GAMEDAY INFORMATION
[2] Purdue (30-6) vs. [3] Texas Tech (26-9) / East Region
Friday, March 23, 2018 / 9:57 p.m. ET / TBS (Ian Eagle, Jim Spanarkel, Allie LaForce)
Boston, Massachusetts / TD Garden (18,624)
BOSTON – No. 2-seeded Purdue aims for its first Elite Eight appearance in 18 years when it takes on No. 3-seed Texas Tech in Boston’s TD Garden in the Sweet 16.
Ian Eagle, Jim Spanarkel and Allie LaForce will provide the call on TBS, tipping off at 9:57 p.m. ET. Larry Clisby and Rob Blackman will handle the radio broadcast on the Purdue Radio Network, while Gary Cohen and P.J. Carlesimo will have the national radio call on Westwood One. Fans can receive in-game updates on Purdue Basketball’s official Twitter account (@BoilerBall) and live stats will be available on PurdueSports.com.
Purdue enters Friday’s game having won six of its last seven games with the lone setback coming to Sweet 16-participant Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament finals.
Texas Tech is in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2005 and has won four of its last five games, topping SFA and Florida in the NCAAs.
The winner will take either Villanova or West Virginia on Sunday for a spot in the Final Four.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Purdue is a win away from advancing to its first Elite Eight in 18 years, last making the regional finals in 2000. Purdue is looking for its fifth Elite Eight appearance (2000, 1994, 1980, 1969).
Purdue is averaging 80.8 points per game this year, its highest average since 1994 (84.4).
Purdue is second nationally in 3-point percentage (.421) and has posted its highest 3-point percentage since 1988 (.440; 159-361).
The Boilermakers will set a new school record for scoring margin, currently at +15.4 points.
Purdue’s 346 3-pointers this year are the second most in Big Ten history (Michigan – 361 last year).
Purdue has four players with 50 3-pointers in the same season for the first time in school history.
Purdue has four active players with 1,000 points for the third time in school history (1988, 2010).
Purdue has four players averaging at least 12 points per game for the first time since 1998.
The Big Ten has three teams with 30 wins this year. No other league has more than one.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Purdue’s NCAA Tournament seed, its highest seed since 1998 (No. 2 seed).
2: Purdue’s offense is ranked No. 2 in KenPom’s offensive efficiency ratings, behind just Villanova.
6: Teams with 26+ wins in each of the last three years (Kent., Nova, Kansas, Zags, SMC, Purdue).
6: Purdue is one of six teams to be playing in consecutive Sweet 16s.
8: Purdue is one of eight teams to earn top-five seeds in each of the last three years.
10: NCAA appearances in last 12 years, the ninth most in the country.
18: Years since Purdue’s last Elite Eight appearance (2000).
24: Combined margin of defeat in Purdue’s six losses this season (3, 4, 1, 3, 4, 9 points).
104: Wins by the senior class, needing three more for a school record for victories by a senior class.
1,721: Combined points this year by Purdue seniors, accounting for 59.2 percent of Purdue’s pts.
