Defending National Champ Villanova Bounced By Purdue

Carsen Edwards exploded for 42 points, and Purdue sent defending
National Champion Villanova packing in NCAA Second-Round action
in Hartford.

By Bob Phillips

HARTFORD—Talk about a bracket buster. Purdue, the Big 10 champion pounded Big East and defending National Champion Villanova from start to finish and came away with a resounding 87-61 victory before 15,031 fans at the XL Center in NCAA Second Round action. The Boilermakers’ Carsen Edwards led all scorers with a blazing 42 points—including 27 from beyond the three-point arc—while Matt Harms added 18 and Ryan Cline had 12 for Purdue. Eric Paschall led ’Nova with 19 points followed by Phil Booth (15) and Jermaine Samuels (11).

To say the Boilermakers outplayed the Wildcats is an understatement of mythic proportions. Purdue led by 19, 43-24, at halftime, and Villanova was simply unable to recover. The Wildcats shot a paltry 34.5 28.9 percent (11-for-38) from beyond the arc. Purdue had no such problems, however. The Boilermakers shot 53.4 percent from the field (29-for-54), including a sizzling 53.3 percent from beyond the arc (16-for-30).

By halftime, Purdue had opened up a 19-point lead, 43-24, and Villanova was never able to get back into the contest. The Boilermakers’ dominance was total. Purdue won the battle of the boards, out-rebounding ’Nova 42-24, and also played better in transition with 19 assists compared to the Wildcats’ seven.

“I want to congratulate Purdue on just an outstanding basketball game,” said Villanova head coach Jay Wright after the contest. They are a very, very good team. We knew that coming into the game. They just have great balance, inside game, iso game, drive, shoot threes, defend great as a team. Just really, really impressive, and we wish them luck going forward.

“They're a good team. Classy guys, too.”

If Purdue is a “good team,” then Edwards’ offensive performance was nothing short of intergalactic. He scorched the nets, shooting 57.1 percent from the field (12-for-21), including 9-for-16 (56.3 percent) from beyond the arc. Oh, and throw in a perfect 9-for-9 from the charity stripe for good measure. It represented a vindication from a poor shooting performance in the First Round when Purdue topped Old Dominion, 61-48. While Edwards led all scorers in that game with 26 points, he shot just 7-for-23 (30.4 percent) from the field vs. the Monarchs.

“Honestly, I wouldn't say I knew I had a career night until the game was over,” said Edwards after the game. “I was just so focused on trying to get the win, especially in games like this where you value every possession. I was out there fighting with my brothers, and was able to get the win and I was able to have some shots fall for me.”

When asked if he was tired asking about his poor shooting performance in the first round, the the 6-1 junior from Atascocita, Tex., responded, “If we're being really honest, I'm very tired of it, but I understand. I just have to keep working even after being able to have a game like this, I still have to stay in the gym, continue to work, and continue to prepare for the next game.

“I'm really tired of it, but I'm thankful to be able to have some shots fall for me today.”

While this one wasn't exactly an upset—Purdue was the No. 3 seed in the South Region, and Villanova was seeded No. 6—few, if any expected a blowout. But that's exactly what happened.

So now it’s off to the Sweet 16 for the Boilermakers, who will play the winner of No. 2 Louisville and No. 10 Iowa next week in Louisville. This will be Purdue’s third straight Sweet 16 appearance, and the Boilermakers’ fifth in the last 11 years. The Boilermakers, however, have not reached the Elite 8 since 2000, and have not been in the Final Four since 1980. Purdue head coach Matt Painter is hopeful that all changes this year.

“Obviously, you know, we're excited about moving on,” he said. “I thought we played the best game of the year [vs. Villanova], and, you know, you want to be playing your best basketball at this time. I thought our defense was really good. It's a little bit easier sometimes to play defense and be detailed when the ball's going in for you. So we got into such a good rhythm offensively but we also got good balance, rhythm threes and getting the ball to the rim on some slips and getting lay-ups.

On the other side, Wright and Villanova have a summer to ponder the Wildcats’ early exit.

“Yeah, the game's humbling, you know,” he said. “And it's good for us sometimes. You don't choose to be in this position. But when you win, you've got to realize that there's guys on the other side that are working just as hard as you, and you've got to be respectful of them and understand you could be on the other side of it, and today we are.

“And it doesn't mean we can't get back there, but we have to be respectful and give Purdue credit, and we have to get back to work. Stay hungry and keep getting better.”

Indeed, this has been an off-year for the entire Big East, often thought of as one of the top basketball conferences in the country.

“Our league was a really young league this year,” continued Wright. “A lot of young teams will have everybody back next year. There will be a lot of really good teams. We could be one of the younger teams next year.”

—with staff reports

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