Thursday's game: 3 Purdue vs. 14 Old Dominion at Hartford's XL Center, approx. 10 p.m., TBA

Purdue is making its fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and 11th in the last 13 seasons.

Conference USA season and tournament champion Old Dominion last made the tourney in 2011.

Either 6 seed Virginia or 11 seed St. Mary's awaits the Purdue-ODU winner in the Round of 32.

WEST LAFAYETTE – Purdue basketball gathered for Selection Sunday only eight days removed from its Big Ten championship celebration.

By the time the 3 seed Boilermakers take the court Thursday against 14 seed Old Dominion in their NCAA tournament opener in Hartford, Conn., that scene at Northwestern may seem like months ago. How quickly priorities shift from the accomplishments of one season to chasing the promise of what can come next.

"Winning the championship was fun — really fun," sophomore point guard Nojel Eastern said. "But I think the Final Four would be even more fun.

"We just try to stay within ourselves, stay within our program, and prove it to ourselves we can get that far."

Through all of its success the past three seasons — two Big Ten championships, two Sweet 16 trips, 80 total victories and a rising level of national respect — one piece remains missing. No Purdue team has pushed past the Sweet 16 since 2000, and none to the Final Four since 1980.

Purdue coach Matt Painter said while that remains a goal, it does not "weigh on" him. He spoke instead to the emotion tied into each class that comes through and the lasting disappointment of each of those seasons ending sooner than hoped. Hundreds of programs, of course, can sympathize.

FIRST ROUND:NCAA Tournament: 4 facts about Old Dominion basketball, Purdue's opponent

Purdue's chances of a run last March were complicated, and perhaps ultimately thwarted, by starting center Isaac Haas' season-ending broken elbow. The program seeks a convergence of talent, health and good fortune that remains elusive.

"As a coach, you keep getting opportunities and they don't have as many," Painter said. "This is great for (seniors) Ryan Cline and Grady Eifert. They went to four tournaments in four years, but they went to back-to-back Sweet 16s and you want to do better.

"But you all know, it's very fragile. The NCAA tournament's a crap shoot. You play on a neutral court and everybody's good."

Painter and his players knew next to nothing about Old Dominion before the assembled media began piling on questions, about an hour after the selection hit television screens. Purdue beat the Monarchs in November 2015 in the semifinals of the Hall of Fame Tipoff Classic — coincidentally, also in Connecticut.

Then-freshman Ryan Cline's six scoreless minutes comprised the totality of the Boilermakers' returning experience from that game.

Any players who performed a quick Internet search on their phones learned the Monarchs are led by two senior guards — Ahmad Caver and BJ Stith — who combine to average about 34 points per game. They start a 7-footer named Elbert Robinson and bring another, Dajour Dickens, off the bench. They've beaten two very good teams — Syracuse there, VCU at home — and lost to a handful of mediocre ones.

They will know more by Monday morning, after Painter and his staff pull an all-night cram session to build a scouting report. They'll rely on an approach honed while making 11 NCAA tournament appearances in the past 14 seasons.

With one championship under their belt, Purdue's players speak of their hunger for more. They also know only a win on Thursday makes such goals possible.

"I'm just focused on this first game, honestly," said junior guard Carsen Edwards, who continued to say his sore back felt "fine" coming out of the Big Ten tournament. "I believe in my guys. I believe they're going to give everything they have and coach Painter's going to try to put us in the best position. I'm just focused on the first game and giving everything I have."

Contact Journal & Courier Purdue men's basketball insider Nathan Baird at nbaird@jconline.com or 765-420-5234. Follow on Twitter: @nbairdjc

NCAA TOURNAMENT

South Region

3 Purdue (23-9) vs. 14 Old Dominion (26-8)

At XL Center, Hartford, Conn.

Thursday, approximately 10 p.m., TBS