About this game: Purdue looks to turn its first regional semifinal trip since 2010 into an Elite Eight berth against the Jayhawks, the Midwest's No. 1 seed, the No. 3 team in the country in the final rankings and the home team on this night, playing less than an hour from campus ... Kansas is 15th nationally in scoring at 83.4 points per game, 11th in field goal percentage at 49.1 and fifth in three-point shooting at 40.6 percent, fitting an offensive profile not unlike the Iowa State team the Boilermakers just got past ... Purdue beat Vermont and Iowa State to reach the Sweet 16; Kansas beat UC-Davis and Michigan State. ... Purdue is 3-0 this season against teams who've beaten Kansas, winning twice against Indiana and once against Iowa State.

Roster | Schedule | Statistics

Projected Starters

C - Caleb Swanigan (6-9, 250, So.)

Swanigan has been amazing this NCAA Tournament. He's scored and rebounded per usual, but his passing the past two games has been exceptional, maybe the most impressive thing he's done. But he's also made threes, blocked shots, made hustle plays — the total package. Purdue will obviously need more of it to beat this elite Kansas team. Isaac Haas was great against Iowa State after having some ups and downs against Vermont. Purdue may need to play its best game of the year to win this, and that means everybody.

F - Vincent Edwards (6-8, 225, Jr.)

This might be the game's biggest matchup: Edwards — who's played so well this NCAA Tournament — against KU wunderkind forward Josh Jackson, who's one of the best athletes in college basketball and similar to Edwards in his vast array of skill. But Purdue's junior has been the hero of this tournament so far for Purdue, netting 21 in each of the past two games, and posting a double-double against Iowa State.

G - Ryan Cline (6-5, 190, So.)

Cline opened up with a made three against Vermont, then missed his other four. This feels like a game where Purdue may need a jolt of shot-making from someone outside its mainstream. Cline is capable. So is Carsen Edwards. Purdue doesn't want the pace of this game getting sideways on it, but it still wants Edwards smelling blood. Quick shots might more of a no-no in this game than others, though, because of Kansas' awesome transition prowess.

G- P.J. Thompson (5-10, 188, Jr.)

Thompson and Spike Albrecht get to lead the charge defending Frank Mason, much of that work to be done in their own end of the floor, as Purdue tries to contain him at three-quarters court. Foul trouble has to be a worry here. But if this is a close game at the end and there's a big shot to be made, Thompson has been the guy for Purdue. He's made them in each of the past two NCAA games.

G - Dakota Mathias (6-4, 200, Jr.)

Mathias has been really aggressive this tournament and will back down to no one in this game. Kansas may recognize his value though and really prioritize taking him out of his comfort zones beyond the arc. They'll have the physical gifts to do it. It's imperative that when Purdue's guards are made to put it on the floor, they make good decisions. There could be opportunities for Mathias to use his pull-up game.