March 15, 2009

NCAA Tournament Central

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - On the heels of the first Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament Championship in school history, Purdue received the No. 5 seed in the West Region of the 2009 NCAA Championship Tournament on Sunday. The Boilermakers will face 12th-seeded Northern Iowa on Thursday in Portland, Ore.

At 25-9 on the year, Purdue heads to the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season, earning an automatic bid by winning the conference tournament. The Boilermakers are one of seven Big Ten teams in the national tournament, joining second-seeded Michigan State, fellow No. 5 seed Illinois, eighth-seeded Ohio State, No. 10 seeds Michigan and Minnesota and 12th-seeded Wisconsin.

Northern Iowa is 20-10 on the year, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships by winning the Missouri Valley Conference Championship Tournament. The winner of Purdue and Northern Iowa will advance to face the winner of fourth-seeded Washington and 13th-seeded Mississippi State on Saturday.

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