Purdue takes on Queens in NCAA Tournament opener

Boilermakers look to take first step toward elusive national title

Mar. 20, 2026 at 7:40am

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The No. 2 seed Purdue Boilermakers will face the No. 15 seed Queens University Royals in the opening round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Purdue, led by the winningest senior class in program history, is seeking its first national championship, while Queens is making its first-ever tournament appearance after transitioning from Division II.

Why it matters

Purdue enters the tournament as a heavy favorite, but the high-scoring Queens offense poses a potential threat. A loss would be a major upset, while a Purdue win would keep them on track for a deep tournament run and a chance at the school's first national title.

The details

Purdue's veteran trio of Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer, and Trey Kaufman-Renn look to lead the Boilermakers to the promised land after falling just short in the 2024 national championship game. They'll face a Queens team making its NCAA Tournament debut, led by a balanced scoring attack that ranks 19th nationally. Purdue will look to dominate the paint, while Queens will try to use its perimeter speed to pull off the upset.

  • The game is scheduled to tip off at 7:35 p.m. ET on Friday, March 20 in St. Louis, Missouri.

The players

Braden Smith

The Big Ten Tournament's Most Outstanding Player, Smith enters the game just one assist shy of breaking Bobby Hurley's all-time NCAA career record.

Trey Kaufman-Renn

The Boilermakers' dominant big man will look to control the paint against the Royals.

Queens University Royals

The No. 15 seed Royals are making their NCAA Tournament debut in their first year of Division I eligibility after transitioning from Division II.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

What’s next

The winner of the Purdue-Queens matchup will advance to face the winner of the game between the No. 7 seed and No. 10 seed in the West region.

The takeaway

Purdue's veteran-led squad is seeking redemption after falling just short of a national title in 2024, but they'll have to get past a Queens team making its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in order to take the next step toward that elusive championship.