Purdue, Michigan State, Michigan Advance to Men's Sweet 16

Boilermakers, Spartans, and Wolverines all win second-round NCAA Tournament games

Mar. 23, 2026 at 6:22am

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No. 2 seed Purdue beat Miami 79-69 to advance to the Sweet 16 for the third straight time and seventh in the last nine years. Michigan State, the No. 3 seed in the East Region, beat Louisville 77-69 to reach the Sweet 16 for the 17th time under coach Tom Izzo. Top-seeded Michigan also advanced to the Sweet 16 with a 95-72 victory over Saint Louis.

Why it matters

The wins by Purdue, Michigan State, and Michigan continue the strong performance of Big Ten teams in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The conference has now placed three teams in the Sweet 16, showcasing the depth and talent of the league this season.

The details

Purdue was led by Fletcher Loyer's 24 points and Trey Kaufman-Renn's 19 points and 9 rebounds. Michigan State got a double-double from Coen Carr (21 points, 10 rebounds) and 16 assists from Jeremy Fears Jr. Michigan was paced by Yaxel Lendeborg's 25 points, including a highlight-reel dunk, and a strong game from 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara.

  • Purdue's win over Miami came on Sunday, March 23, 2026.
  • Michigan State's victory against Louisville took place on Saturday, March 22, 2026.
  • Michigan's win over Saint Louis was also on Saturday, March 22, 2026.

The players

Fletcher Loyer

A key player for Purdue, scoring 24 points in their second-round win.

Trey Kaufman-Renn

Purdue forward who had 19 points and 9 rebounds in the victory.

Braden Smith

Purdue's point guard who broke the NCAA career assists record but also had 8 turnovers in the game.

Coen Carr

Michigan State forward who recorded a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

Jeremy Fears Jr.

Michigan State's star point guard who dished out 16 assists, becoming the first Big Ten player with 10+ assists in each of the first two NCAA Tournament games.

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What they’re saying

“We have a good team, we have good balance, and Braden is the guy that makes us go and he sets things off. I know he's frustrated, but we were able to win and advance, and now we can play another day.”

— Matt Painter, Purdue Head Coach

“Back to the Sweet 16, where this program belongs.”

— Tom Izzo, Michigan State Head Coach

“Well, if he's shy of just Magic Johnson, he's in pretty good company. That's a pretty good place to be. So Earvin, if you're watching, he's coming after you.”

— Tom Izzo, Michigan State Head Coach

What’s next

Purdue will face 11th-seeded Texas in the West Region semifinals on Thursday in San Jose, California. Michigan State will play the winner of UConn and UCLA in the East Region semifinals on Friday in Washington, D.C. Michigan will take on the winner of Texas Tech and Alabama in the Midwest Region semifinals on Friday in Chicago.

The takeaway

The continued success of Big Ten powers Purdue, Michigan State, and Michigan in the NCAA Tournament underscores the conference's strength and depth this season. All three teams have proven they can win in the tournament, setting up intriguing matchups in the Sweet 16 as they vie for a spot in the Elite Eight.