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Purdue Prepares for Historic Match Against Queens in NCAA

3/20/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Purdue, the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, faces Queens, the No. 15 seed, in St. Louis on March 20.
This marks Queens' first NCAA appearance, with six players averaging over 10 points.
Purdue's Big Ten Tournament victory renews confidence, as Braden Smith (Purdue) nears the NCAA assists record.
Purdue aims to leverage its size and perimeter shooting against Queens, which is potent offensively but struggles defensively.

History

Historical Context

The 1985 NCAA Tournament marked a pivotal shift in college basketball by introducing a 64-team format, enhancing competition and media engagement. Villanova, an eighth seed, achieved a stunning upset by defeating top-seeded Georgetown 66-64 in the championship game on April 1, 1985. This victory established Villanova as the lowest-seeded team to win the tournament, inspiring future underdog successes.

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Story summary

Purdue, the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, faces Queens, the No. 15 seed, in St. Louis on March 20.
This marks Queens' first NCAA appearance, with six players averaging over 10 points.
Purdue's Big Ten Tournament victory renews confidence, as Braden Smith (Purdue) nears the NCAA assists record.
Purdue aims to leverage its size and perimeter shooting against Queens, which is potent offensively but struggles defensively.

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