Purdue head coach Matt Painter doesn't think he'll ever get over the Boilermakers' stunning loss as a No. 1 seed to 16-seed Fairleigh Dickinson.
"I don't think it will stay with me through the year. I think it will stay with me forever," Painter told reporters Tuesday during Big Ten media day, according to ESPN's Myron Medcalf. "I wish it didn't, but I think that's part of being competitive. I think that's part of coaching."
The Knights' monumental win earlier this year was only the second 16-over-1 upset in NCAA Tournament history.
UMBC is the only other school that has accomplished the feat, defeating top-seeded Virginia 74-54 in the 2018 edition of the Big Dance.
Purdue's shocking loss to Fairleigh Dickinson was the latest setback for the program. The Boilermakers fell in the Sweet 16 to 15-seed Saint Peter's in 2022 and were bounced in the opening round by 13-seed North Texas two years ago.
However, Purdue is poised to contend for a national title with virtually its entire core from last season's 29-win squad returning, including reigning Wooden Award winner Zach Edey.
Painter is taking it upon himself to finally get the Boilermakers over the hump.
"We have lost to some people where we've been the better seed in the NCAA Tournament here in the past four or five years. ... I always say I'm the common denominator," Painter said. "Our staff is. We have to be able to make some adjustments and do some different things."
