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Purdue's March Madness Hub: Schedule, Seed, Opponent & Path to the Final Four

Purdue's senior group is looking to make a deep NCAA Tournament run. Here's all the information you need to follow the Boilermakers during March Madness.
Dustin Schutte|
Purdue Boilermakers guard Braden Smith (3) celebrates a three-point shot.
Purdue Boilermakers guard Braden Smith (3) celebrates a three-point shot. | Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

For a ninth straight season, Purdue has earned a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Boilermakers have earned a No. 2 seed for March Madness, which was announced during Sunday's Selection Show on CBS.

The Boilers are in the West Region. They'll begin their journey in St. Louis with a matchup against No. 15 seed. If they reach the Sweet 16, they'll head out to San Jose, Calif.

Purdue ended the Big Ten Tournament on a high note on Sunday, as the seventh-seeded Boilermakers defeated No. 1 seed Michigan 80-72 to claim the conference tournament title. They will carry some serious momentum into March Madness next week.

Here's a breakdown of Purdue's seed, matchup, schedule and more as the Boilers prepare for the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Purdue's seed and matchup

Purdue forward Trey Kaufman-Renn (4) goes to the basket against Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. (21).
Purdue forward Trey Kaufman-Renn (4) goes to the basket against Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. (21). | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
  • Purdue's seed: No. 2 (West Region)
  • First opponent: No. 15 Queens
  • Tipoff time: 7:35 p.m. ET
  • TV: TBS
  • Announcers: Brandon Gaudin (play-by-play), Chris Webber (analyst), Andy Katz (reporter)

Purdue will open up the 2026 NCAA Tournament as the No. 2 seed in the West Region. The Boilermakers will open up March Madness on Friday, March 20, in St. Louis against No. 15 Queens, the automatic bid from the A-SUN Conference.

If the Boilermakers defeat Queens in the opening round, they will then play either No. 7 Miami (FL) or No. 10 Missouri in the second round, with a trip to the Sweet 16 hanging in the balance. The matchup against Missouri could be particularly difficult with the Tigers playing so close to home.

Winning in the first and second round would then send Purdue to the San Jose, the host city of the West Region. The Boilermakers would potentially face No. 3 Gonzaga or No. 6 BYU in the Sweet 16. Arizona is the No. 1 seed of the region.

West Region full bracket

Purdue guard Fletcher Loyer (2) cuts down a piece of the net after the game against Michigan.
Purdue guard Fletcher Loyer (2) cuts down a piece of the net after the game against Michigan. | David Banks-Imagn Images

San Diego

  • No. 1 Arizona (32-2) vs. No. 16 LIU (24-10)
  • No. 8 Villanova (24-8) vs. No. 9 Utah State (28-6)

Portland

  • No. 4 Arkansas (26-8) vs. No. 13 Hawai'i (24-8)
  • No. 5 Wisconsin (24-10) vs. #12 High Point (30-4)

Portland

  • No. 3 Gonzaga (30-3) vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State (21-13)
  • No. 6 BYU (23-11) vs. No. 11 Texas/No. 11 North Carolina State

St. Louis

  • No. 2 Purdue (27-8) vs. No. 15 Queens (21-13)
  • No. 7 Miami (25-8) vs. No. 10 Missouri (20-12)

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Dustin Schutte
DUSTIN SCHUTTE

Dustin Schutte is the publisher of Purdue Boilermakers on SI and has spent more than a decade working in sports journalism. His career began in 2013, when he covered Big Ten football. He remained in that role for eight years before working at On SI to cover the Boilermakers. Dustin graduated from Manchester University in Indiana in 2010, where he played for the men's tennis team.

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