Purdue Puts Texas Tech In a Blender to Win Baha Mar Title

Well, folks, it looks like the Boilermakers decided to turn the Baha Mar Championship into their own personal highlight reel. In what was supposed to be a heavyweight clash between two top-15 teams, No. 1 Purdue absolutely dismantled No. 15 Texas Tech with an 86-56 beatdown that felt more like a varsity team schooling the JV squad.

The game, held in the sunny paradise of Nassau, Bahamas, started as a tight affair. For a few minutes, it looked like we had a real fight on our hands. Both teams were trading blows, and the score was knotted up. Then, Purdue flipped a switch. And when I say they flipped a switch, I mean they grabbed the main circuit breaker for the entire arena and plunged Texas Tech into total darkness.

What followed was a 20-0 run that can only be described as a basketball avalanche. It was a blur of swarming defense, transition buckets, and a level of dominance that had the Red Raiders looking around for the nearest exit. By halftime, this game was effectively over.

Purdue didn’t just win; they made a statement. They won their fifth straight multi-team event, and you have to wonder if other teams will just start forfeiting when they see the Boilermakers on the bracket. With six players scoring in double figures, it was a masterclass in team basketball.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: A Purdue Breakdown

Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of this beatdown. What went right for Purdue was, well, pretty much everything.

The defense was suffocating. It was the kind of performance that head coaches dream about. The Boilermakers were everywhere, creating chaos and forcing turnovers that fueled their explosive run. They threw a blanket over Texas Tech’s All-American, JT Toppin, who looked more like a freshman lost in the sauce than a national star. Toppin was stuck on five points for what felt like an eternity, completely neutralized by Purdue’s size and strategy. It was a defensive clinic.

Offensively, the wealth was spread around like free samples at Costco. C.J. Cox, fresh off a hot second half against Memphis, kept his foot on the gas. He dropped 10 quick points and played with a swagger that screamed, “Yeah, I belong here.” He was the spark plug that got the engine roaring.

And then there’s Braden Smith. The kid just continues to build his National Player of the Year resume. Against another top contender in Toppin, Smith was simply better. He controlled the game with 10 points and 7 assists, took a charge like a seasoned vet, and even drained a soul-crushing three at the first-half buzzer. Meanwhile, Toppin needed 13 shots to get his 15 points and picked up a flagrant foul for his troubles. Scoreboard, Braden.

What Needs a Little Polish?

Trey Kaufman-Renn seemed to be collecting fouls like they were souvenirs from the Bahamas. He picked up his fourth with over 13 minutes left to play. While it didn’t hurt them in a 30-point blowout, that kind of foul trouble will be a killer in a tight Big Ten matchup. He’s got to figure out how to play physical without living on the bench.

Also, the offensive rebounding for Texas Tech was a minor annoyance. They snagged nine of them, turning them into 12 second-chance points. Purdue dominated the glass overall (43-25), so this is like complaining about the wifi being a little slow at a five-star resort. Still, it’s something to clean up.

What Does This Victory Mean For the Boilermakers?

This win is huge. While it might not have the same “road warrior” cred as the victory at Alabama, stomping a top-15 team on a neutral court is the kind of thing that builds a resume for a No. 1 seed in March.

More importantly, Purdue might be forging a new identity. We all know they can score, but if this defensive intensity becomes their calling card, they are going to be an absolute nightmare for every team on their schedule. They didn’t just outscore Texas Tech; they broke their will. That’s the mark of a true championship contender. The rest of the country has officially been put on notice. The Boilermaker train is rolling, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down.