Dick Vitale Describes Why Purdue's Matt Painter is a 'Flat Out Winner'

Purdue is 11-1 so far this season with just one non-conference game remaining on the schedule. The Boilermakers are ranked No. 5 in the country and have an excellent opportunity to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

Vitale is correct, Painter has become one of college basketball's top coaches. Not only has he eclipsed 500 career victories, but the Boilermakers have also won four Big Ten regular-season titles since 2017 and have reached the NCAA Tournament in 10 consecutive seasons.

In 2024, Purdue reached the Final Four for the first time since 1980 and played in the program's first National Championship Game since 1969.

Painter talks about Purdue fans

Not only is Purdue fortunate to have Painter on its sideline, he's also grateful to have such a supportive fanbase. After the win over Marquette earlier in December, the head coach was asked about the passion that the fanbase showcases every single night.

"Our fans are what you want from your team, you want consistency," Painter said after a 79-59 win. "They show up no matter what. We get beat by Iowa State, they still show up. You want to have an exhibition game against a Division III team, they show up. This is their deal.

"That's what I always tell our guys, be grateful for what you have. But also, we have to use them. They're there for us, but if we don't play well, it doesn't matter."

As an example of the loyalty Purdue fans show, season tickets for the 2025-26 season sold out before the first game of the year. When the year concludes, Mackey Arena will have hosted 105 consecutive sellouts for men's basketball games.

The combination of Painter and fan support has helped Purdue catapult into the upper echelon of college basketball programs.