who does purdue play in the sweet 16

Purdue's Sweet 16 Awaits Purdue Boilermakers, the No. 2 seed in the West Region, face the No. 7 seed Miami Hurricanes in the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. This matchup follows Purdue's dominant 104-71 second-round win over No. 15 Queens on March 20 in St. Louis, extending their winning streak to five games as of March 22, 2026.

Game Details

The regional semifinal tips off soon after Purdue's second-round victory today (Sunday, March 22, 2026), at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

• Time : Likely early afternoon ET (post-second round), broadcast on CBS with Spero Dedes, Jim Spanarkel, and Jon Rothstein on commentary.

• Purdue Record : 28-8 overall, outscoring opponents by 18.0 points per game on neutral sites while shooting 52.2% from the field.

• Miami Record : 26-8, advancing via their first-round win (specifics pending post-second round confirmation).

Path to Sweet 16

Purdue crushed Queens in the first round, showcasing elite efficiency—ranked No. 1 nationally away from home per BartTorvik.com.

• First Round: Purdue 104-71 Queens (March 20, St. Louis).

• Second Round: Purdue vs. Miami (March 22, St. Louis)—Purdue seeking seventh Sweet 16 in nine tournaments under coach Matt Painter.

This sets up a classic Big Ten vs. ACC battle, with Purdue eyeing back-to-back deep runs after 2025's Sweet 16 loss to Houston.

Key Storylines

Purdue's Resilience : Despite a late-season 6-7 skid, they rebounded with a Big Ten tourney title over Michigan, earning the No. 2 seed.

• Painter's Tournament Prowess: 25 NCAA wins tie for third among active Big Ten coaches; Purdue 16-3 away/neutral.

• Historical Edge: Unbeaten in second round since 2012 (six straight wins).

Miami Challenge : The Hurricanes, battle-tested at 26-8, face Purdue's road warriors who dominate neutral floors. Expect a high-stakes clash—Purdue's size and efficiency vs. Miami's grit for an Elite Eight berth.

Recent Context

Purdue has been a March staple: Sweet 16 in 2025 (lost 62-60 to Houston), runner-up in 2024 Final Four. Fans buzz with optimism after the Queens rout, per official previews.

TL;DR : Purdue plays Miami (FL) in the Sweet 16 today in St. Louis—win advances them toward another Elite Eight shot.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.