Scouting Purdue’s NCAA Opponents
Purdue officially began its path to redemption on Sunday night when it found out its path in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The Boilermakers, who finished the season 29-4, earned the third-overall seed and took the top spot in the Midwest Region.
It plays its second and potential third-round games at a familiar site: Indianapolis’ Gainbridge Fieldhouse. In December, Purdue took down then-No. 1 Arizona inside the venue.
Play-in game-winner, Grambling State awaits Purdue, who enters the Big Dance looking to create history after last year’s early exit. Should Purdue advance past the opening round, it would square off with the winner of Utah State vs. TCU.
GoldandBlack.com takes a first look at the four schools who Purdue could see during the opening weekend and what fans could expect from each.
NO. 16 SEED GRAMBLING STATE TIGERS
Grambling State, the SWAC regular season and tournament champions, MADE first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament on Wednesday in the First Four. The Tigers played one of the nation’s toughest non-conference schedules before going 14-4 in SWAC play.
The Tigers struggled against high-major competition during non-conference play, getting blown out by Colorado, Iowa State, Washington State and Florida. KenPom ranks Grambling State 267th in the nation. Notably, the Tigers turn the ball over on more than 20% of their possessions, allow a high number of offensive rebounds and shoot just 47% from two-point range as a team.
Guard Kintavious Dozier paces the Tigers with 13.1 points per game, while guard Tra’Michael Moton and wing Antwan Burnett join him in double digits. Grambling State plays at a snail’s pace with one of the slowest tempos in America. Head coach Donte’ Jackson has been leading Grambling State for seven seasons now, leading the Tigers to one of the most-successful stretches in school history.
Grambling State roster | Grambling State schedule/results
More: Grambling State’s overtime win over Montana State
NO. 8 SEED UTAH STATE AGGIES
Utah State quickly emerged as one of the league’s strongest teams in an unusually strong Mountain West. The Aggies raced to a 16-1 start to the season and won the Mountain West regular season crown with a 14-4 league record. While the Aggies fell in the conference tournament’s semifinals, they comfortably created an at-large resume to earn a spot in the field.
Oddly, Utah State excels at defending the perimeter but needs help to defend inside. Opponents shoot just 29% from deep against the Aggies, but they also shoot 53% from inside the arc. KenPom ranks the Aggies as the 48th team in the nation. Utah State shoots poorly from three but makes over 57% of its two-point attempts.
Wing Great Osobar averages 18 points per game despite attempting just 11 three-pointers on the season. He’s joined by guards Ian Martinez, Darius Brown II, and Mason Falslev in leading Utah State’s charge. Ironically enough, head coach Danny Sprinkle is in year one with Utah State after a strong four-year run at Montana State. He’s earned national praise for his work this season in leading the Aggies to a 27-6 record.
Utah State roster | Utah State schedule/results
NO. 9-SEED TCU HORNED FROGS
Out of the Big 12, TCU enters the NCAA Tournament after struggling a bit down the season’s home stretch. The Horned Frogs began the season 16-5 before losing seven of their final 12 games. Now 21-12, TCU hopes to return to the Round of 32, where it gave top-seeded Arizona quite a scare two seasons ago.
TCU will look to cut down on the turnovers after giving the ball away on nearly 18% of its possessions in the regular season. On the other side of the court, however, it forces turnovers at one of the nation’s best rates. KenPom ranks the Horned Frogs 33rd nationally. They like to work quickly on the offensive end, but their defense draws possessions out, evening the tempo. While they shoot above 35% from three, the Horned Frogs don’t take many of them when compared to other teams.
Forward Emanuel Miller leads TCU with just shy of 16 points per game. A Canadian, Miller also leads the team in rebounding and shoots well from outside. Trevian Tennyson shoots nearly 42% from three on high volume, while Jameer Nelson Jr. provides a familiar name for March Madness viewers. Head coach Jamie Dixon has no shortage of NCAA Tournament experience, as this marks his 15th trip to the Big Dance between Pittsburgh and TCU.
