Purdue Boilermakers vs High Point Panthers Picks and Predictions March 20th 2025

Purdue Looks to Rebound Against High Point in NCAA Opener

Purdue enters the NCAA Tournament looking to shake off a late-season slump when it faces 13th-seeded High Point in the Midwest Region first round on Thursday in Providence, R.I.

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Boilermakers Aiming for Deep Run

The fourth-seeded Boilermakers (22-11) have made the NCAA Tournament as a top-four seed for eight consecutive years, the longest active streak in the country. However, a disappointing finish to the regular season—losing six of their last nine games—raises questions about their form heading into March Madness.

Last season, Purdue rebounded from its shocking first-round exit as a No. 1 seed against Fairleigh Dickinson to make a run to the national championship game, ultimately falling to UConn. This time, they’ll navigate the tournament without two-time National Player of the Year Zach Edey, relying instead on a balanced attack led by Trey Kaufman-Renn and Braden Smith.

Kaufman-Renn has been red-hot, averaging 25.6 points over his last five games while leading the team in scoring (20.2 points per game) and rebounding (6.2). Smith ranks second in the nation in assists per game (8.7) and adds 16.1 points per game. Fletcher Loyer (13.8 points) is expected to play despite an elbow injury suffered in Purdue’s Big Ten quarterfinal loss to Michigan.

A potential reward for advancing past the opening weekend? A Sweet 16 game just 65 miles from Purdue’s campus at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

High Point’s Historic Tournament Debut

High Point (29-5) enters the tournament riding a 14-game winning streak, the longest active streak in the country. The Panthers punched their first-ever NCAA Tournament ticket by winning the Big South title, defeating Winthrop 81-69 in the championship game.

Head coach Alan Huss, in just his second year, has quickly built High Point into a contender. The Panthers rank 25th in adjusted offensive efficiency, per KenPom, and boast a deep scoring lineup led by Kezza Giffa (14.8 points per game), D’Maurian Williams (13.5), and Kimani Hamilton (13.4).

Despite Purdue’s recent struggles, Huss knows his team won’t catch the Boilermakers by surprise.

“All that means is that we had a great season,” Huss said about the winning streak. “But it doesn’t gain us any points or anything like that. It probably wakes Purdue up a little bit.”

With a high-powered offense and momentum on their side, the Panthers will try to push the Boilermakers in what could be one of the most intriguing first-round matchups.

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