Purdue’s Braden Smith on advancing to NCAA Tournament Sweet 16
Hear what Purdue’s point guard said after beating McNeese State 76-62 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
- Braden Smith averagd 15.8 points, 8.7 assists and 2.2 steals for Purdue’s Sweet 16 team.
- Smith was voted Big Ten Player of the Year and won the Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard.
Braden Smith made his fourth season with Purdue men’s basketball ‘social media official’ Monday afternoon.
In an Instagram post, Smith said he is “running it back one last time” with the Boilermakers. The Westfield grad, last season’s Big Ten Player of the Year and Bob Cousy Away winner as the nation’s top point guard, has started every game of his career.
He will now take aim at a return trip to the Final Four and the NCAA’s all-time assists record in black and gold.
“Purdue has given me everything: Memories, challenges, growth, and a family,” Smith wrote. “There’s still more to prove, more to accomplish, and more moments to create with my brothers.”
While Smith will likely receive feedback from NBA evaluators, he is not currently expected to declare for this summer’s NBA draft.
Smith averaged 15.8 points, 8.7 assists (second in the nation) and 2.2 steals in his third season. He was a consensus first team All-American and a likely front-runner for preseason National Player of the Year consideration.
Purdue projects to bring back one of the most experienced and productive rosters in college basketball. First team All-Big Ten center Trey Kaufman-Renn and likely four-year starting guard Fletcher Loyer remain from the 2024 national runner-up team. South Dakota State transfer Oscar Cluff also recently signed to further solidify the frontcourt.
