The Purdue Boilermakers have, yet again, made the NCAA Tournament in 2025 and this season as a four-seed in the Midwest Region. This is the fifth season in a row that they’ve received a bid and the 10th time in 11 years.
They are coming off of a magical run as a No. 1 seed where they reached the National Championship and then, unfortunately, ran into a buzz saw UCONN team that ended up cutting down the nets.
While they had good success last season, the same couldn’t be said every year. They infamously lost to a 16-seed Fairleigh Dickinson team as a No. 1 seed in 2023 and reached the Elite Eight just once since the 2000 season prior to the National Championship run.
The Boilermaker's all-time record in the NCAA tournament is 49-35 but, officially, is 48-34 due to the use of an ineligible player in the 1996 tournament. They have made three Final Fours but have yet to be the last team standing as the champion.
So, what is Purdue’s All-Time round-by-round record in the NCAA Tournament?
Round of 64 All-Time record - 24-8.
The high of the Round of 64 is a 39-point win as a two seed in the 1998 tournament against the 15 seeded Delaware team. And the low, clearly, the historic loss in 2023 when they were the one seed and lost the the 16 seeded Fairleigh Dickinson team.
Round of 32 All-Time record - 13-13.
Surprisingly, Purdue is just .500 in this round. They have big wins as the one seed like their 39-point win in 2024 or their thrilling 63-61 overtime win as the four seed in 2010. But on the flip side, their loss as the two seed in 1990 at the hands of the 10 seeded Texas Longhorns surely stings for the Boilermaker fans.
Sweet Sixteen All-Time record - 6-8.
The Boilermakers start to struggle a bit when it gets to the second weekend of the tournament and the Sweet Sixteen. The highlight for them in this round is an upset, overtime win against the two seeded Tennessee Volunteers in 2019. Their low point must be the blowout lost to the Kansas Jayhawks in 2017.
Elite Eight All-Time record – 3-3
With three wins in this round, they have secured three Final Fours. With wins in 2024, 1980, and 1969, they have an average margin of victory of 5.33. An overtime loss to Virginia in 2019 was a tough pill to swallow for a team that, at the time, was trying to get over the hump for the first time in 39 years.
National Semifinal All-Time record – 2-1
Once they have earned a spot in the Final Four, they have done a great job. With two wins and just one loss, they have made two National Championships. As a one seed, they beat NC State, an eleven seeded Cinderella team, in 2024 to earn their spot in the championship game.
National Championship All-Time record – 0-2
They have been in the championship twice and unfortunately, haven’t been able to finish the job. They have lost both games, one to UCONN in 2024 and the other to UCLA in 1969.