Texas Basketball Faces Purdue in Sweet 16

Longhorns and Boilermakers meet in NCAA Tournament rematch

Mar. 22, 2026 at 6:49pm

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The Texas Longhorns men's basketball team will face off against the Purdue Boilermakers in the Sweet 16 round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. This will be the second time in five seasons that the two programs have met in the NCAA Tournament.

Why it matters

The Texas-Purdue matchup is an intriguing one, as both teams have had strong seasons and are looking to advance to the Elite Eight. The winner will move one step closer to the Final Four, making this a crucial game for both programs.

The details

Texas and Purdue previously met in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, with Purdue defeating the Longhorns. Now the two teams will square off again, with both looking to advance deeper into the tournament. Texas is led by star guard Marcus Carr, while Purdue is paced by forward Zach Edey.

  • The Texas-Purdue Sweet 16 matchup will take place on March 28, 2026.

The players

Marcus Carr

The star guard for the Texas Longhorns men's basketball team.

Zach Edey

The standout forward for the Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“This is going to be a tough matchup, but we're excited for the challenge. Purdue is a great team and it will take our best effort to come out on top.”

— Marcus Carr, Texas Longhorns Guard

“We know Texas is a formidable opponent, but we're confident in our ability to game plan and execute. It should be a great game between two talented teams.”

— Zach Edey, Purdue Boilermakers Forward

What’s next

The winner of the Texas-Purdue Sweet 16 matchup will advance to the Elite Eight, where they will face the winner of the Arkansas-Gonzaga game.

The takeaway

This Texas-Purdue rematch in the Sweet 16 is a highly anticipated game between two programs that have had strong seasons and are looking to make deep runs in the NCAA Tournament. The winner will be one step closer to the Final Four, making this a crucial game for both teams.