Purdue's Braden Smith celebrated a significant milestone on Thursday as he advanced to second place on the NCAA career assists list with an impressive showing against Northwestern. Leading the No. 18 Boilermakers to an 81-68 victory in the Big Ten tournament, Smith recorded 16 assists, matching his personal best for a single game and setting a new tournament record.
Throughout the contest, Smith’s playmaking skills shone as he expertly managed the game with a keen sense of timing. One notable moment involved him using his left hand to intercept a sideline pass, which he then redirected to Omer Mayer, resulting in a fast-break layup. This play exemplified not only his hustle but also his vision on the court.
"I've been very thankful to be around a lot of great guys who can score and put the ball in the basket," Smith said. "They trust me. ... The coaching staff trusts me to go out there and make plays. When you give me confidence, it's kind of what you want as a player."
With this latest achievement, Smith's assist tally now stands at 1,045 in 142 games, surpassing notable players like North Carolina’s Ed Cota and North Carolina State’s Chris Corchiani. The only player ahead of him is Duke legend Bobby Hurley, who amassed 1,076 assists in 140 games between 1989 and 1993.
Purdue head coach Matt Painter acknowledged the importance of Smith's accomplishment, stating, "It's an unbelievable honor. It's an unbelievable feat to be where he is, to have the second-most assists in the history of the NCAA. He had one high major offer. He's meant a lot to our program."
Although Smith struggled in scoring, finishing with just five points on 2-for-8 shooting, his impact was still felt throughout the game. He contributed defensively with two steals while maintaining a low turnover count. Previously, against the same Northwestern team, he had a less favorable performance with nine assists but four turnovers in a narrow victory just weeks ago.
Reflecting on his earlier performance, Smith recognized his competitive spirit, stating, "As a competitor, I take it to heart every game I don't play well. Other than the assists, I don't think I played great today. I didn't shoot it well. I thought I had some defensive parts here and there that I thought I did good at. Overall, for us and for me, it was good to get them again and to play them. I thought defensively we were a lot better."
During the match, Smith was instrumental in establishing an early lead, clocking in nine assists in the first half alone, which contributed to a commanding 45-21 score by the intermission. Northwestern attempted a comeback, narrowing the gap to 73-59 late in the game, but Smith responded by facilitating a critical layup for Oscar Cluff.
Northwestern’s head coach Chris Collins praised Smith's abilities, emphasizing his consistency and intelligence on the court. "His level of consistency, his smarts, and he's been a big winner," Collins remarked. "This is a championship-level player. It wasn't just about assists. He's won Big Ten championships. He's been in a national championship game."
Collins, who also played alongside Hurley at Duke, joked about the disappointment of losing and expected a reaction from the former Duke star. "I'm afraid to look at my phone because I'm sure Bobby has texted me with some expletives about not doing the job to keep his record safe," he quipped. "Sorry, Bobby."
Smith’s pursuit of Hurley’s assist record continues to create excitement surrounding his performance. As he gears up for the next challenges in the tournament, fans will be eagerly watching to see if he can surpass this significant milestone before his collegiate career concludes.