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Miami, Purdue Battle for Sweet 16 Spot in March Madness
The Hurricanes and Boilermakers clash in the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line.
Mar. 21, 2026 at 3:19pm
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The Miami Hurricanes are set to take on the Purdue Boilermakers in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Miami advanced to this matchup after defeating the Missouri Tigers in the first round, while Purdue cruised past Queens University of Charlotte. The game features a clash of star players, with Miami's Dante Allen and Shelton Henderson leading the way for the Hurricanes, and Purdue's Braden Smith, the all-time NCAA assists leader, leading the Boilermakers.
Why it matters
This game represents a significant opportunity for both teams to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Miami is looking to make a deep run after struggling in recent tournaments, while Purdue is aiming to solidify its status as one of the favorites in the field. The outcome of this matchup could have major implications for the rest of the tournament.
The details
Miami's freshmen duo of Dante Allen and Shelton Henderson have been crucial to the team's success, stepping up when veterans Tre Donaldson and Malik Reneau have struggled. Purdue, on the other hand, is led by Braden Smith, who put on a dominant performance in the first round against Queens University of Charlotte. The Boilermakers will look to Smith to continue his strong play and lead them to victory over the Hurricanes.
- The game is scheduled for March 22, 2026 at 12:10 p.m. ET.
- Miami defeated Missouri in the first round on March 20, 2026.
- Purdue defeated Queens University of Charlotte in the first round on March 20, 2026.
The players
Dante Allen
A freshman guard for the Miami Hurricanes who has been a key contributor to the team's success this season.
Shelton Henderson
Another freshman guard for the Miami Hurricanes who has stepped up alongside Dante Allen to lead the team's offense.
Braden Smith
The star guard for the Purdue Boilermakers and the all-time NCAA assists leader, who is looking to lead his team to the Sweet 16.
What they’re saying
“They are kind of the foundation of the program, along with these guys, unless they go somewhere. But they are the ones I identified early, and I had the utmost trust in them.”
— Jim Lucas, Miami Hurricanes Head Coach
“Shelton is somebody I've known for a while. We went to the same high school. He trained in the same gym I did. So I've seen him grow up. I always like to say I recruited Dante secondhandedly when I was at another school recruiting some of his teammates. I saw Dante play a lot and I said if I ever got a job that would value what Dante Allen did, I would take him with me. And I just had the opportunity to get this one.”
— Jim Lucas, Miami Hurricanes Head Coach
What’s next
The winner of this game will advance to the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, where they will face the winner of the matchup between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Gonzaga Bulldogs.
The takeaway
This second-round matchup between Miami and Purdue promises to be an exciting and hard-fought battle, with both teams looking to secure a spot in the Sweet 16 and continue their March Madness journeys. The clash of star players, including Miami's freshmen duo and Purdue's Braden Smith, will be a key factor in determining the outcome of this pivotal game.
