donaldson (3) defends Purdue Boilermakers forward Trey Kaufman-Renn (4) Friday, March 14, 2025, during the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue basketball's Big Ten opponents announced
New York Times
15-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
These college basketball rosters are still one piece away from 2026 title contention
If you're like me, you're still coming down from the euphoria of one of the best Final Fours we have ever seen. Three close games featuring comeback victories in each, complete with an all-time classic in Houston/Duke and an unforgettable ending to the Florida/Houston championship game, showed just how compelling and dramatic it can get on college basketball's biggest stage. Advertisement A huge part of what made that weekend so tremendous was the quality of the four teams in San Antonio. Florida, Houston, Auburn and Duke all rank among the best teams we have seen in terms of separating themselves from the rest of the field. All four were complete squads. We may not see such a loaded final weekend for a long time. However, that does not mean we cannot hope for a repeat next year. Below are five teams — including a couple of familiar faces — that appear capable of reaching the heights of this season's elite squads. Each team has a clear All-America candidate (or multiple), plus continuity and upside in the supporting cast. All could use one more crucial piece via the transfer portal, though, one that would complete the roster in such a way that would give them an immense ceiling. One additional reminder: The transfer portal does not close to new entrants until April 22. That means the teams below could still lose a piece or two. It also means the perfect option to fill their current need may not yet be publicly available; the back-channels of player acquisition in 2025 are the wild, wild west. Presumed core: PG Braden Smith, F/C Trey Kaufman-Renn, G Fletcher Loyer, C Oscar Cluff, G C.J. Cox, G Gicarri Harris, C Daniel Jacobsen Hole to fill: Athletic wing scorer and defender Portal candidates: Terrance Arceneaux, Cedric Coward, Tyrell Ward Any team that returns the point guard and coach combination of Braden Smith and Matt Painter is going to be nationally relevant. Throw in another All-American in double-double machine Trey Kaufman-Renn and experienced guards in Fletcher Loyer, CJ Cox and Gicarri Harris, and Purdue is going to get plenty of preseason love. The Boilermakers have already solved their biggest issue from last season: a lack of true interior size. With TKR frequently manning the center spot, Purdue did not have any rim protection. South Dakota State transfer Oscar Cluff is an enormous presence at the rim, and getting Daniel Jacobsen, who started the first two games of the season, back from a broken leg should dramatically improve the interior defense. Advertisement However, the portal departures of Myles Colvin (Purdue) and Camden Heide (Texas) opened up a void for a versatile wing defender who can make shots. The Boilermakers saw Terrance Arceneaux (Houston) up close and personal in the Sweet 16, and he'd immediately check the necessary boxes. Cedric Coward (Washington St.) should also be in the mix despite an injury-shortened 2024-25, and Tyrell Ward (LSU) has the lethal shooting ability to bury defenses that help too much on Purdue's other scorers. If the competition for those guys is too fierce, the Boilermakers could certainly dig a little deeper for a role piece from the mid-major ranks, as well. Someone like Josh Omojafo (Robert Morris) or Keshawn Williams (Colorado St.) could be more cost-effective additions. Presumed core: F Cameron Boozer, G Isaiah Evans, G Darren Harris, F Maliq Brown, G Caleb Foster, C Patrick Ngongba, G/F Shelton Henderson, F Nikolas Khamenia Hole to fill: Steady veteran ball handler with size Portal candidates: RJ Luis Jr., Dan Skillings Jr., Mike Sharavjamts, Jeremiah Williams, Blake Harper Duke's ability to dominate the high school recruiting trail allows it to construct elite teams in a slightly different way than its brethren. And last year's team had the advantage of a generational two-way talent in Cooper Flagg, who completely rewired what was possible for a team made up of mostly freshmen and carefully selected grad transfers. Cameron Boozer is an immensely productive rookie who, along with his twin brother Cayden, did nothing but win in high school and on the AAU circuit. As outstanding as he is, though, he is not quite on Flagg's level, so Jon Scheyer and the Blue Devils will need to carefully construct the roster to make sure it fits well together. One edge the Blue Devils can repeat from last year is building a gigantic, switchable group that has