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Mar 21, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; Texas Longhorns forward Camden Heide (5) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images | Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images
#11 Texas, with its giant sports budget and huge student population, might be the closest thing to a Cinderella this tournament has left after knocking off #3 seed Gonzaga in the round of 32.
It’s the highest remaining seed in the tournament.
For #2 Purdue, it’s not something new to find a double-digit seed in the Sweet 16, but it’ll hope for a better ending this time.
Purdue is looking for its second Elite Eight in the past three seasons.
Texas is a dangerous offensive team, despite lacking elite qualities on that side of the ball. Texas also features a familiar name with a former Purdue player who transferred to the Longhorns this offseason.
Let’s take a look at the Thursday night matchup from San Jose.
Well this is awkward
Cam Heide left Purdue after a successful three years at Purdue that saw him play in the National Title game and nearly hit a similar shot to the one he just hit against Gonzaga for the Boilers when it almost knocked off Houston in last year’s Sweet 16.
Presumably, Heide left Purdue for a larger role after coming off the bench for most his career and being relegated to a catch and shoot and defensive specialist for Purdue.
He’s resumed almost the exact same role at Texas. Heide has been really good in that role. He’s the 8th best three point shooter in the country making 46% of his 102 attempts on the season while playing 22 minutes a game.
He’ll now face his own team, that you could argue, is missing the exact thing that makes Heide such a valuable commodity in the first place. Heide is a wing with elite size, athleticism, and shooting. Something Purdue misses on the wing and at the four position behind TKR. The familiarity between Heide and Purdue will be an interesting thing to keep note of on both sides.
Texas’ offense is… elite but not good at anything?
Texas doesn’t shoot the ball great. Doesn’t pass the ball great. Doesn’t dominate inside the paint or around the perimeter.
But Kenpom has Texas as the 15th best offense in the country.
The one thing Texas does is play with tenacity. That tenacity leads to it being one of the best teams at getting to the line.
It does it by continuously attacking the glass on offense at almost every position.
Matas Vokietaitis is a unique big man. At 7-0, 255 lbs, Vokietaitis is a physical presence that plays really, really aggressive. Maybe too aggressive. Vokietaitis is quick for his size and uses that to try and get into his defense and to the rim. Against good positioning, Vokietaitis continues to attack, sometimes without regard for limb, life, or the offensive foul that’s about to be called. The matchup with Cluff might be the bell weather on whether Texas can hang with Purdue. Vokietaitis is Texas’ second leading scorer, scoring over 15 points a game in just 26 minutes a night.
Dailyn Swain is Texas’ most dangerous player, a 6-8 do everything guard/forward that scores over 17 points a game, shoots over 35% from three, grabs 7 rebounds a game and is Texas’ only reliable play maker for others.
Swain would likely draw time between multiple defenders, but normally Purdue sticks CJ Cox on the most dangerous perimeter threat, even when at a size disadvantage. Will coach Matt Painter have that option after Cox went down against Miami with a hyper extended knee? And if Cox does play, will he be 100% and able to take on a physical, bigger wing?
Texas’ Jordan Pope is one of four double-digits scorers for Texas and is a just over 6 foot guard. When looking at Purdue’s losses this season, big wings and guards have given Purdue trouble, mostly on the glass, and Purdue having someone who matches their smaller backcourt allows them to play without as much worry about defensive matchups.
Texas will be physical, but sometimes that physical is without purpose. Purdue has proven at this point, its offense cannot be handled. Texas will need Purdue to play uncharacteristically by putting the Longhorns on the line while also knocking down its perimeter shots and winning the battle on the glass.
Texas lost 5 of its last 6 games of the regular season and the SEC Tournament. It has turned itself around int eh NCAA Tournament, but now it will have to take on the best offense in the Kenpom era.
It should be a good one on Thursday night.
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