Chicago, IL—–Purdue finished the regular season stumbling — losing four of its final six — but flipped the script in Chicago, winning four straight games to capture the Big Ten Tournament title. Coach Matt Painter credited the Boilermakers’ defensive turnaround across the final four days as the decisive factor.
“Had we not tightened up defensively the last four days, we wouldn’t be hoisting this trophy,” Painter said.
Senior guard Oscar Cluff led Purdue’s charge with 21 points, while Trey Kaufman-Renn added 20 in the championship victory over No. 3 Michigan. Point guard Braden Smith filled the stat sheet with 14 points, 11 assists and three steals, orchestrating the offense and helping smother Michigan’s scoring in the second half — the Wolverines managed just 34 points after intermission. Fletcher Loyer paced Michigan with 14 points, including three 3-pointers.
The title is Purdue’s first Big Ten Tournament championship since 2023 and the program’s third overall; the Boilermakers had previously fallen to Michigan in the final in 1998 and 2018. Purdue earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and will open the West Region against Queens on Friday. “Our guys are doing great,” Painter said. “We’re playing well at the right time.”
For Michigan, Yaxel Lendeborg scored 20 and Aday Mara contributed 17 points, seven rebounds and two blocks. Despite the loss, the Wolverines’ standing for March Madness remained strong: they secured a No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region and are set to play the winner of UMBC-Howard in the First Four. “This stings, but we’ll use it to get better for the month ahead,” Mara said.
Smith — who briefly ripped his No. 3 jersey early and finished wearing No. 41 — and Kaufman-Renn showcased a polished pick-and-roll connection, a chemistry Smith credited to offseason work together. Two midrange jumpers by Kaufman-Renn helped push Purdue’s lead to 55-44 midway through the second half, and the Boilermakers never relinquished control, shooting 15-for-26 after halftime.
Michigan’s Elliot Cadeau finished with 10 points and 10 assists; Nimari Burnett added 12 in front of the hometown crowd. Michigan coach Dusty May acknowledged Purdue’s performance: “They earned it.”
Looking ahead: Purdue continues its recent run of high NCAA seeds — it’s been a top-four seed in each of its last nine tournament appearances — while Michigan enters the NCAA field as a No. 1 seed for the fourth time in program history, two wins away from a return to the United Center for the Sweet 16.
