Matt Painter reacted inappropriately to buzzer-beating March Madness victory against Texas

Purdue’s Dramatic Win Advances Them in March Madness

Matt Painter had a reaction that mirrored everyone else’s after Purdue’s nail-biting win against Texas, which ended with a buzzer-beater. As he walked off the court following a 79-77 victory in the Sweet 16, his surprise was palpable.

In a last-second maneuver, second-seeded Purdue triumphed over the No. 11 Longhorns thanks to a tip-in by Trey Kaufman-Len, who followed a missed shot from Brayden Smith with just 0.7 seconds on the clock, thus propelling West Lafayette, Indiana into the Elite Eight.

“What the heck?!” was Painter’s response, echoing the sentiments of fans as Kaufman-Len sealed the win right as the clock ran down. It’s a moment that surely felt thrilling for the team.

In the post-game press conference, Painter managed to articulate his thoughts more fully. “Our players kept their composure,” he reflected. “Brayden executed really well, made the right decisions, and timed everything perfectly. That’s precisely what we aim for—you want to seize the chance for a follow-up. If that doesn’t happen, we’re heading into overtime.” It’s a philosophy he emphasizes consistently with the team, and thankfully, they seem to have absorbed it.

Kaufman-Len also shared his thoughts, recalling how he had heard coaches emphasize that the first shot often isn’t everything. “These late-game tip-ins are crucial,” he noted. “Having been here for four years, it feels special to have this experience.”

Purdue has now defeated No. 15 Queens, No. 7 Miami, and Texas, setting up a challenging matchup against top-seeded Arizona this Saturday. The team is all too aware of the stakes, having progressed to the national championship game last year only to fall to UConn.

Painter understands the uphill battle ahead: “First, our focus must be on reaching the Final Four. The Wildcats will be tough—it’s a big task.” He emphasizes the importance of winning in the Big Ten as well, stating, “It’s not just about titles. You have to position yourself to win a Big Ten championship.” While that didn’t materialize this year, he’s optimistic. “Now we need to take it one game at a time. If fortune favors us, we’ll face the next challenge. Regardless of the outcome, we’ve got an exceptional college basketball team to contend with.”