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The Purdue Boilermakers are in the Sweet 16 of March Madness for the third straight season, where they will play the Texas Longhorns, who made the second weekend of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament for the first time in three years.
NCAA Division I career assists record-holder Braden Smith leads the Boilermakers (29-8), averaging 14.3 points, 9.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Trey Kaufman-Renn adds 14.1 points and 8.5 rebounds, Fletcher Loyer 14.1 points on 43.3% 3-point shooting, Oscar Cluff 10.5 points and 7.5 rebounds and C.J. Cox 8.5 points on 38.4% 3-point shooting.
Dailyn Swain, a 6-8 junior, leads the Longhorns (21-14) at 17.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Seven-footer Matas Vokietaitis averages 15.7 points and 7.2 rebounds for the season. Tramon Mark, who averages 13.5 points, sank the winning shot in Texas’ First Four victory over North Carolina State. Jordan Pope averages 13.1 points and leads the Longhorns with 82-of-222 3-point shooting (36.9%).
The Boilermakers and Longhorns will meet the media Wednesday for scheduled availabilities. Then there will be the build-up to Thursday’s gameday. Be sure to check back throughout the week as we learn more information, have photos, videos, predictions and more!
Buy this Purdue Big Ten title print!
When does Purdue basketball play in the Sweet 16?
The Purdue Boilermakers and Texas Longhorns will play at 7:10 p.m. ET, Thursday, March 26, 2026.
What channel is Purdue vs Texas game on?
The Purdue Boilermakers and Texas Longhorns will air on CBS Thursday, March 26, 2026.
Watch NCAA tournament action on Paramount+
Purdue vs Texas March Madness predictions, picks
Several of our experts are calculating their predictions as they travel. Check back later for their picks!
Nat Newell, IndyStar: Texas 107, Purdue 106
The NCAA Tournament is better with Cinderella so what could be better than the biggest, richest Cinderella in history. It’s like Cinderella is the stepmother; what a wonderful twist! Hoping the burnt orange pumpkin carriage with longhorns on the front rolls on at least one more game.
Aaron Ferguson, IndyStar: Purdue 77, Texas 68
Purdue has twice withstood first-half tests that they turned around a different result in the second half of wins over Michigan and Miami (Florida) on this six-game postseason winning streak. Expect Matas Vokietaitis to impact the rebounding gap, but the veteran Boilers find a way their path to a possible dream home Final Four.
Sam King, Journal & Courier: Purdue 84, Texas 73
Texas has had a luxury of facing injury-hampered teams to get to the Sweet 16. If C.J. Cox is good to go, Purdue is fine. If Cox can’t, Purdue will still dance on.
And from the USA TODAY desk:
- Blake Toppmeyer: Purdue
- Paul Myerberg: Purdue
- Jordan Mendoza: Purdue
- John Brice: Purdue
- Matt Glenesk: Purdue
- Craig Meyer: Purdue
- John Leuzzi: Purdue
- Austin Curtright: Purdue
- Ehsan Kassim: Texas
Purdue vs. Texas odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM.
- Spread: Purdue -6.5 (-115), Texas +6.5 (-105)
- Total: 148.5; Under -105, Over -115
- Moneyline: Purdue -300, Texas +240
Purdue, Texas injury updates
C.J. Cox’s status for the Sweet 16 game is not yet known. He said after Sunday’s win over Miami that he had a hyperextension and could have probably played after exiting early in the second half. But his services were not needed.
Expect an update Wednesday evening from media availabilities on Cox’s status.
