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Friday, March 28
Lucas Oil Stadium – Indianapolis
9:09 PM CT
University of Houston
vs
#22/22 (4) Purdue
PREVIEW: #2/2 (1) Men’s Basketball Enters Sweet 16 on Friday
3/27/2025 12:17:00 PM | Men's Basketball
NCAA Tournament HubPreview – Coach Kelvin Sampson (YouTube)Watch (TBS / truTV)Listen (Varsity Network app)Listen (Westwood One)Live StatsHouston Game Notes (PDF)Purdue Game Notes (PDF)Big 12 Notes (PDF)
Cougars tip off vs. Boilermakers at 9:09 p.m. (CDT) inside Lucas Oil Stadium
INDIANAPOLIS – Winners of its last 15 games and 28 of its last 29, the #2/2 (1) University of Houston Men's Basketball program enters the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional Sweet 16 when it tips off vs. #22/22 (4) Purdue around 9:09 p.m. (CDT) Friday, inside Lucas Oil Stadium.
Under the leadership of 2025 The Sporting News National Coach of the Year and two-time Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year Kelvin Sampson, the Cougars posted the program's fourth straight 30-win season and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the sixth consecutive season, the nation's longest active streak.
The Cougars earned their trip to the Sweet 16 after taking wins over (16) SIUE and #24/23 (8) Gonzaga inside INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kan., last weekend. Against Gonzaga, graduate guard LJ Cryer poured in a career-high-tying 30 points with six 3-pointers, and sophomore forward Joseph Tugler totaled 10 points with a game-high 11 rebounds to lead Houston.
Cryer was an All-Big 12 First-Team Selection and has earned numerous All-America honors as a member of the Third Team from national organizations. The Katy, Texas, native averages a team-high 15.6 points per game and leads the Cougars and the Big 12 with 3.1 3-point field goals and a .428 3-point field goal percentage.
Tugler leads the Cougars and ranks third in the league with 2.0 blocked shots per game and is one of four finalists for Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year presented by MOLECULE.
NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
• The Cougars are competing in the 26th NCAA Tournament in school history in 2025.
• This is the first time in school history that Houston will compete in seven consecutive NCAA Tournaments.
• This marks the third consecutive season in which the Cougars play as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
• With Saturday's win over #24/23 (8) Gonzaga, Houston is 42-30 all-time at the NCAA Tournament with Final Four appearances in 1967, 1968, 1982, 1983, 1984 and 2021.
• The Cougars advanced to the NCAA National Championship Game in 1983 before bowing out to NC State (in one of the most memorable games in NCAA Tournament history) and in 1984 against Georgetown, respectively.
• Houston has advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 or farther in each of the last six years. That is the nation's longest active streak.
TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Friday's game on TBS and truTV with Andrew Catalon (play-by-play), Steve Lappas (analyst) and Evan Washburn (reporter) calling.
• Fans can hear Friday's game on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play) and Elvin Hayes (analyst) calling. The pregame show begins at 8:54 p.m. (CDT), Friday.
• Fans also can hear Friday's game on Westwood One and on Sirius XM Radio with Kevin Kugler (play-by-play) and Robbie Hummel (analyst) calling.
• Fans can follow live stats from Friday's game by clicking here.
NCAA TOURNAMENT HUB
For more information about pregame activities, hotel send-off, UHAA pep rallies and more, fans can visit the Cougars' NCAA Tournament Hub by clicking here.
HOUSTON COUGARS ALUMNI/FAN GROUP PHOTO
• All UH alumni are invited to take a group photo at the Indy Stargate statue at the Indiana State House in downtown Indianapolis, at 5 p.m., (EDT) Friday.
• The Indy Stargate state is located at 202 Washington St., Indianapolis, IN. 46204
PREGAME MEET-UP
• Following the team send off, fans are invited to prepare for tip off with fellow Cougar fans at the official Houston Cougars Sweet 16 Pregame Meetup
• The fun begins at Tom's Watch Bar (140 South Illinois St., Indianapolis, IN 46225), beginning at 5:30 p.m., (EDT)Friday.
TEAM HOTEL SEND-OFF
• Fans can send the Cougars off from their team hotel beginning at 7:40 p.m., Friday.
• Fans can cheer for the Cougars as they make their way to the team bus from the lobby of The Westin Indianapolis (241 West Washington St.., Indianapolis, IN 46204).
ABOUT PURDUE
• Purdue brings a 24-11 overall record and 13-7 mark in Big Ten Conference play into Friday's NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 game.
• The Boilermakers tied for fourth in the regular season and advanced to the Quarterfinals of the Big Ten Championship.
• Purdue is 5-3 in neutral-site games and 10-9 in non-home games during the 2024-25 season.
• The Boilermakers have won three of their last four games. Only am 86-68 loss to Michigan in the Big Ten Championship Quarterfinals inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, on March 14, 2025, prevents a longer streak.
