Ladies and gentlemen, we are finally so so back. The NCAA Tournament has been unreal once again, and I’m more excited for this next round than a kid in a candy shop. One of the next matchups is North Carolina State vs Purdue, so let’s break it down.

This Purdue team is on a redemption mission. After crashing and burning about as hard as a no. 1 seed possibly could last year in the tournament they are going to be hungry for some wins. I don’t really see a world in which Purdue allows themselves to be the laughingstock of the tournament again. Zach Edey is about to put up a billion points and a million rebounds. Braden Smith’s also done a great job in finding the open man when the opportunity presents itself but can score with the best of them. This team is ready to go on a run in this year’s tournament, and I don’t know who’s equipped to stop them.

However, if there is a team to stop them, it’s the scorching hot NC State. After an incredible run in the ACC Tournament, they came into the big tournament with that momentum and beat a solid Texas Tech team as well as a very good Oakland squad. But they didn’t stop there. They have also beaten a great Marquette team and a loaded Duke roster this tournament. Beware all you non-true believers because they cannot be stopped. DJ Horn is a stud, averaging almost 17 points a game on a hair under 44% shooting from the field. Three other teammates of his average more than 11 points a game, and this bench is deep and full of contributors. I don’t know if they will win, but I think this one could be closer than some are predicting.

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