Sweet 16 bracket, schedule
2026 NCAA tournament Sweet 16 March Madness games Thursday, March 26
- (2) Purdue Boilermakers vs. (11) Texas Longhorns, 7:10 p.m. ET, CBS | Preview
- (4) Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. (9) Iowa Hawkeyes, 7:30 p.m. ET, TBS | Preview
- (1) Arizona Wildcats vs. (4) Arkansas Razorbacks, 9:45 p.m. ET, CBS | Preview
- (2) Houston Cougars vs. (3) Illinois Fighting Illini, 10:05 p.m. ET, TBS | Preview
2026 NCAA tournament Sweet 16 March Madness games Friday, March 27
- (1) Duke Blue Devils vs. (5) St. John’s Red Storm, 7:10 p.m. ET, CBS | Preview
- (1) Michigan Wolverines vs. (4) Alabama Crimson Tide, 7:35 p.m. ET, TBS | Preview
- (2) Connecticut Huskies vs. (3) Michigan State Spartans, 9:45 p.m. ET, CBS | Preview
- (2) Iowa State Cyclones vs. (6) Tennessee Volunteers, 10:10 p.m. ET, TBS | Preview
Purdue basketball March Madness results. Score of Purdue basketball games in NCAA Tournament
- Fletcher Loyer scored 24 points and Trey Kaufman-Renn 19 as Purdue beat Miami 79-69 in the Round of 32.
- Braden Smith broke the NCAA Division I career assists record as Purdue beat Queens 104-71 in the first round.
Texas basketball March Madness results. Score of UT basketball games in NCAA Tournament
- Matas Vokietaitis and Jordan Pope scored 17 points each as Texas beat Gonzaga 74-68 in the Round of 32.
- Matas Vokietaitis had 23 points and 16 rebounds, and Tramon Mark 19 points as Texas defeated BYU 79-71 in the first round.
- Tramon Mark made a jump shot with 1.1 seconds remaining to lift Texas over North Carolina State 68-66 in a First Four game.
Purdue vs Texas basketball history
Texas holds a 2-1 edge in the series. Purdue won the most recent meeting in the second round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
Who are Purdue’s best players? Purdue basketball roster
- 0, C.J. Cox
- 1, Antione West Jr. (redshirt)
- 2, Fletcher Loyer
- 3, Braden Smith
- 4, Trey Kaufman-Renn
- 5, Liam Murphy
- 12, Daniel Jacobsen
- 14, Jack Benter
- 17, Omer Mayer
- 24, Gicarri Harris
- 34, Raleigh Burgess (redshirt)
- 45, Oscar Cluff
Who is Purdue basketball coach? Matt Painter reaches milestone win, has become one of Big Ten’s best coaches
Matt Painter has twice been recognized for winning 500 games this season. He reached the career milestone early in the season, and with the Round of 32 win over Miami, he notched his 500th win at Purdue.
Painter started his head-coaching career with a 25-5 season leading Southern Illinois in 2003-04. His Salukis won the Missouri Valley Conference and made the NCAA Tournament. He then returned to Purdue as the coach-in-waiting to Gene Keady.
This is his 21st season leading the Boilermakers, and he’s 500-223 with five Big Ten regular-season championships, three league tournament championships and 17 NCAA Tournament berths. Of late, Purdue has been to seven Sweet 16s in the last nine tournaments.
Braden Smith set NCAA assists record in last Purdue basketball game
With his first assist Friday night, Braden Smith tied the NCAA’s all-time assists record. And with his second, he passed Duke’s Bobby Hurley, who finished with 1,076 to close his Duke career in 1993.
There is plenty to know about Braden Smith. He was an underrecruited guard out of Westfield, Indiana, the son of a former Miss Basketball in Arkansas. He’s always showed a cerebral look at the game, and his passing skills grew as he developed.
And, this season, he hunted assists more than his shots (he’s Westfield’s all-time leading scorer, after all). But a strong run in the Big Ten Tournament allowed that pressure of the assists record to ease. He can play freely, and may be his best self.
Who is Bobby Hurley? Former Duke guard who had NCAA assists record
Bobby Hurley played at Duke from 1989-93. He had little pressure to break the assists record in his final season, and did so in 140 games — fewer than Braden Smith (today is 147). Hurley also was a two-time national championship, point guard for the Blue Devils’ title runs in 1991 and 1992.
