The dreams of a Final Four and capturing a National Championship came to an end on Friday for the Purdue Boilermakers with a 67-64 loss in the Sweet 16 to Saint Peter’s.
Cinderella’s not ready to leave the Dance 🕺#MarchMadness @PeacocksMBB pic.twitter.com/4W7n8MhGQR
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 26, 2022
With the loss, the Boilermakers finished the season 29-8 (the second most wins in a single season in program history) and appeared in its 4th Sweet 16 in the last five NCAA Tournaments. While those accomplishments are impressive and speak to the consistent nature of Purdue basketball under Coach Matt Painter, the 2021-22 Boilermakers will always be a team that makes you think about what could have been.
Just saying Thank You. pic.twitter.com/SWH1F3juSd
— Purdue Mens Basketball (@BoilerBall) March 28, 2022
That’s the nature of high expectations going into a season. Anytime you have big goals and fail to achieve them, regret will rear its ugly head. Fair or not, that’s the way sports work.
With Purdue’s loss, the Big Ten’s title drought continues. The conference’s last national championship was Michigan State’s in 2000. pic.twitter.com/DQdweD7pA7
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 26, 2022
No this is not a piece calling for a coaching change at Purdue. Matt Painter always puts the Boilermakers in position to reach new heights. The more opportunities you get the more chances to break through and make a Final Four or win a National Championship. All you can hope for as a Purdue fan now is that eventually one of those opportunities takes you to the promise land.
Feel for Matt Painter.
Feel for Gene Keady.
Feel for Purdue fans.
The Boilers had another golden opportunity to get to the Final Four and came up short.
The Dark Side of March.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 26, 2022
On Monday, in order to gather more clarity on Purdue’s loss to Saint Peter’s and where the program goes from here, The Dan Dakich Show caught up with the Voice of the Boilermakers Rob Blackman.
Rob shared what he felt led to the Peacocks’ upset of Purdue and how they were able to keep the Boilermakers uncomfortable offensively throughout the game.
Additionally, Rob looked at how the transfer portal will impact the 2022-23 Boilermakers and what changes fans will see during the offseason. Later, Rob shared what the atmosphere is like within a team following a season ending defeat in the NCAA Tournament.
Catch Dan’s chat with Rob Blackman below and don’t miss The Dan Dakich Show, weekdays 12-3pm Eastern, right here on The Fan.
