Purdue Basketball: Keys to taking down Texas Tech in the Sweet 16

Purdue basketball and Texas Tech face off in unfamiliar territory in their Sweet 16 matchup on Friday. What must Purdue do to notch the victory?

They may be the No. 2 and 3 seeds in the East Region, but Purdue and Texas Tech are two teams who many expected to be eliminated by this point. It isn’t necessarily a ridiculous thought either, as Purdue beat 10th-seeded Butler by just three points and Texas Tech barely squeaked by Florida as well.

Regardless of expectations, here these two teams are, competing for a spot in the Elite Eight that few would have thought of at the beginning of the season. The Red Raiders have undergone a dramatic transformation under the leadership of head coach Chris Beard. The Boilermakers have rebuilt their program to be the elite competitor that they are thanks to the experience they have in the form of four starting seniors.

The clash in style of play is one storyline heading into this contest, as Texas Tech uses their speed and ability to get out into transition to their benefit while the Boilermakers would rather compete in the half court. Also, the health of Purdue center Isaac Haas will play a major role in the outcome of this game. The Boilermakers got by without their anchor in the middle on Sunday but Texas Tech is a whole different animal.

For the first time this tournament, Purdue is going to face some very real adversity in this game. Their hopes of winning it all will be hanging in the balance as they look to advance to the Elite Eight. Here are three keys for the Boilermakers to make it past the Red Raiders.