Matt Painter Says Purdue is Rested, Prepared and Focused for NCAA Tournament
Purdue heads into the 2024 NCAA Tournament looking for redemption. After getting bounced in the first round last season, the Boilermakers are hoping to make a Final Four push. Coach Matt Painter says his team is prepared for the moment.
The Boilers earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament after a 29-4 campaign. Purdue won the Big Ten regular season title and reached the semifinal round of the Big Ten Tournament before suffering a 76-75 overtime loss to Wisconsin.
Although Purdue wanted to win, Painter said that the team's primary focus has always been on playing well in the NCAA Tournament.
"It's just one of those things, going through it last year — winning the Big Ten Tournament and then obviously the tough loss we had, going through that — you just kinda prepare to win and prepare to lose at that point," Painter said in an interview on 1070 The Fan.
"What's the most important thing? Well, the most important thing is the NCAA Tournament. We really talked about that before we even went to the (Big Ten) Tournament — like, no matter what happens, we're going forward and we're gonna get excited about playing in the NCAA Tournament and have big-time energy."
One of the benefits of not playing in the championship game of the Big Ten Tournament? Rest.
Purdue headed back to West Lafayette after spending a few days in Minneapolis for the conference's postseason event. The Boilermakers got to use that extra day to get off their feet, recover and start preparing for March Madness.
Painter said the Boilermakers didn't just benefit from an early Big Ten Tournament exit, but from a scheduling standpoint in February and March.
"Being able to get some rest — really February was good for us. We had a tough January in terms of rest. So, we didn't have a lot of rest there, it was a lot of just getting one day off," Painter said.
"We probably got two days off a week for three of the four weeks of February. We got two days and already two weeks here in March, so I think that really helps. Really, what helps more than anything is the collective rest through February and March. That's what you want to be, you want to be on edge but you want to have your legs and be ready to roll."
Extra time off also helped two of Purdue's biggest stars: Braden Smith and Zach Edey.
Smith left the quarterfinal game against Michigan State with a calf injury, but eventually returned to the contest. Edey appeared to tweak his ankle at one point against the Spartans, but also finished the game.
During the radio interview, Painter confirmed both Edey and Smith are "fine."
Although there's still a lot of talk about last season, Purdue enters the postseason confident, well-rested and focused. Will it result in the program's first Final Four run since 1980?
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