Matt Painter says Purdue is heading into this season with motivation from upset loss to North Texas

Purdue basketball will tip-off this month and the Boilermakers will have plenty of motivation. Last season, Purdue was upset in the Round of 64 of the NCAA Tournament by No. 13 seed North Texas.

During B1G Media Days, Purdue coach Matt Painter explained how the team is using last season’s pain as fuel for the 2021-2022 campaign.

Painter: Using the North Texas loss as motivation similar to Virginia when it lost as a No. 1 seed to UMBC the year before the Cavs won the national title.

— mike carmin (@carmin_jc) October 8, 2021

Painter asked about how the North Texas loss affects them. Says Purdue has to use it as motivation the same way Virginia used the UMBC loss to propel them to the national title the next year. Painter does point out they didn’t sleep on North Texas. Knew how good they were.

— Dustin Dopirak (@DustinDopirak) October 8, 2021

Purdue finished the season ranked No. 20 and begins this season at home vs. Bellarmine on Nov. 9 (9 p.m. EST). Purdue starts B1G with a home matchup vs. Iowa on Dec. 3 (9 p.m. EST/BTN).

Guard Jaden Ivey was also named to the preseason All-B1G team during Media Days. With a lot of talent returning, Purdue will have high expectations coming off the disappointment of last season.