WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- It’s hard to concentrate this week on the Purdue campus as students, faculty and everyone in between look ahead to this weekend’s Final Four matchup.
The 1-seed Purdue will face off against 11-seed NC State at 6:09 p.m. this Saturday. Fans are ready for the weekend to be here.
”It's been really hard this week focusing," said Alainna Frankel, a member of the Paint Crew.
Purdue's first Final Four in 44 years is all anyone can talk about on campus.
"You can't go to a classroom without talking about a game that just happened, the game that's going to be happening," said Jayden Brown, the Paint Crew president. "You can't go a few hours without hearing someone talk about their plans to go, that they wish they were going, what they're going to be doing back here on campus."
The nerves for the biggest game for Purdue Basketball since 1980 are already high.
”Saturday night is going to be probably the most stressful night of my life," said Liam Ryan, another Paint Crew member.
Brown, Ryan and Frankel all have their tickets booked for the Final Four in Phoenix. They're some of the lucky ones getting to fill the Purdue student section.
”We have 700 students going to the Final Four," Brown said. "The NCAA allotted some tickets, so we'll be down there on the court cheering on them on as close as we can get."
Brown is the president of the Paint Crew, the official student section and sixth man of Purdue Men's Basketball. The name is inspired by Purdue Head Coach Matt Painter.
”We work hard just to do everything we can to make it the hardest place to play for the opposing team," Brown said.
Brown, Frankel and Ryan are all seniors. They've been along for the ride for four years now and watching their team get to this Final Four is hard to describe.
”If I’m being completely honest, there might have been a few tears shed," Brown said.
Especially when you think about where they started.
”My freshman year was COVID, so I didn’t get to experience any home basketball games," Brown said.
”We've only had three years to really enjoy Mackey," Ryan added.
But these fans and the team they cheer for have made the most of the time they've had.
”You really got to appreciate the experience that you were having and the environment you were a part of," Brown said.
Ryan said one of his favorite moments of the season was when star big man Zach Edey hit a three-pointer during the game against IU in Mackey.
”It was pure bliss," Ryan said. "You just start jumping around and grabbing everyone around you, celebrating."
That’s the feeling these three seniors and the thousands of other Boilermaker fans hope to have this weekend.
”I'm trying not to think too much about it," Brown said. "I'm trying to take it one game at a time."
But, there is a lot of belief in this team.
”I think this team could actually win it all," Frankel said.
Ryan had enough confidence he booked his Final Four trip a month ago, before the NCAA Tournament even started. He said his friends told him he was jinxing the team's success.
”They all called me out, calling it a jinx and everything, and I guess it wasn't," Ryan said with a smile on his face.
In the end, he saved a few hundred bucks by not booking his travel and lodging less than a week out like the rest of his friends.
These three seniors are all heading out on Friday and can't wait to make State Farm Stadium in Arizona their home away from home.
”It’s going to be an absolutely amazing experience," Brown said.
The hope: a Purdue win on Saturday and a National Championship on Monday.
”They haven't made a Final Four since 1980, so this team is the best chance to do it," Frankel said. "This could be a very special moment for a lot of Purdue fans."