Purdue vs Texas live updates: Prediction, time, how to watch Sweet 16 game

Can Texas go from the First Four to the Final Four?

While Texas is the highest seed left in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, the No. 11 Longhorns aren’t a Cinderella.

“I don’t think we ever really want to sign up to be the Cinderella story,” said Texas coach Sean Miller after beating Gonzaga in Round 2. “Because we are the University of Texas.”

March Madness: The Sweet 16 games ranked

March Madness upset predictions: Ranking 5 most likely Sweet 16 surprises

Purdue, the country’s preseason No. 1, is hitting its stride after a late season stumble. The Boilermakers won the Big Ten tournament and are in the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in five seasons.

The winner advances to Saturday’s Elite Eight to face the winner of Arizona/Arkansas.

Here’s what you need to know about tonight’s game, including predictions and injury updates:

HIT REFRESH FOR UPDATES.

Purdue vs Texas basketball live score

TEAMS	1H	2H	F
Texas	—	—	—
Purdue	—	—	—

What time is Purdue vs Texas Sweet 16 game today?

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET from San Jose, California.

What channel is Purdue vs Texas game on? How to watch, streaming info

Purdue vs. Texas will air on CBS and streamed on Paramount+.

Purdue vs Texas prediction, odds

Odds provided by BetMGM as of 10 p.m., Wednesday, March 25.

∎ Nathan Baird, IndyStar: Purdue 83, Texas 76

The Boilers need a big game from their bigs against an opponent which thrives on interior scoring and offensive rebounding. This may also be decided by which defense with a marginal track record all season maintains a recent trajectory of improvement — and does so without fouling. Purdue’s seniors are playing, and leading, better than ever, and this matchup sets up well for another Elite Eight trip.

∎ Sam King, Journal & Courier: Purdue 84, Texas 73

Texas has had a luxury of facing injury-hampered teams to get to the Sweet 16. If C.J. Cox is good to go, Purdue is fine. If Cox can’t, Purdue will still dance on.

Moneyline: Purdue (-350); Texas (+275)

CJ Cox injury update: Will Purdue guard play vs Texas?

C.J. Cox suffered a knee he said was hyperextended during Sunday’s second round win over Miami. He’s done drills and plenty of rehab work with trainers, he said Wednesday during media availability with reporters in San Jose. He’s hopeful to play, but the Boilermakers have depth behind him if he can’t go, namely Gicarri Harris.

“I was obviously scared if I had torn something, because then I’m out for a long time, but thankfully I didn’t,” Cox said. “It still sucks, but just continuing one step at a time.”

Cox said an MRI on the knee, injured Sunday against Miami, came back “pretty good.” Purdue only watch film and shot free throws Monday. Cox partially participated in Tuesday’s short practice, staying out of contact drills.

Jordan Pope injury update: Will Texas guard play vs Purdue?

Pope suffered a lower-leg injury in Saturday’s win over Gonzaga. He said he was “hopeful” to play against the Boilermakers on Thursday.

“Jordan, he’s dealing with a lower leg situation,” Sean Miller said Wednesday. “We’re hopeful that he can — we’ve given him a lot of rest since our last game, and I think he’s really responding to it.

“We still had a pretty quick turnaround, all things considered, because of the distance between San Jose and Austin and traveling from Dayton to Portland and Portland back to Austin.”

Why did Camden Heide transfer from Purdue to Texas? ‘I’ll be a Boilermaker for life’

Heide spent the previous two seasons at Purdue before entering the transfer portal and landing in Austin. So why did he leave Purdue?

“I was looking for a bigger role on a winning team,” he told IndyStar’s Gregg Doyel with a smile. “Those were tough conversations, obviously, with coaches and teammates I’d known for years. Everyone didn’t see it eye-to-eye, but I just wanted people to understand I was doing what was best for me. And at the end of it, they were all supportive of me. It just goes to show the kind of people Purdue recruits. Great guys.

