“It felt really good to win it for them. It felt great,” said Fletcher Loyer after Purdue’s triumphant 80-72 victory over Michigan in the 2026 Big Ten Tournament championship game.
Loyer, who contributed 14 points in the match, emphasized the importance of the win for the younger players on the team. This victory marked Purdue’s third Big Ten Tournament title, having previously won in 2009 and 2023.
Prior to the tournament, Purdue faced challenges, finishing the regular season with a 13-7 record and tying for sixth place in the conference. They entered the tournament as the No. 7 seed and had a mixed performance, going 6-7 in their last 13 games.
Despite these struggles, Purdue’s offense showed resilience, scoring at least 73 points in each of their four tournament victories. Coach Matt Painter noted, “We needed this for confidence, more than anything,” highlighting the significance of the win for the team’s morale.
In addition to Loyer’s contributions, Trey Kaufman-Renn remarked on the team’s determination, stating, “We let Michigan get the regular season title, and that’s what I told the guys before, we gotta win this one.” This sentiment underscored the motivation behind their performance.
Looking ahead, Purdue will face No. 15-seed Queens NC in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, aiming to build on their recent success. The team is eager to continue their momentum and make a deeper run in the postseason.
As Purdue celebrates this championship victory, the focus now shifts to their next challenge. The players and coaching staff are preparing for the NCAA Tournament, where they hope to carry their confidence and strong performance into the next round.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the specific strategies they will employ against Queens NC, but the team is optimistic about their chances following the Big Ten success.