Purdue followers have caught with the lads’s basketball program by means of the highs, lows and the oh-so-close moments during the last 4 a long time. So, when the Boilermakers punched their ticket to the Last 4 final season — this system’s first since 1980 — there was an urgency to color Phoenix black and gold.
Coach Matt Painter says seeing that a lot assist was his favourite a part of your complete expertise.
Followers flocked to Phoenix for the 2024 Last 4, hoping to see Purdue win its first nationwide championship within the NCAA Match period. They turned State Farm Stadium into Mackey Area West, making a home-like environment for Painter and the Boilers.
In an look on College Hoops Today with Jon Rothstein, Painter was requested about your complete Last 4 expertise. The longtime coach at Purdue was fast to level to fan assist as his favourite a part of the expertise.
“In all probability the good factor for us was the observe. Going on the market and seeing what number of Purdue followers (had been there),” Painter mentioned. “And you do not know it however you understand it after the actual fact, our followers took over Phoenix, by way of the numbers. You would additionally make a slight there, they have been ready 44 years to have the ability to do this.
“However simply to present them that have and see your bus taking place the road — irrespective of the place you had been, it was simply full of black and gold. That was actually cool.”
Purdue defeated North Carolina State 63-50 within the Last 4 recreation, advancing to the nationwide championship for the primary time since 1969. The Boilermakers got here up one-game in need of bringing a title again to West Lafayette, falling 75-60 to UConn.
Regardless of the loss, Purdue nonetheless loved top-of-the-line years in program historical past. It ended the 12 months with a 34-5 report and a Large Ten common season title, along with the Last 4 journey.
It is no secret that Purdue followers are among the many most passionate in faculty basketball. They proved it to Painter and his workforce all through final 12 months’s NCAA Match.
PAINT CREW BIG TEN’S BEST STUDENT SECTION: Purdue’s “Paint Crew” is undoubtedly top-of-the-line scholar sections in faculty basketball. One skilled says its the second-best within the nation. CLICK HERE
PAINTER RECEIVES PURDUE’S HIGHEST HONOR: Matt Painter has been introduced with the “Order of the Griffin” by Purdue College president Dr. Mung Chiang. It’s the highest honor an worker can obtain. CLICK HERE