• In its most recent action, Purdue took a 76-62 win over (12) McNeese inside Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, R.I., on Saturday.
• Junior forward Trey Kaufman-Renn led all players with 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field and 8-10 from the free throw line. He also snared a game-high 15 rebounds to go with three rebounds, a steal and blocked shot. Junior guard Fletcher Loyer totaled 15 points with three 3-pointers and five assists. Junior guard Braden Smith added 10 points with four rebounds and two steals and tied with Loyer for game-high honors with five assists.
• This season, Kaufman-Renn leads Purdue with 20.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Smith stands second with 16.0 points per game but leads the Boilermakers with 8.5 assists and 2.2 steals per contest. Loyer stands third on the team with 13.7 points per game.
Head Coach: Matt Painter is in his 20th season at Purdue and his 21st year as a collegiate head coach.
• Painter has built a 496-219 record during his career with a 471-214 record at Purdue.
• He previously compiled a 25-5 record at Southern Illinois (2003-04).
• Friday's game will be the first time Painter has faced Houston during his career.
• Painter is 1-2 against Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers with the three previous meetings coming during Sampson's Indiana tenure.
• 1994 graduate of Purdue.
SERIES HISTORY vs. PURDUE
• Purdue holds a 2-1 lead against Houston in the series, which began during the 1981-82 season.
• The Boilermakers have won the last two games in the series.
• In the most recent meeting, Purdue took an 86-53 win inside Hofheinz Pavilion on Houston on Jan. 10, 1998.
• In the first meeting in the series, Houston enjoyed a 59-58 win at the Sugar Bowl Classic in New Orleans on Dec. 28, 1981.
at Neutral Site: The series is tied at 1-1 in games played at neutral sites.
• In the most recent meeting at a neutral site, Purdue claimed a 114-90 win inside Market Square Arena in Indianapolis on Dec. 10, 1993.
• In the first meeting at a neutral site, Houston enjoyed a 59-58 win at the Sugar Bowl Classic in New Orleans on Dec. 28, 1981.
at NCAA Tournament: Friday's game will be the first time Houston has faced Purdue in the NCAA Tournament.
UP NEXT
• With a win over #22/22 Purdue (4) on Friday, Houston would advance to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight.
• The Cougars would face the winner from #6/6 (2) Tennessee / #18/21 (3) Tennessee inside Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis., on Sunday, March 30.
• Game time and broadcasting network will be announced following Friday's NCAA Tournament games.
BUY TICKETS
Current season-ticket holders can renew their season tickets now through April 30 by clicking here and logging into their accounts.
Non-season ticket holders interested in purchasing season tickets are invited to place their names on the Season Ticket Wait List by clicking here.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Men's Basketball by supporting Linking Coogs – UH's NIL collective – and by joining the 50-50 Club, which provides financial support directly to Houston Men's Basketball for needs beyond its operating budget.
Fans who join the 50-50 Club will receive embroidered Jordan Brand team apparel, invitations to exclusive events, regular updates about the program and much more.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on X and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.
Under the leadership of 2025 The Sporting News National Coach of the Year and two-time Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year Kelvin Sampson, the Cougars posted the program's fourth straight 30-win season and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the sixth consecutive season, the nation's longest active streak.
The Cougars earned their trip to the Sweet 16 after taking wins over (16) SIUE and #24/23 (8) Gonzaga inside INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kan., last weekend. Against Gonzaga, graduate guard LJ Cryer poured in a career-high-tying 30 points with six 3-pointers, and sophomore forward Joseph Tugler totaled 10 points with a game-high 11 rebounds to lead Houston.
Cryer was an All-Big 12 First-Team Selection and has earned numerous All-America honors as a member of the Third Team from national organizations. The Katy, Texas, native averages a team-high 15.6 points per game and leads the Cougars and the Big 12 with 3.1 3-point field goals and a .428 3-point field goal percentage.
Tugler leads the Cougars and ranks third in the league with 2.0 blocked shots per game and is one of four finalists for Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year presented by MOLECULE.
NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
• The Cougars are competing in the 26th NCAA Tournament in school history in 2025.
• This is the first time in school history that Houston will compete in seven consecutive NCAA Tournaments.
• This marks the third consecutive season in which the Cougars play as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
• With Saturday's win over #24/23 (8) Gonzaga, Houston is 42-30 all-time at the NCAA Tournament with Final Four appearances in 1967, 1968, 1982, 1983, 1984 and 2021.
• The Cougars advanced to the NCAA National Championship Game in 1983 before bowing out to NC State (in one of the most memorable games in NCAA Tournament history) and in 1984 against Georgetown, respectively.
• Houston has advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 or farther in each of the last six years. That is the nation's longest active streak.
TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Friday's game on TBS and truTV with Andrew Catalon (play-by-play), Steve Lappas (analyst) and Evan Washburn (reporter) calling.
• Fans can hear Friday's game on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play) and Elvin Hayes (analyst) calling. The pregame show begins at 8:54 p.m. (CDT), Friday.
