What Braden Smith Said After Purdue's Win Over Tennessee to Advance to the Final Four

Braden Smith has been a key piece of Purdue's success all season long. On Sunday, the star guard had another strong outing. Smith finished with nine points, seven rebounds and seven assists in the win. Here's what he had to say following the victory.

Purdue Boilermakers guard Braden Smith (3) rushes up the court Sunday, March 31, 2024, during the / Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY

A year after a disappointing loss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Braden Smith has helped lead Purdue to the Final Four. The star point guard played a key role in the Boilermakers' 72-66 victory over Tennessee on Sunday in the Elite Eight, and now his team will compete for a national title.

Smith scored nine points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished seven assists in Purdue's win on Sunday. He's been a pivotal piece to the Boilermakers' success this year and he'll need to keep it rolling in the Final Four.

Here's everything Smith had to say in the postgame press conference following Purdue's win over Tennessee.

On how Tennessee's Dalton Knecht got into a rhythm ...

He's an unbelievable player, and he showed it tonight. When somebody shoots the ball like that, there's just not a whole lot you can do. We let him loose a couple times, so he was able to make those plays and make shots and kind of punish us from the three-point line.

Once Lance got on him, it's just what he does. It's an expectation for him to do that, and he did a great job.

On Purdue's mindset after reaching the Final Four ...

We just won an Elite game. We're about to play in the Final Four, and we've got two to go. That's our schedule coming up, and I think we're all ready for it.

On Smith's ability to drive the basketball and make plays ...

Yeah, Zach is just such a huge presence, and stay connected with him. For us to get downhill and reject the ball screen and get the point guards looking the opposite way for us to get downhill and make those plays. He just opens up the floor so much for us. They kind of got to pick their poison. Do they want to stay with us when we drive and we'll shoot the layup or stay with Z? Pick your poison there.

Related stories on Purdue basketball

• WHAT MATT PAINTER SAID: For the first time as a coach, Matt Painter is heading to the Final Four. Here's everything the longtime leader of the Boilermakers said following Purdue's 72-66 win over Tennessee in the Elite Eight.CLICK HERE
• WHAT ZACH EDEY SAID: Zach Edey was dominant in Purdue's win over Tennessee, scoring 40 points and collecting 16 rebounds. He's cemented his legacy as one of the all-time greats in college basketball history. Here's everything he had to say following the win over the Vols. CLICK HERE
• WHAT LANCE JONES SAID: This season, Lance Jones has provided an athletic spark for Purdue. On Sunday, the senior guard hit a huge shot to help lift the Boilermakers to a win over the Volunteers. Here's what Jones had to say following the game. CLICK HERE