The NCAA Tournament stage is set. The Sweet 16 matchup on Friday, March 29th in Detroit features a rematch between two college basketball powerhouses. The Gonzaga Bulldogs and the Purdue Boilermakers go at it again, but this time to see who advances to the Elite 8 and who has to wait a year to get another chance.
Purdue High-Powered Offense Led by Edey
Purdue enters the Sweet 16 as the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region, coming in with an impressive 31-4 overall record. Led by National Player of the Year favorite Zach Edey, the Boilermakers possess a high-powered offense that ranks third in the country. Edey, with his dominant presence in the paint, is averaging 24.5 points and 12.1 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 62.3% from the field. He gets his help from Braden Smith who dishes out over 7 assists per game along with other guards, Lance Jones and Fletcher Loyer. The three contribute nearly 30 points per game in Purdue’s balanced offense.
Gonzaga’s Resurgence
Gonzaga comes in as the No. 5 seed in the Midwest Region at 27-7. Led by Graham Ike with 16.4 ppg and 7.3 rpg, the Zags have returned to their once mighty form. Guard Ryan Nembhard has averaged over 10 assists per game in their last five, while Anton Watson (14.5 ppg) has shot 56% in the tourney so far, adding in 19 rebounds in the two wins.
Dominant Starts for Both Teams
Both teams have dominated in the NCAA Tournament thus far, dismantling their first two opponents by over 20 points. Purdue has allowed a mere 117 points in the tournament so far, while Gonzaga has given up 133. Scoring is definitely not a problem for either team as 70-80 points is the norm for both.
November Meeting: A Different Story
Back in November at the Maui Invitational, Purdue emerged victorious 73-63. Gonzaga struggled offensively, shooting a dismal 24.6% from three and committing a concerning 32 turnovers. However, it’s important to consider the context. It was early in the season, and Gonzaga wasn’t yet firing on all cylinders. Toss in the fact that Purdue returned practically all of its 2022-23 team and added 5th-year star, Lance Jones.
Matchup Intangibles
The loser goes home. Elite 8 glory is on the line.
Home-Court Advantage
Detroit is a four-hour drive from West Lafayette. The Michigan crowd may not be rooting for the Big 10 rival, but they probably are not coming in heavy for the West Coast invaders, either.
Key Players to Watch
Zach Edey (Purdue): The National Player of the Year frontrunner is a dominant force in the paint, averaging 24.5 points and 12.1 rebounds per game. Gonzaga will need a collective effort to contain his size and scoring prowess.
Graham Ike (Gonzaga): The junior forward is a big factor in Gonzaga’s offense, averaging 16.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. His ability to play up to his potential against the top-seeded Purdue may decide which side they come out on.
Prediction
This rematch looks to be closer than their November meeting. Purdue comes in as the favorite. Both teams can score. Expect a physical battle from both teams Purdue’s experience and overall size might be the difference, but Gonzaga’s hunger for redemption and their recent hot streak shouldn’t be underestimated. If the Zags can stay out of foul trouble, expect them to squeeze out the upset in a back-and-forth game.
Final Score: Gonzaga 76 – Purdue 73
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