Writer Garin Turner
The last game of the Sweet 16 will see the No. 2 Purdue Boilermakers (30-6) face the No. 3 Texas Tech Red Raiders (26-9) in the East Region of the NCAA Tournament at 8:57 PM CST on TBS.
The Boilermakers have been a contender all year and have proven why thus far in the tournament having disposed of Cal State Fullerton 74-68 in the first round and knocking off Butler 76-73 in the second round. Purdue took a big hit in the first round when senior center Isaac Haas went down with a fractured elbow. Purdue fitted him with a brace in hopes to have him against Butler, but the NCCA didn't approve it.
The 7-foot-2 Haas is still optimistic. Purdue's sports medicine program reached out to see if there's a brace that could be made that the NCAA would approve. Others stepped up to help Purdue get to this point. Purdue averages 80 points a game while only giving up 60. They're making close to 50% of their shots.
Carsen Edwards is the team’s leading scorer at 18.2 points a game. Haas is second with 14.7. His replacement, Matt Haams averages 4.8 points a game. Vincent Edwards is also averaging 14.7 a game for Purdue.
For Texas Tech, they defeated Stephen F. Austin in the first round 70-60 and followed that up in the second round with a 69-66 victory over Florida. The Red Raiders have many playmakers on their team. Senior guard Keenan Evans (17.8 points per game) is their go-to guy in the clutch. Freshman forward Zhaire Smith (11.2) has also stepped up and has shown thus far that he can handle pressure situations in the tournament.
Texas Tech is averaging 74 points a game while only surrendering 63. They're shooting 46% from the field, and they're solid on the defensive end averaging four blocks a game and seven steals.
The Boilermakers have been a contender all year and have proven why thus far in the tournament having disposed of Cal State Fullerton 74-68 in the first round and knocking off Butler 76-73 in the second round. Purdue took a big hit in the first round when senior center Isaac Haas went down with a fractured elbow. Purdue fitted him with a brace in hopes to have him against Butler, but the NCCA didn't approve it.
The 7-foot-2 Haas is still optimistic. Purdue's sports medicine program reached out to see if there's a brace that could be made that the NCAA would approve. Others stepped up to help Purdue get to this point. Purdue averages 80 points a game while only giving up 60. They're making close to 50% of their shots.
Carsen Edwards is the team’s leading scorer at 18.2 points a game. Haas is second with 14.7. His replacement, Matt Haams averages 4.8 points a game. Vincent Edwards is also averaging 14.7 a game for Purdue.
For Texas Tech, they defeated Stephen F. Austin in the first round 70-60 and followed that up in the second round with a 69-66 victory over Florida. The Red Raiders have many playmakers on their team. Senior guard Keenan Evans (17.8 points per game) is their go-to guy in the clutch. Freshman forward Zhaire Smith (11.2) has also stepped up and has shown thus far that he can handle pressure situations in the tournament.
Texas Tech is averaging 74 points a game while only surrendering 63. They're shooting 46% from the field, and they're solid on the defensive end averaging four blocks a game and seven steals.