After their season ended badly last year, Purdue chose to not rebuild or make big changes, but to reflect on themselves.
Despite a humiliating loss, the Boilermakers were pleased with what they saw when they reflected on themselves.
The program's ability to deal with change and its reputation as an underachiever has been mostly addressed by sticking with what has worked, and sometimes what hasn't, for the past 50 years.
Purdue defeated Tennessee 72-66 on Sunday to reach its first Final Four since 1980, a year after being the second No. 1 seed to lose in the first round of March Madness.
The standout player was 7-foot-4 Zach Edey, who returned for his senior season after last year's letdown. Sticking with the status quo suits a program deeply rooted in tradition. Purdue has had just two coaches over the last 44 seasons — Gene Keady, who was in the stands for this game, and Matt Painter, who is in his 19th season.
Coach Painter explained, “We are systematic and we adapt to our system. We evolve based on the strengths of our best players. It's a misconception in recruiting because everyone wants to play a key role, but you only have one key role, and if someone is already holding it, they probably won't be moved.”
Currently, Edey is Purdue’s main attraction.
Whether his last college game is Saturday against North Carolina State or next Monday in the final against UConn or Alabama, Purdue likely won't need to search far and wide for a new star player. Although the last three years in college basketball have been marked by major roster changes and lucrative NIL deals.
Painter sees it as a point of pride that he has only recruited two transfer players in four years. (One of whom was Lance Jones, a relatively low-key signing last season who has averaged 12 points per game.)
Painter mentioned, “I recruit a lot of players in the fall and avoid the spring. The spring is tough, that's all these players are discussing. I'm not interested.”
It's one thing to stick to principles, but it's quite another to win that way.
Purdue's winning style this season reflects the school's almost complete disregard for conforming to trends.
Edey, known for his back-to-the-basket post play, is seen as outdated in the modern game. He was AP Player of the Year, a unanimous All-American in 2024, and leads the nation in scoring. However, his value in professional basketball is uncertain, mainly because the NBA now emphasizes analytics and the 3-point shot over inside play.
Purdue has a different perspective on Edey. To the coach, Edey represents a player and a style that is not quite understood anymore. A strong defensive team like Tennessee might have had the best chance, but ultimately faced the same challenges as everyone: Foul trouble, frustration, and fatigue from contending with a player who outweighs them by 70 pounds or more.
“He is very unselfish in terms of greatness as a player,” said Painter, who compared Edey to his contemporary, Glenn Robinson. “So if you just get to your spots and stick to what you’re doing and they come for him, now we’re playing H-O-R-S-E. If they don’t, we want him to be aggressive and score.”
Edey has averaged 30 points and 16.8 rebounds in four games in the tournament.
Watching from the stands on Sunday afternoon was Keady.
He’s 87 years old now, and was the one who recruited Painter to Purdue. That was around 35 years ago when Keady was still getting his footing and the thought that he would never coach in a Final Four over what would become a Hall of Fame 25 years with the Boilermakers seemed impossible.
Painter said he grew up as a fan of Indiana, so going to the Hoosiers archrival never seemed like a move for him. Then, the recruiters started visiting. Most told him what he wanted to hear. Keady told him he’d need to get a summer job so he could learn what it meant to have to get up every morning and learn what it was like to work.
Painter discussed it with his dad.
“He said ‘That’s the only person who told you the truth. You need him way more than he needs you,’” Painter recalled.
It came as no surprise, then, to hear Keady’s takeaway after Purdue earned its first trip to the Final Four since the Carter Administration.
In a phone call with the AP after Edey had cut down the net and handed him a piece of twine, the coach said, “It shows people if you do things the right way, it will pay off.”
