The Purdue Boilermakers have fielded a men's basketball team almost every year since 1896 but are still yet to bring home their first National Championship. The program has made it to the final game on two occasions, most recently last season, but has not been able to get over the hump and hoist the trophy.
Matt Painter has been the head coach in West Lafayette, Indiana, for the last 20 seasons, and his teams have made the NCAA Tournament 16 times out of a possible 19 times. He has had great success with the Boilermakers in March, unfortunately, his recent upset losses in the first round have plagued him and the team's reputation.
However, Purdue should have nothing to worry about. The team's social media account posted the following statistic today, and it should provide the team will all the confidence that they need.
Purdue should enter the NCAA Tournament with loads of confidence
📈 10 straight and counting. pic.twitter.com/Pi67s9VOTA
— Purdue Men's Basketball (@BoilerBall) March 17, 2025
Purdue has been in every March Madness since 2015, which means they have made an appearance in 10 straight years other than the 2020 season, which was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. This consistency puts them in elite company, as not even the blue bloods like Duke, Kentucky, Villanova, or North Carolina have accomplished this feat.
Coach Painter has yet to reach the mountaintop as a coach, but they have been right on the cusp in recent years. Trey Kaufman-Renn has led the charge for the Boilermakers this season but both Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer have contributed double-figure scoring on a nightly basis as well.
This feels like a team of destiny, as five of the top seven scorers, including the top three, all hail from the state of Indiana. Painter winning a National Championship with a home-grown group would be exactly the kind of story that March Madness is all about.
They may not be the favorites, but the Boilermakers have an experienced coach who has paid his dues and should be extremely confident heading into the first round against No. 13 seed High Point.