Matt Painter focused on ‘final test’ in NCAA Tourney after loss to Michigan

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WISH) — Purdue lost at home for the third time this season on Tuesday, falling to No. 1 ranked Michigan, 91-80.

Purdue head coach Matt Painter summed up what went wrong for the Boilermakers in those three losses to Michigan, Illinois, and Iowa State.

“We have to play better,” Painter said. “These guys got us on the glass. Illinois got us on the glass. Iowa State took us to the woodshed.”

Painter reflected on where this loss puts them in the season as a whole.

“Your final test is in the NCAA Tournament,” Painter said. “That’s the way I look at it. Sure, you want to win those games, but if we would’ve won it, we wouldn’t have had a parade. If we win this game, it doesn’t mean we go to the Final Four. You got to win four games to go to the Final Four. It just puts you in a better stratosphere in terms of your seed.”

“But our goal was to win the Big Ten,” Painter added. “These dudes (Michigan) ain’t losing four games. We got four losses. They ain’t losing four games. So, that’s just that. That’s reality.”

Michigan moved to 15-1 in the Big Ten, and have a 2.5 game lead over Illinois at the top of the league. Purdue, now 11-4, is tied with Michigan State in fourth.

“You try to learn from it, but you have to understand, those three teams… they bring out different scenarios and problems that other people don’t bring out,” Painter said. “Tha...