an embarrassment of positional size riches. Cayden Boozer is listed at 6-4, 205 pounds, by 247 Sports; he could be the smallest player on the roster. Scheyer and his staff will be on the hunt for the next Sion James as a bulky perimeter piece who can shoulder some ball-handling duties. RJ Luis Jr. would be quite the coup as the reigning Big East Player of the Year, while Dan Skillings (Cincinnati) and Mike Sharavjamts (Utah) bring some intriguing skill packages from the Big 12. Jeremiah Williams is big but probably doesn't offer enough shooting. Blake Harper (Howard) is younger and would be taking a massive leap in competition, but he has the academic connection and oozes upside. Considering Duke's tremendous basketball resources, the Blue Devils could go in many different directions. Advertisement Presumed core: F/C Alex Condon, F Thomas Haugh, C Rueben Chinyelu, C Micah Handlogten, G Denzel Aberdeen, G Isaiah Brown, G/F CJ Ingram, G Alex Lloyd, G Urban Klavzar Hole to fill: Big-time veteran point guard Portal candidates: Xaivian Lee, Duke Miles, Malachi Smith, Dylan Darling As of now, the reigning national champion Gators return arguably the deepest frontcourt in the country. Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh, Rueben Chinyelu and Micah Handlogten all bring size and physicality, and Haugh's bubbling skill level means Florida has some spacing, as well. The trick is replacing a star-studded backcourt trio (Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin, Will Richard) that fueled Florida's meteoric rise from middling SEC squad to the pinnacle of the sport. Denzel Aberdeen should be all over preseason breakout candidate lists, and the Gators have younger options in sophomores Isaiah Brown and Urban Klavzar and top 50 freshmen CJ Ingram and Alex Lloyd. As talented as that group is, Florida badly needs a big-time veteran backcourt addition to boost its chances at repeating as champs. Xaivian Lee is the jewel of the remaining point guard group, a hyper-productive stat stuffer at Princeton who would slide into Todd Golden's scheme perfectly. The Gators are squarely in the mix for his services, but if they miss out, they'll have to identify a gem among other options like Duke Miles (Oklahoma), Malachi Smith (Dayton) and Dylan Darling (Idaho State). Presumed core: G AJ Dybantsa, G Rob Wright III, F Richie Saunders, F/C Keba Keita, G Dawson Baker, F Mihailo Boskovic, C Xavion Staton Hole to fill: Athletic 3-and-D wing Portal candidates: Terrance Arceneaux, Cedric Coward, Mekhi Mason, Devan Cambridge The infinite money tree in Provo has the Cougars set up to contend for a national title. From its branches, BYU has plucked the nation's top recruit in AJ Dybantsa, giving the Cougars a guaranteed star for 2025-26. He will form a devastating 1-2 scoring punch with Richie Saunders, who blossomed last season alongside an elite passer in Egor Demin. Speaking of which, BYU swiped sophomore Rob Wright from Big 12 rival Baylor to fill its point guard need. With plenty of size, most notably rebounding monster Keba Keita, the Cougars are generally loaded in the paint, as well. Advertisement However, the departures of Trevin Knell, Kanon Catchings, Trey Stewart, Mawot Mag and Dallin Hall cleaned out the Cougars' wing rotation. Coach Kevin Young needs to crack open the NIL war chest one more time to bring in a versatile wing who can fill in the blanks around Dybantsa, Saunders and shooter Dawson Baker. Terrance Arceneaux (Houston) would be a perfect fit, though he may be leaving Kelvin Sampson's teams for more shots, which he would not find in Provo. Cedric Coward (Washington St.) would be a steal after getting hurt last season, while Devan Cambridge (Texas Tech) also sat out most of the year. Mekhi Mason (Washington) is more of a bargain option who might be more content in a complementary role. Options abound for BYU at this spot, though. Presumed core: F JT Toppin, G Christian Anderson, F LeJuan Watts, G Donovan Atwell, G/F Tyeree Bryan, C Federiko Federiko Hole to fill: Additional ball handler/creator on the perimeter Portal candidates: Duke Miles, Malachi Smith, Ahmad Nowell The Red Raiders have fewer pieces back than some of the other teams on this list. But when two of the returners are All-American JT Toppin and potential all-conference guard Christian Anderson — yes, he's that good — the foundation is rock solid. That inside-outside duo will form a lethal ball screen pairing, Coach Grant McCasland and his staff have quickly done a tremendous job reloading in the portal, most notably with LeJuan Watts, a mismatch forward with outstanding passing acumen who should slide perfectly into the void left by Darrion Williams. The Red Raiders also