Busting Brackets
Fansided

Tennessee vs Purdue: 3 biggest storylines for Sweet 16 matchup

By Connor Hope

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - MARCH 21: Matt Haarms #32 and Ryan Cline #14 of the Purdue Boilermakers react late in the game against the Old Dominion Monarchs during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at XL Center on March 21, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - MARCH 21: Matt Haarms #32 and Ryan Cline #14 of the Purdue Boilermakers react late in the game against the Old Dominion Monarchs during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at XL Center on March 21, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – JANUARY 03: Head coach Matt Painter of the Purdue Boilermakers talks with Carsen Edwards #3 of the Purdue Boilermakers during the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Mackey Arena on January 3, 2019 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – JANUARY 03: Head coach Matt Painter of the Purdue Boilermakers talks with Carsen Edwards #3 of the Purdue Boilermakers during the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Mackey Arena on January 3, 2019 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

1) Which team will end their Elite 8 drought?

Of the sixteen teams still in the tournament, ten of them have been to the Elite Eight at least once in the last four seasons. Purdue and Tennessee are not part of that group. While their droughts are not quite as long as Auburn’s, Houston’s or Virginia Tech’s, the Volunteers (8 seasons) and the Boilermakers (18 seasons) would still like to return the Regional Finals. The drought will end for one of these schools on Thursday.

The difference in this game may come down to coaching. While Purdue’s Matt Painter has never been to the Elite Eight, Tennessee’s Rick Barnes made it to the Regional Finals three times with Texas, including a run to the Final Four. Both coaches know how to win, and both have had success in March, but only Barnes has gotten over that hump. He also has his squad playing more cohesive team basketball this season, which will make a huge difference.

Next. Top storylines for second weekend. dark

Like Barnes, Tennessee’s roster also has the experience edge over the Boilermakers. The top six players for the Volunteers are upperclassmen. Cline and Edwards have significant experience for the Boilermakers, but the team as a whole has less experience.  If the game gets close, Tennessee has shown that their experience allows them to remain composed. This could be the difference in a game that is expected to be decided down the stretch.

Home/Purdue Boilermakers