Braden Smith's Crafty Play Earns Gus Johnson's Praise

Purdue point guard's performance in blowout win over Indiana lands him on Gus Johnson's 'GOT IT' team

Feb. 23, 2026 at 1:56am

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Braden Smith controlled the pace, initiated the offense and dished dimes to help No. 7 Purdue dominate its rival, Indiana, 93-64. His tough shots and smooth passes caught the eye of FOX Sports play-by-play announcer Gus Johnson, earning him a spot on Johnson's "GOT IT" team.

Why it matters

Smith's playmaking was crucial in Purdue's blowout win, which avenged an earlier loss to Indiana. As a junior, Smith was voted a first-team All-American and won the Bob Cousy Award for the nation's best point guard, and he has a case to repeat in both those categories this season.

The details

Smith scored 15 points, had eight assists and picked up three steals in the game. He made a step-back jump shot and a pair of free throws to put Purdue up 14 points in the first half. He then found senior Fletcher Loyer for 3-pointers on consecutive possessions, which extended the lead to 22 points, to start the second half. Later, he found Omer Mayer for another 3 that gave Purdue a 75-47 advantage.

  • Purdue beat Indiana 93-64 on Friday, February 23, 2026.

The players

Braden Smith

Purdue point guard who controlled the pace, initiated the offense and dished dimes to help No. 7 Purdue dominate its rival, Indiana. He scored 15 points, had eight assists and picked up three steals in the game.

Gus Johnson

FOX Sports play-by-play announcer who named Braden Smith to his "GOT IT" team after the game.

Fletcher Loyer

Purdue senior who hit consecutive 3-pointers in the second half to extend Purdue's lead.

Omer Mayer

Purdue player who hit a 3-pointer that gave Purdue a 75-47 advantage.

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What they’re saying

“You really got it done today.”

— Gus Johnson, FOX Sports play-by-play announcer (FOX Sports)

“We started off early, and it was nice to get going, and obviously, when you play at home, you get the crowd behind you, and it makes a lot of things easier. And honestly, we're making shots, too, which helps.”

— Braden Smith (FOX Sports)

“We understand the rivalry. Obviously, we try to win every single game that we play, so we just gotta keep doing our thing and [stick] to our rules and [play] hard. Once we do that, we have results like this. So, it's nice.”

— Braden Smith (FOX Sports)

“I'm not supposed to be here, especially at this height, and in this game. I got to prove myself every single night. And that's how I got to do it — play with an edge.”

— Braden Smith (FOX Sports)

What’s next

Braden Smith and the Purdue Boilermakers will look to continue their strong play as they push for a high seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

Braden Smith's dominant performance against rival Indiana, which included him being named to Gus Johnson's "GOT IT" team, showcases his status as one of the top point guards in college basketball and a key reason why Purdue is a national title contender.