Tourney recap: Purdue handles Vermont to advance

“Both of those games just replayed in my head all year”, Edwards said.

But Edwards would connect on three more field goals during the second half, all of which took a two-score lead to a three-possession game. They didn’t fold. They’re moving on to player the victor of Iowa State and Nevada in the round of 32 in the NCAA tournament. The Boilers rank 3rd in assists per game (18.2), 35th in points per game (85.1) and 65th in rebounds (37.9).

Vermont (29-5) has rattled off an NCAA-best 21-game winning streak by spreading the ball to a variety of scorers. That’s an eight-point turnaround Purdue couldn’t afford, but reflected a game in which, for 36 minutes, the Boilers pushed for separation and got … cliffhanger.

“When he comes out and plays well, it makes it tough”, Purdue forward Vincent Edwards said, “because someone 7-2, as big as he is, establish his dominance in the post, you have to do a little bit extra and things you’re not used to.

I think we could have won it past year, we just couldn’t finish off the job”, Henson said. “Those (mistakes) I made the first half, before the tournament I had promised myself I wouldn’t do them again, and then I did them”. When we came back out for the second half, I went to the bench with a towel over my head.

Woodson, a graduate transfer from Memphis, hit five threes in the first half to help Butler build a 14-point halftime lead. He went on to shoot 7-of-9 for 15 point in the second half. Swanigan’s six conference player of the week awards this season were one more than former No. 1 overall draft pick Glenn Robinson had in 1994.

Purdue coach Matt Painter requested that Speidel, who was in a coma for four weeks after the accident, be introduced before the game. We thought we were going to be good, but this season is magical, and I think Josh has something to do with the magic. “It gets me open shots, I can create for other teammates”, said redshirt sophomore Ernie Duncan of Evansville, Indiana.

Purdue: The Boilermakers had eight turnovers in the first half and two in the second half.

Freshman Anthony Lamb said Vermont will handle Haas “as a group”, which would be a change from last season’s approach. Defensively, Vermont is yielding 61.6 points against the opposing teams. The versatile big man is comfortable from outside the arc – he’s swished 43.1 percent of his 3-point attempts on the year. Upshaw, a senior captain, responded with 7 straight points to give Middle Tennessee a 10-point lead with 3:40 left.

Coach John Becker said Steidl was headed to the hospital after the game for further evaluation.

“I know everyone says I’ve inspired the guys this season, but to be honest, they’ve inspired me tremendously”, Speidel said.

The 6-foot-9, 250-pound Swanigan is a basketball junkie at heart who honed his skills by becoming a workaholic. Yep, as the junior had a team-high 21 points on 10-of-16 shooting with five rebounds.

Carsen Edwards hit a 3-pointer from the wing.

This group was one of the best mid-major performers all season long, going 29-5, and a ideal 19-0 in conference, including a 56-53 win over Albany for the America East title.

Credit Painter for instilling in his players the killer instinct to extinguish this game.