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Purdue's Braden Smith Breaks NCAA Assists Record with 1,077

3/21/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Braden Smith, Purdue senior guard, broke the NCAA all-time assists record on March 20, 2026, with his 1,077th assist against Queens University in the NCAA Tournament first round.
He achieved the record with a pass to Trey Kaufman-Renn, surpassing Bobby Hurley's 1,076 assists set in 1993.
Purdue fans celebrated his Big Ten Tournament contributions with a standing ovation.
He has averaged 9.1 assists per game this season.

History

Historical Context

Bobby Hurley set the NCAA all-time assists record with 1,076 assists while playing for Duke University from 1989 to 1993, emphasizing the significance of playmaking in college basketball. In 2023, Braden Smith surpassed this record with 1,083 assists, reflecting the evolving nature of the game and the increasing focus on teamwork, particularly in competitive conferences like the Big Ten.

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Story summary

Braden Smith, Purdue senior guard, broke the NCAA all-time assists record on March 20, 2026, with his 1,077th assist against Queens University in the NCAA Tournament first round.
He achieved the record with a pass to Trey Kaufman-Renn, surpassing Bobby Hurley's 1,076 assists set in 1993.
Purdue fans celebrated his Big Ten Tournament contributions with a standing ovation.
He has averaged 9.1 assists per game this season.

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