Purdue leads college basketball in offensive efficiency, but needed to beat Texas another way

SAN JOSE, CA — Purdue men’s basketball fulfilled a prophesy with Thursday’s 79-77 victory over Texas. Boilermakers will remember the win for years as Trey Kaufman-Renn's defining moment, and they should. They’ll remember Fletcher Loyer’s big shots and C.J. Cox shrugging off a knee injury to make clutch free throws in the final minute and defensive stops in the final minutes which loomed so large in the waning seconds. This victory, though, confirmed the existence of the team coach Matt Painter – as recently as the end the regular season – was not sure he had. A stable of 3-point shooters helped carry Purdue to the West Region semifinals. It may yet carry it back to Indianapolis for another...