NCAA tournament: Sunday’s East Region review

There was just one game in the East Region on Sunday, but it was a good one. No. 3 Purdue held off No. 6 Texas to advance to the Sweet 16 in what has become a wide-open region.

Here’s a look at what happened Sunday in the East Region.

Most impressive performance, team: Purdue. The Boilermakers’ offense scored 81 points on Texas. That is incredibly impressive, considering the Longhorns’ defensive prowess. The Boilermakers showed off almost their entire offensive arsenal Sunday: They hit 3-pointers, they scored in the paint, they hit mid-range jumpers, they delivered at the line. The only thing missing was fast-break points; neither team had any. When Purdue is at its best, there are few (if any) better offenses in the nation. Purdue may not have been at its absolute best Sunday, but it was close and the performance came against one of the best defenses in the nation. Purdue’s output tied for the second-most against Texas this season; the Longhorns also gave up 81 in a win over West Virginia and 86 in a loss to Gonzaga.

Most impressive performance, individual: Purdue C Trevion Williams. He showed off his all-around talent once again. He played 25 minutes and had 22 points, seven rebounds and two assists. Williams was 10-of-13 from the field, and Texas’ big guys had a tough time stopping him. Williams does a nice job using his size to carve out space, and his quickness belies his size. His passing ability also makes him dangerous, too.

What we’ll be talking about from the East Region on Monday: What happened Thursday and Saturday is still going to be the region focal point. That’s because No. 2 seed Kentucky fell Thursday and top-seeded Baylor was ousted Saturday. In addition, No. 15 Saint Peter’s (the team that took out Kentucky, then No. 7 Murray State) remains alive. Some of the talk, for sure, will be about how Purdue has the easiest road of anyone in the Sweet 16 to get to the Elite Eight because it faces Saint Peter’s in a region semifinal.

Hard to explain: Nothing from the game Sunday was that surprising. We’ll admit it: It’s still hard to explain how Kentucky lost to Saint Peter’s.

Key numbers: Purdue shot 46 free throws; Texas attempted 12. Texas was called for 29 fouls, Purdue for 16. The Longhorns had two guys foul out: Timmy Allen and Christian Bishop. … Williams backs up Zach Edey, and the two combined for 33 points and 17 rebounds. … Marcus Carr hit four of Texas’ 10 3-pointers.

Game result

No. 3 Purdue 81, No. 6 Texas 71

Main takeaway: The 10-point final margin was a bit deceiving. Purdue had a three-point lead with a minute when Jaden Ivey drilled a 25-foot 3-pointer coming out of a timeout. The shot seemed to drain everything out of the Longhorns. Purdue had a 20-0 run in the first half, but the Longhorns fought back and trailed 36-30 at halftime. There was a good ebb-and-flow in the second half, but while Texas made some good defensive stands, Purdue’s offense ultimately was too much.
Up next: Purdue vs. No. 15 Saint Peter’s in the Sweet 16, Friday in Philadelphia