Scouting Purdue's Sweet 16/Elite Eight opponents

After cruising through opening weekend wins over Grambling State and Utah State, Purdue returns to the Sweet 16 for the fifth time in seven NCAA Tournament appearances. The Boilermakers, the top seed in the Midwest Region, hope to enjoy a crowd advantage again, this time in Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena.

The Sweet 16 features matchups between top-seeded Purdue and fifth-seeded Gonzaga, and the winner will meet either the two-seed Tennessee Volunteers or the three-seed Creighton Bluejays. GoldandBlack.com takes a first look at the three teams joining Purdue in the Motor City for Easter weekend.

GONZAGA BULLDOGS

Purdue and Gonzaga will square off on a neutral floor for the second time this season. In November, Purdue used a strong second half to down the Bulldogs 73-63 in the opening round of the Maui Invitational. While Gonzaga started abnormally slow this season, it’s won 16 of its last 18 games dating back to early January.

The Bulldogs defeated McNeese 86-65 before pounding Kansas 89-68 to advance to the Sweet 16 for the ninth straight season. While the roster doesn’t feature a surefire high draft pick like Jalen Suggs or Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga once again features one of the nation’s top offenses. It shoots well from both inside and outside the arc, and it turns the ball over at one of the lowest clips in the country.

Center Graham Ike, a Wyoming transfer, leads the team with 16.4 points per game. While he shoots 33% from three, he’s only attempted 15 shots from outside all year. He scored a team-high 14 points when the two teams met in Hawaii despite battling foul trouble. Anton Watson, a classic wing who can shoot it from deep, joins him in the frontcourt.

In the backcourt, Nolan Hickman and Ryan Nembhard each average double digits. Both play more than 35 minutes per game, shouldering a bulk of the load at the guard spots. Hickman shoots just shy of 42% from three on decent volume, while Nembhard leads the offense at the point guard spot.

Related: GoldandBlack.com Takeaways–Purdue’s Maui Invitational win over Gonzaga | Gonzaga Roster/Stats

TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS

Another squad that Purdue took down in Hawaii, Tennessee, enters the Sweet 16 looking to break through and reach the first Final Four in school history. Despite losing their final two games before the NCAA Tournament, the Volunteers raced past Saint Peter’s 83-49 and hung on to defeat Texas 62-58 to reach this point.

All-American wing Dalton Knecht, a Northern Colorado transfer, led Tennessee to the SEC regular season championship by averaging 21 points per game and shooting just under 40% from three-point range. Forward Jonas Aidoo and point guard Zakai Zeigler also average double figures for a Volunteer offense that plays at a much higher tempo than in years past.

A staple of Rick Barnes’ program, Tennessee is one of the nation’s top defensive teams. Opponents average just 67 points per game against the Vols, shooting 38.6% from the field. Tennessee likes to put a long, lanky lineup on the floor to help stymie opposing offenses.

When Tennessee and Purdue met in the Maui Invitational semifinals, the Boilermakers held on for a 71-67 win in a game highlighted by 51 total fouls. Fletcher Loyer exploded for 27 points to lead Purdue, while Zach Edey tacked on 23 points and 10 rebounds. Knecht scored 16 points for the Volunteers, but they made just eight of their 30 attempts from beyond the arc.

Related: GoldandBlack.com Takeaways: Purdue’s Maui Invitational win over Tennessee | Tennessee roster/stats

CREIGHTON BLUEJAYS

After coming seconds away from a Final Four appearance last season, Creighton finds itself back in the second weekend, hoping that this year, it can break through and reach the sport’s pinnacle. The Blue Jays defeated Akron 77-60 in the opening round before a double-overtime classic victory over Oregon put them in the Sweet 16.

As has become the norm, Creighton’s offense can score with anyone. Nearly half of the Blue Jays’ shots come from three-point range, where they shoot 36.6% on the year. They’re even more efficient inside the arc, though, shooting 59%, good for third-best in America. 7-1 center Ryan Kalkbrenner is surrounded by three-point shooters, helping the team score more than 80 points per game.

Creighton relies heavily on its starting five, four of whom score double figures. Veteran sharpshooter Baylor Scheierman leads the team with 18 points per game, while guard Trey Alexander and big man Kalkbrenner add 17. Steven Ashworth and Mason Miller join them, shooting almost exclusively three-pointers.

The Blue Jays’ defense rates higher than it has in years past, but it forces turnovers at one of the nation’s lowest clips. It’s a similar style to Purdue, as Creighton hopes to funnel driving ball handlers into their big man to protect the rim.

Related: Creighton Rosters/Stats