Texas Longhorns guard Jordan Pope revealed he played the Sweet 16 game against Purdue on a broken foot, an injury sustained late in the previous matchup against Gonzaga. Despite the injury, Pope logged 33 minutes, scoring 12 points and contributing two rebounds and one assist. Texas ultimately lost 79-77 after Purdue’s Trey Kaufman-Renn tipped in a game-winning basket with 0.7 seconds remaining, ending the Longhorns' Cinderella run.
Pope’s Injury and Performance
Pope disclosed the injury postgame, crediting Texas’ training staff for enabling him to play. He noted the break occurred with five minutes left in the Gonzaga game but remained uncertain about his availability until 30 minutes before tipoff. Despite the pain, he emphasized his determination to compete, especially in his home state of California.
Game Recap
The game featured a back-and-forth battle, with Texas leading by as many as four points and Purdue by seven. Both teams shot efficiently, with Texas at 52% and Purdue at 48%. The decisive moment came after Dailyn Swain’s clutch and-one layup tied the game at 77-77 with 11 seconds left. Purdue’s Braden Smith missed a layup, but Kaufman-Renn tipped in the rebound to secure the win.
Postgame Reactions
Texas head coach Sean Miller delivered an emotional locker room speech, praising his team’s resilience and progress. He highlighted their 21-15 record and First Four origins, emphasizing their growth despite the loss. Purdue’s Kaufman-Renn finished with 20 points and eight rebounds, while Fletcher Loyer added 18 points on 4-of-8 three-pointers. For Texas, Tramon Mark led with 29 points on 11-of-15 shooting.