Entering the 2025 NCAA Tournament, McNeese and Purdue found themselves once again sharing the Midwest Region. The two programs were also seeded into the Midwest for the 2024 edition of March Madness but left with very different experiences. Will Wade's Cowboys, a popular 12-over-5 upset pick, were waxed in the Round of 64 by Gonzaga, 86-65. Purdue, the top seed in the region, defeated the Gonzaga team in the Sweet 16 on the way to finishing as the national runner-up. This year, Purdue and McNeese's paths have intersected with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line.

The Southland regular season and tournament champions got their 12-over-5 upset this time around, defeating Clemson 69-67. McNeese leveraged superior athleticism and high defensive effort to limit the Tigers to just 13 points in the first half. Brandon Murray led the charge with 21 points off the bench. Quadir Copeland dropped 16/7/5, and Christian Shumate came away with 13 points and 11 boards. The Cowboys scored 19 points off 13 Clemson turnovers. A late offensive flurry from the Tigers proved to be too little, too late.

The Boilermakers looked like they could be in a bit of trouble against an upstart High Point team, but they ultimately pulled away for a 75-63 win. It certainly wasn't the best defensive performance from Matt Painter's guys, but they slowed the potent Panthers attack just enough over the final eight minutes. Trey Kaufman-Ren scored 21 points and pulled down eight rebounds while Braden Smith finished with 20 points and six assists. Cam Heide registered a double-double off the bench.

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McNeese vs. Purdue Prediction

This is a game where the perimeter battle will be interesting to monitor. Both squads shoot north of 35% from long range while also allowing opponents to attempt threes at a very high rate. Rather than get dragged into a three-point contest, McNeese should look to attack inside as the Boilermakers have had a notably poor two-point defense this season. Getting downhill and pressuring the rim should be a priority for the Cowboys, especially if it means they can get Purdue's leading scorer Kaufman-Renn in foul trouble.

McNeese's defense does force its fair share of turnovers, but Purdue has the luxury of one of the nation's most reliable point guards in Braden Smith. Provided the Boilermakers can stick to their game in the halfcourt and calmly weather the havoc McNeese will look to generate with agility and active hands, they should be able to run a clean offense without much issue. If the game becomes a shootout, it certainly helps to have a 46.1% three-point shooter in Fletcher Loyer. Beyond the stars, Purdue's role players will need to play better than they did against High Point lest their team get outlasted by McNeese's deep and athletic rotation.

The Cowboys will likely stay in this one the whole way, and Will Wade's squad is certainly in play to pull off the upset, but it's hard to pick against a coach like Matt Painter and a guard like Braden Smith. An elite offensive engine, Smith is the best player in this game. If he plays like it, expect Purdue to survive and advance.

Prediction: Purdue 72, McNeese 67