INDIANAPOLIS — Purdue has earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season and the fifth time in program history.
The Boilermakers will play at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday in the first round of the Midwest Regional against the winner of the Montana State-Grambling State First Four game.
Purdue is looking to avenge last year's loss to Fairleigh Dickinson, when the Boilers became just the second No. 1 seed to fall to a No. 16 seed in the first round in NCAA Tournament history.
"There's more you want to prove. There's more you want to do. I think just the difference between last year and this year is how hungry we are," sophomore guard Fletcher Loyer said. "That bad taste in our mouth has sat with us all year."
The Boilermakers seemingly had a one seed locked up, despite losing to the Wisconsin Badgers in the Big Ten Tournament Semifinals on Saturday.
Purdue went 28-3 during the regular season. The record helped the Boilermakers win their 26th Big Ten regular season title.
"That was our goal: to put ourselves right back in the same position we were last year and then obviously play better and win games," head coach Matt Painter said. "You don't start as a number one seed the next year. You [have to] earn it again. Our guys have earned it."
This year's tournament will give center Zach Edey a chance to add to his legacy. The reigning national player of the year just passed Rick Mount on Saturday to become the Boilers' all-time scorer.
Purdue joins Connecticut, Houston and North Carolina as the four top seeds in the tournament.
Indiana State did not make the field of 68 after a stellar season. The Sycamores finished 28-6 and won the Missouri Valley regular season title for the first time since 2000, but they fell in the conference tournament finals to the Drake Bulldogs.