“I’m happy I was a Boilermaker. I’ll be a Boilermaker for life.”

Heide, who hit a key late 3-pointer in Texas’ second round upset over Gonzaga, has helped provide the Longhorns with a scouting report on his former team.

“He’s been big time. He knows what they do,” Texas guard Tramon Mark said. “He knows a lot of what they do, so he’s been helping us, coaching us up on the things that they do and just being a big-time guy for us in our scouting and everything we do in our scouting, practice. He’s been big.

Braden Smith breaks Bobby Hurley NCAA assists record

Smith broke Hurley’s record in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Queens on Friday, March 20. The senior from Indiana got the record on a dish to Trey Kaufman-Renn in the first half.

Smith finished the game with 1,083 career assists in his four-year career with the Boilermakers. Purdue fans at the game gave Smith a standing ovation for the achievement.

Smith told USA TODAY Sports ahead of the tournament he was “ready to just get it over with” so he could put all of the attention toward winning Purdue’s first national championship. Now with that in hand, the decorated guard can go for the two goals he had for his senior season.

“That’s one of the reasons I came back, was to win and to get the record,” he said. “Obviously, wanted to do it at a place that I’ve been for the three years prior. For me, just to be around a great bunch of guys and obviously great coaching staff, and do it with them, I think it makes it more special.”

Matt Painter March Madness record: How many Sweet 16 appearances does Matt Painter have?

Matt Painter has a 26-17 career record in the NCAA Tournament. This is his 18th trip to March Madness, 17th with Purdue (he led Southern Illinois to the NCAA Tournament before becoming Purdue’s coach-in-waiting).

He’s led the Boilermakers to nine Sweet 16s.

Sean Miller March Madness record: How many Sweet 16 appearances does?

Texas is the third team Miller has guided to March Madness (Xavier and Arizona are the others). He has a 25-13 record combined in 14 NCAA Tournament appearances.

This is his ninth trip to the Sweet 16.

What’s furthest a First Four team has advanced in NCAA Tournament?

Texas was one of the last at-large teams to get a berth to March Madness. That meant a trip to Dayton and the First Four.

The Longhorns beat NC State on a Tramon Mark last-second shot, then beat BYU despite 35 points from AJ Dybantsa in the first round. Texas followed that up with an upset of No. 3 seed Gonzaga in Round 2 to reach the Sweet 16.

Texas needs two more wins if it wants to match the furthest a First Four team has gone in an NCAA Tournament.

VCU (2011) and UCLA (2021) reached the Final Four after starting its tournament run in the First Four.

Will Arizona fans boo Sean Miller at Sweet 16 in San Jose?

Texas-Purdue is the first game of Thursday’s Sweet 16 at San Jose, with the Arizona-Arkansas game to follow. Miller coached 12 seasons at Arizona and was fired in 2021 after an NCAA probe found Miller has offered to illegally pay players and the school was forced to vacate wins from the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons.

There will be plenty of Wildcats fans in the stands in the SAP Center. So what kind of reception does Miller expect to receive Thursday?

“I would hope they would cheer for us. We’re the 11 seed. If I were them, I’d want us to win,” Miller said.

“But my relationship with Arizona is nothing but great. I have three sons, they all attended the University of Arizona, and each of them had an amazing experience. Two of the three, their girlfriend, potentially maybe who they end up with as their wife, also went to Arizona. I was there for 13 years, have friendships that will last a lifetime. I was treated, our family was treated incredibly well.

“… I mean, if we were to beat Purdue — I’m at Texas. That would be amazing. We’re playing in the Elite Eight. But the other part of it doesn’t really exist for me. I think with that emotion, you can either burn the house down or make it warmer. I look at that place and that experience as nothing but just making my house warmer. I have nothing but positive thoughts, feelings and perspectives towards that experience.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Purdue vs Texas news, live updates, prediction, how to watch Sweet 16

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