loaded up on shooting via Donovan Atwell (UNC Greensboro) and Tyeree Bryan (Santa Clara), two wings with size who combined to make 162 3s at a 41 percent clip. Atwell and Bryan are not great on-ball creators, though. Coupled with the graduation of Elijah Hawkins plus Kevin Overton's decision to transfer, the ball-handling burden on Anderson would be immense in the current structure of the roster. Jazz Henderson, a tiny but mighty point guard who redshirted last year, is an in-house candidate for more minutes, but finding another piece is necessary. Duke Miles (Oklahoma) recently decommitted from Virginia and would be a great fit. Malachi Smith (Dayton) is a veteran option, while Ahmad Nowell (UConn) would be an upside swing. Other top teams with near-complete rosters: Houston, Arizona, UConn (Top photo of Duke basketball: Elsa / Getty Images)
USA Today
28-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
March Madness: Purdue vs. Houston odds, picks and predictions
The No. 4 seed Purdue Boilermakers and No. 1 seed Houston Cougars meet in an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 game in the Midwest Region Friday. Tip-off from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis is set for 10:09 p.m. ET (TBS/truTV). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Purdue vs. Houston odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions. The Boilermakers kicked off their tournament play with a 75-63 win over the High Point Panthers March 20, covering as 8-point favorites. Purdue beat the McNeese Cowboys 76-62 in the Round of 32 Saturday, covering as a 6.5-point favorite. The team was led by F Trey Kaufman-Renn, who scored 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting. Purdue's success this season has been driven by its offense, sitting eighth in KenPom's rating but just 55th in defensive rating. Houston is the opposite, coming in as the best defensive team in the country. It ranks 11th in offensive rating. The Cougars won the Big 12 Tournament before commencing NCAA Tournament action. They throttled the No. 16 seed SIUE Cougars 78-40 in the first round March 20 and took down the Gonzaga Bulldogs 81-76 in the second round Saturday, closing as 28.5-point and 5-point favorites, respectively. G L.J. Cryer had 30 points and hit 6 threes against Gonzaga. Houston is No. 2 in the USA TODAY Sports Men's Basketball Coaches Poll. Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+ Purdue vs. Houston odds Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:05 a.m. ET. Moneyline (ML) : Purdue +325 (bet $100 to win $325) | Houston -425 (bet $425 to win $100) : Purdue +325 (bet $100 to win $325) | Houston -425 (bet $425 to win $100) Against the spread (ATS) : Purdue +8.5 (-110) | Houston -8.5 (-110) : Purdue +8.5 (-110) | Houston -8.5 (-110) Over/Under (O/U): 131.5 (O: -115 | U: -105) Purdue vs. Houston picks and predictions Prediction Houston 70, Purdue 66 PASS. While Purdue (+325) has some value to pull off the upset, it isn't a strong play. Houston (-425) is far too expensive to take outright here. Avoid making a moneyline wager. BET PURDUE +8.5 (-110). The Boilermakers have been on a roll, covering 2 straight games and scoring at least 75 points in each while allowing 63 or fewer in both. Purdue's best player, Kaufman-Renn, is a 6-foot-9 forward, and the Cougars' only weakness in their defense, if any, is against big men, as they gave up 27 points to Gonzaga F Graham Ike in the second round. The Cougars are just 4-4-2 ATS in their last 10 games, including postseason battles. They have scored between 72 and 78 points in 4 of their last 5 games, so as long as Purdue continues to stay efficient offensively, it should be able to stay close enough to cover. Back PURDUE +8.5 (-110). BET OVER 131.5 (-115). Both of these teams have strong offenses, sitting within the top 12 nationally in KenPom's rankings. Houston has been on fire as of late, scoring at least 72 points in 5 straight games and going Over in 2 of those. Purdue is 4-3 O/U in its last 7 contests and has tallied at least 75 points in 6 of those. It will face an elite defense, but all 3 of its players who average over 13 points per game shot at least 43% during regular-season action. The Boilermakers have the consistency to score. Take OVER 131.5 (-115). Play our free daily Pick'em Challenge and win! Play now! For more sports betting picks and tips, check out and BetFTW. Follow @nathanbeighle_ on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook. College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group: Alabama / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Duke / Florida / Florida State / Georgia / Iowa / Kentucky / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / UCLA / USC / Washington / Wisconsin / College Sports Wire / High School / Recruiting
