Purdue's Dominant Big Ten Tournament Run

Boilermakers win Big Ten title with impressive statistics

Mar. 16, 2026 at 9:05pm

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Purdue University's men's basketball team had a memorable run to the Big Ten Tournament championship last week in Chicago. The Boilermakers won four games in four days, showcasing several impressive statistics along the way, including spending less than 9 minutes trailing their opponents, guard Braden Smith dishing out 46 assists, the team never shooting better than 36% from three-point range, and center Oscar Cluff nearly averaging a double-double.

Why it matters

Purdue's dominant performance in the Big Ten Tournament demonstrated the team's well-rounded abilities, from strong defense and interior play to unselfish ball movement. The Boilermakers proved they can win games in a variety of ways, which will serve them well as they head into the NCAA Tournament.

The details

In their four tournament games, the Boilermakers spent just 8 minutes and 53 seconds trailing their opponents, an astounding statistic given the quality of teams they faced. Guard Braden Smith was the catalyst, dishing out 46 assists over the four-game stretch, including 16 in the opening-round win over Northwestern. Despite never shooting better than 36% from three-point range in any game, Purdue was still able to win the tournament, showcasing their interior dominance and stifling defense. Center Oscar Cluff was a force, averaging 17.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, including two double-doubles.

  • Purdue played 160 minutes of basketball at the Big Ten Tournament in Chicago.
  • The Boilermakers spent just 8:53 trailing their opponents over the four-game stretch.
  • Braden Smith dished out 46 assists during the tournament, just two shy of the NCAA record held by Bobby Hurley.
  • Purdue never shot better than 36% from three-point range in any of their four tournament games.
  • Oscar Cluff averaged 17.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, including two double-doubles.

The players

Braden Smith

Purdue's star guard, who dished out a tournament-high 46 assists over the four-game stretch.

Oscar Cluff

Purdue's 6-foot-11 senior center, who averaged a near double-double of 17.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in the tournament.

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What they’re saying

“Purdue was able to win games without shooting above 40% behind the three-point line. It's particularly impressive that the Boilers were able to win the tournament without going off from distance at least once.”

— Matt Painter, Purdue Head Coach

What’s next

Purdue will look to carry their momentum from the Big Ten Tournament into the NCAA Tournament, where they will face Queens in the first round on Friday.

The takeaway

Purdue's dominant performance in the Big Ten Tournament, including their ability to win games without relying on three-point shooting, showcases the team's well-rounded abilities and bodes well for their chances in the NCAA Tournament.