What Purdue's Fletcher Loyer Said After the Elite Eight Win Over Tennessee

Fletcher Loyer didn't have the best shooting day, but he still finished with 14 points in Purdue's 72-66 win over Tennessee in the Elite Eight. Here's what the sophomore guard had to say after helping lead the Boilermakers to the Final Four.

Mar 31, 2024; Detroit, MI, USA; Purdue Boilermakers guard Fletcher Loyer (2) celebrates defatting / Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports

At times this season, Fletcher Loyer has been somewhat of an unsung hero for Purdue. That was the case on Sunday, as the sophomore guard scored 14 points in the Boilermakers' 72-66 win over Tennessee in the Elite Eight, helping lead his team to the Final Four.

Loyer didn't have a great shooting day, making just four-of-12 attempts, including only one shot from 3-point range. But the sophomore still finished the game as the team's second-leading scorer, behind only Zach Edey (40 points).

Shooting better than 44% from long range this year, Loyer has been a key piece to Purdue's success. Here's what he had to say following Purdue's win over Tennessee in the Elite Eight.

On what Purdue players said to each other with five minutes left in the game ...

With five minutes left and really the whole time, it's corny, but we're saying, stick together. We're saying keep communicating, keep being solid, keep doing what we've done in practice for too many months now.

It's what we've worked for. It's what all these guys have done. When shots aren't falling, what are you going to do? You're going to go defend. Credit to these two on my side, they did a great job with Knecht. He's just a great player.

There's probably a few of things we could clean up, but ultimately in the end we're just talking to each other, staying solid, and knocking down free throws.

On Loyer's ability to attack the basket vs. Tennessee ...

All the baskets we got and all the looks we got, we knew they were going to come. We knew how they were going to get kicked out to us or on the break going and getting them. With Zach getting so much attention, so much pressure down low, it opens up lanes for us. Oftentimes the 5 sometimes neglects us.

Everything we've seen, it's credit to our coaches showing us the film, showing us where we're going to get our baskets, and having us prepare and be ready for it.

On Purdue building toughness in the offseason ...

Yeah, that game was hard fought all season. All summer we fought hard. It shows how mentally tough everyone is, how mentally tough the staff is. It's not easy to do what we just did.

To play in a game of that caliber is impressive. I'm proud of these guys. Tennessee played great, and they played hard. We played a little bit harder, and that's what we've got to keep doing.

On what it means to be able to hang a Final Four banner at Mackey Arena ...

 I think what this means to us and our school and all the people that support us, I can't even put it into words right now. In 20 years I'll probably be able to, but right now it's what we've worked for. It's a lot of hours we put in. Looking up in the stands and seeing people cry, it means a lot.

Fans that have no family connection to us, they're just fans of our university and our team. I think the work we put in and how hard we go out there and play, it's special. So I'm so proud of these guys, and I'm looking forward to playing two more games.

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