Axios
28-03-2025
- Sport
- Axios
2025 NCAA Tournament: What to know about Purdue and Notre Dame's next games
The Purdue men's and Notre Dame women's basketball teams are preparing to take the court in Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament matches. Why it matters: The two programs are the last hope for our basketball-obsessed state to claim the ultimate March Madness glory in 2025. The moment hits even closer to home for the Boilermakers, who will play their next game at Lucas Oil Stadium for the closest thing they'll get to a homecourt advantage. Driving the news: To escape the Sweet 16, Purdue must rewrite its history against No. 1 seeds and survive a Houston team that has one of the best defenses in the country. Notre Dame is walking into their Saturday showdown against TCU in Alabama as the slight favorite and with a score to settle from earlier in the season. Fun fact: It's familiar territory for both squads. This is the second consecutive Sweet 16 appearance for the Purdue men and the fourth straight appearance for the Notre Dame women. Here's a closer look at both matches. 🚂 No. 4 Purdue (24-11) vs. No. 1 Houston (32-4) Tip-off: 10:09pm Friday State of play: With 15 consecutive wins, the Cougars are red hot. But Purdue forward Trey Kaufman-Renn is a difference maker who leads the country in field goals made — just like Zach Edey did last season. Fun fact: Purdue has an 8-3 overall record in Indianapolis since 2021, including two wins in last year's NCAA Tournament. What they're saying: Purdue coach Matt Painter said the success fans are seeing on the court now is the result of work that started last summer. "It's just (about) trying to create that identity on both ends of the court, and having a foundation," Painter said after Purdue's win over McNeese. "A lot of people don't realize … your foundation starts when practice actually starts. We wanted to start in June so now we can grow and be at our best at this time of year." How to watch: TBS/TruTV If you go: Tickets start at $150. ☘️ No. 3 Notre Dame (28-5) vs. No. 2 TCU (33-3) Tip-off: 1pm Saturday State of play: Notre Dame has had a dominant tournament run so far and is right at home in the semifinals, but the team has failed to advance beyond the Sweet 16 for the last three years. Meanwhile, this is the first Sweet 16 for TCU. Flashback: These two teams last met on Nov. 29 in the Cayman Islands Classic. TCU came back from a late-game 14-point deficit to topple the Fighting Irish 76-68. What they're saying: "To go back to the Sweet 16, this is so big for the program," Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey said after they beat Michigan by 21 points. "We went through a couple weeks of a tough stretch, and the way that they've fought back and got back on track … has been just phenomenal. We're excited to keep dancing."
New York Times
28-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Houston vs. Purdue: Can the Boilers take down Kelvin Sampson's top-seeded Cougars?
Houston has made the Sweet 16 in the last six NCAA Tournaments, but is only 2-3 in that round during that span. This year's balanced team is seeking to show it's a national title contender. Can Purdue pull off the upset? Dive into March Madness with The Athletic Projecting the bracket | March Madness 2025 | Best bets One reason I picked Houston to win the national championship back in October is its ability to make shots from all three guard spots. The Cougars are the best 3-point shooting team and the best defensive team in the country. Advertisement Something to watch is rebounding margins. Houston is one of the best offensive rebounding teams (11th nationally) and overwhelms teams with second-chance points. Purdue is 18-2 when grabbing 22 defensive rebounds or more but has only done it nine times this season. Houston is 20-1 when allowing fewer than 20 defensive rebounds. In the past, teams have given the Cougars trouble in the pick-and-roll with short rolls, pops to the 3-point line or quick slips. Trey Kaufman-Renn has only shot 51 3s in his three-year career, but he is almost automatic around the rim with floaters, hooks and layups. All-American point guard Braden Smith hasn't faced a defense this physical all season, but his toughness and poise can help the Boilermakers try to solve this feisty defense. The foul count could also play a big role. Houston is physical and will look to impose its will. If one of Houston's guards gets into foul trouble, though, the game could shift. Betting/Odds links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. (Photo by Kirby Lee / Imagn Images)
