Purdue makes No. 1 seed in NCAA Tournament

INDIANAPOLIS-- Purdue has actually earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the 2nd straight season and the fifth time in program history.

The Boilermakers will dip into Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday in the first round of the Midwest Regional against the winner of the Montana State-Grambling State First Four game.

Purdue is wanting to avenge last year's loss to Fairleigh Dickinson, when the Boilers became simply the 2nd No. 1 seed to be up to a No. 16 seed in the first round in NCAA Tournament history.

" There's more you want to show. There's more you want to do. I think just the difference between last year and this year is how hungry we are," sophomore guard Fletcher Loyer said. "That bad taste in our mouth has sat with us all year."

The Boilermakers apparently had a one seed locked up, despite losing to the Wisconsin Badgers in the Big Ten Tournament Semifinals on Saturday.

Purdue went 28-3 throughout the regular season. The record helped the Boilermakers win their 26th Big Ten routine season title.

" That was our goal: to put ourselves right back in the very same position we were last year and then undoubtedly play much better and win video games," head coach Matt Painter said. "You do not begin as a number one seed the next year. Our guys have made it."

This year's competition will provide center Zach Edey an opportunity to add to his legacy. The ruling national gamer of the year simply passed Rick Mount on Saturday to become the Boilers' all-time scorer.

Purdue signs up with Connecticut, Houston and North Carolina as the four top seeds in the competition.

Indiana State did not make the field of 68 after an outstanding season. The Sycamores finished 28-6 and won the Missouri Valley regular season title for the very first time because 2000, but they fell in the conference competition finals to the Drake Bulldogs.