• Fans also can hear Friday's game on Westwood One and on Sirius XM Radio with Kevin Kugler (play-by-play) and Robbie Hummel (analyst) calling.
• Fans can follow live stats from Friday's game by clicking here.
NCAA TOURNAMENT HUB
For more information about pregame activities, hotel send-off, UHAA pep rallies and more, fans can visit the Cougars' NCAA Tournament Hub by clicking here.
HOUSTON COUGARS ALUMNI/FAN GROUP PHOTO
• All UH alumni are invited to take a group photo at the Indy Stargate statue at the Indiana State House in downtown Indianapolis, at 5 p.m., (EDT) Friday.
• The Indy Stargate state is located at 202 Washington St., Indianapolis, IN. 46204
PREGAME MEET-UP
• Following the team send off, fans are invited to prepare for tip off with fellow Cougar fans at the official Houston Cougars Sweet 16 Pregame Meetup
• The fun begins at Tom's Watch Bar (140 South Illinois St., Indianapolis, IN 46225), beginning at 5:30 p.m., (EDT)Friday.
TEAM HOTEL SEND-OFF
• Fans can send the Cougars off from their team hotel beginning at 7:40 p.m., Friday.
• Fans can cheer for the Cougars as they make their way to the team bus from the lobby of The Westin Indianapolis (241 West Washington St.., Indianapolis, IN 46204).
ABOUT PURDUE
• Purdue brings a 24-11 overall record and 13-7 mark in Big Ten Conference play into Friday's NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 game.
• The Boilermakers tied for fourth in the regular season and advanced to the Quarterfinals of the Big Ten Championship.
• Purdue is 5-3 in neutral-site games and 10-9 in non-home games during the 2024-25 season.
• The Boilermakers have won three of their last four games. Only am 86-68 loss to Michigan in the Big Ten Championship Quarterfinals inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, on March 14, 2025, prevents a longer streak.
• In its most recent action, Purdue took a 76-62 win over (12) McNeese inside Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, R.I., on Saturday.
• Junior forward Trey Kaufman-Renn led all players with 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field and 8-10 from the free throw line. He also snared a game-high 15 rebounds to go with three rebounds, a steal and blocked shot. Junior guard Fletcher Loyer totaled 15 points with three 3-pointers and five assists. Junior guard Braden Smith added 10 points with four rebounds and two steals and tied with Loyer for game-high honors with five assists.
• This season, Kaufman-Renn leads Purdue with 20.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Smith stands second with 16.0 points per game but leads the Boilermakers with 8.5 assists and 2.2 steals per contest. Loyer stands third on the team with 13.7 points per game.
Head Coach: Matt Painter is in his 20th season at Purdue and his 21st year as a collegiate head coach.
• Painter has built a 496-219 record during his career with a 471-214 record at Purdue.
• He previously compiled a 25-5 record at Southern Illinois (2003-04).
• Friday's game will be the first time Painter has faced Houston during his career.
• Painter is 1-2 against Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers with the three previous meetings coming during Sampson's Indiana tenure.
• 1994 graduate of Purdue.
SERIES HISTORY vs. PURDUE
• Purdue holds a 2-1 lead against Houston in the series, which began during the 1981-82 season.
• The Boilermakers have won the last two games in the series.
• In the most recent meeting, Purdue took an 86-53 win inside Hofheinz Pavilion on Houston on Jan. 10, 1998.
• In the first meeting in the series, Houston enjoyed a 59-58 win at the Sugar Bowl Classic in New Orleans on Dec. 28, 1981.
at Neutral Site: The series is tied at 1-1 in games played at neutral sites.
• In the most recent meeting at a neutral site, Purdue claimed a 114-90 win inside Market Square Arena in Indianapolis on Dec. 10, 1993.
• In the first meeting at a neutral site, Houston enjoyed a 59-58 win at the Sugar Bowl Classic in New Orleans on Dec. 28, 1981.
at NCAA Tournament: Friday's game will be the first time Houston has faced Purdue in the NCAA Tournament.
UP NEXT
• With a win over #22/22 Purdue (4) on Friday, Houston would advance to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight.
• The Cougars would face the winner from #6/6 (2) Tennessee / #18/21 (3) Tennessee inside Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis., on Sunday, March 30.
• Game time and broadcasting network will be announced following Friday's NCAA Tournament games.
BUY TICKETS
Current season-ticket holders can renew their season tickets now through April 30 by clicking here and logging into their accounts.
Non-season ticket holders interested in purchasing season tickets are invited to place their names on the Season Ticket Wait List by clicking here.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Men's Basketball by supporting Linking Coogs – UH's NIL collective – and by joining the 50-50 Club, which provides financial support directly to Houston Men's Basketball for needs beyond its operating budget.
Fans who join the 50-50 Club will receive embroidered Jordan Brand team apparel, invitations to exclusive events, regular updates about the program and much more.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on X and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.
– UHCougars.com –
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