Indy's first Final Four featured popular Purdue basketball team: 'The pressure was on'
By Nathan Baird
Published on April 3, 2026.
The 1980 Purdue basketball team was the last to reach the Final Four before the current team did so 44 years ago. The team had been motivated by being overlooked by the NCAA Tournament the previous year. They defeated Indiana in the Sweet 16 and Duke in the Elite Eight to advance to the final of Indianapolis. However, they lost to UCLA in the national semifinal at Market Square Arena. Coach Lee Rose took over the team and led them to the Final Final Four. The current team, led by Matt Painter, came just one win short of this weekend's Final Four in Indianapolis. Despite this, the team's journey began with a transition and transition from 32 to 40 teams.
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