Purdue in the Final Four: Fans, media react to Boilermakers' first Final Four since 1980
Purdue is not done in this year’s NCAA Tournament just yet!
Entering the Elite 8, the Boilermakers had been rolling through all challengers to begin March Madness. Tennessee finally posed a worthy threat, but Purdue was up to the challenge!
The game turned into an instant classic between the Boilermakers and Vols with Dalton Knecht and Zach Edey delivering a showdown for the ages. Both players would score 37+ points, but it was Edey who set a new career-high with 40 points and added 16 rebounds and a block of Knecht inside the final minute to help seal the win.
Purdue needed every bit of Edey’s output with Purdue shooting 3-for-15 from 3-point range and losing the points off of turnover battle. Fletcher Loyer did record 14 points, and Lance Jones hit a crucial 3-pointer with 2:43 remaining to give Purdue a 6-point cushion.
Now, the Boilermakers roll into the Final Four for the first time since 1980. It’s also the first for Matt Painter with the program, helping put some NCAA Tournament demons behind him in the process.
Fans can track all the odds for Purdue’s future matchup against the winner of the NC State vs. Duke Elite 8 matchup with Tradition’s mobile sportsbooks in Ohio. For now, it’s a time to celebrate the accomplishment, and here is how fans and media alike reacted to the run by the Boilermakers:
🌵 SEE YOU IN PHOENIX FOR THE FINAL FOUR! pic.twitter.com/QtXwUSOtbE
— Purdue Men’s Basketball (@BoilerBall) March 31, 2024
They Purdid it.
Purdue’s headed to the Final Four for the first time in damn near half a century.
Edey’s a DAWG
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 31, 2024
Robbie Hummel fighting tears after Purdue’s first Final Four in decades pic.twitter.com/SQ0iAkNK6r
— Exponent Sports Desk (@Exponent_Sports) March 31, 2024
RELATED: Looking to ride the Zach Edey hype train in the Final Four? FanDuel currently gives the dominant big man the best odds to be the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player at +230.
The first thing Zach Edey did after leading Purdue to the Final Four for the first time since 1980?
Went and hugged Matt Painter, who a year ago was the victim of the biggest loss in the history of the NCAA Tournament.
Life is beautiful. https://t.co/6TL33SlqOb
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 31, 2024
Zach Edey cuts down piece of net (with no ladder) and hands piece of to Gene Keady who never made it to a Final Four. #Purdue pic.twitter.com/5mWb4I7gJk
— Matt Glenesk (@MattGlenesk) March 31, 2024
PURDUE TO THE FINAL FOUR FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1980 pic.twitter.com/6HBg1021JI
— Sickos Committee (@SickosCommittee) March 31, 2024
PURDUE IS HEADED TO THE FINAL FOUR FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER 40 YEARS 🚂 pic.twitter.com/xYXwgRcxhE
— ESPN (@espn) March 31, 2024
DOWN GOES TENNESSEE 👀
Purdue (-156 ML) is headed to the Final Four 😤 pic.twitter.com/4HGU3BVWVo
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) March 31, 2024
PURDUE IS GOING TO THE FINAL FOUR FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1980🏆 pic.twitter.com/FBGMmAqPVB
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) March 31, 2024
Zach Edey and Dalton Knecht went to BATTLE 🔥
Edey: 40 PTS | 16 REB | 14/22 FT
Knecht: 37 PTS | 4 REB | 1 ASTPURDUE TO THE FINAL FOUR 🚨 pic.twitter.com/jttZNoa8Qo
— Overtime (@overtime) March 31, 2024