Hurley went on to be drafted seventh overall in the 1993 NBA Draft to the Sacramento Kings. He played out his rookie contract, four-and-a-half years with the Kings and finishing with Vancouver, before his NBA playing days ended in 1998.
Hurley has spent the last 13 seasons roaming the sidelines. First as Buffalo’s coach, and then as Arizona State’s for the last 11 seasons. He’s 227-187 and made four NCAA Tournament appearances, but his Sun Devils teams went 44-54 over the last three seasons and he was fired earlier this month.
Oscar Cluff Purdue basketball player stats, history
Oscar Cluff is on a heater. He averaged 17.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game during Purdue’s Big Ten Tournament championship run. The double-double machine (eight this season) was brought in to be a premiere rebounder and efficient scorer around the rim, and he’s elevated his play after a lull during the conference regular season.
His journey is a fascinating one. He intended to be a boilermaker (seriously) in his native Australia. His basketball journey started at junior colleges, then Washington State, then South Dakota State and now Purdue. And he may even get an extra year of eligibility due to his JuCo route.
Fletcher Loyer Purdue basketball player stats, history
Fletcher Loyer is shooting 40.7% from 3-point range for his career, and his 42.1% mark leads the Big Ten this season. Though that is down from 44.4% in both his sophomore and junior seasons.
Loyer is a native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and his brother Foster played at Michigan State. The Loyer’s father is John Loyer, a NBA coach and scout.
2026 Texas Longhorns basketball roster
- 0, Jordan Pope
- 1, Cole Bott
- 2, Chendall Weaver
- 3, Dailyn Swain
- 4, Declan Duru Jr.
- 5, Camden Heath
- 7, Simeon Wilcher
- 8, Matas Vokietaitis
- 9, John Clark
- 10, Nothing Codie
- 12, Tram Mark
- 14, Lewis Obiorah
- 23, Lassina Traore
- 33, Anthon McDermott
- 44, Brandon Taylor
Who is Texas basketball coach? Sean Miller still a winner after up-and-down coaching career
Sean Miller is in his first season as Texas basketball coach, and 21st season leading a program. He had two stints at Xavier and one that ended with NCAA infractions at Arizona that he later was not sanctioned for. His record is 21-14 at Texas and 508-210 for his career, which includes 14 NCAA Tournament berths.
He won five Pac-12 regular-season championships while at Arizona and three A-10 regular-season titles while at Xavier in his first stint.
Former Purdue basketball player Camden Heide often starts for Texas
Camden Heide left Purdue after two seasons looking to make a larger impact. He found it with Texas and Miller. The 6-foot-7 junior has made 46.2% of his 3-pointers, averaging 5.9 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.
Hiede’s biggest shot this season is his most recent, a corner 3 with 14.7 seconds left to seal an upset of No. 3 seeded Gonzaga. He had not played since the 17:42 mark of the second half.
Texas’ Cam Heide checked out with 17:42 remaining in the second half.
He checked back in with 32 seconds left and hit the DAGGER to send Texas to the Sweet 16 😳 pic.twitter.com/6KhY3sevoL
— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) March 22, 2026
“Yeah, these guys will tell you, I’ll take credit for it. Just the way I saw it was on the last possession of a game, just to have that other guy out there who is capable and in Cam’s case you can make the case he’s our best three-point shooter. To not have him in there, I just didn’t think it made any sense,” Miller said. “Because what happens is exactly what happened. The play gets broken, a guy makes a drive, pivots, next thing you know you find someone.
“In that situation it was great to see him knock it in. I was really, really happy for him. I might have even said, I’m putting you in to make a shot and again, when it happens, it’s almost too good to be true.
“But these guys will tell you, Cam has been a huge part of our team this year, he’s had some ups and downs, and I don’t think anybody deserves to make that shot more than him. He’s just a fantastic teammate.”
2026 March Madness scores
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