It should have come to surprise nobody that Matt Painter was not concerned with discussing his own milestone, but he sure was celebrated by his Purdue basketball after the fact.
Former player Raphael Davis asked Painter after the Boilers’ 97-79 win over Akron what his 500th career win meant to him.
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“Just happy to beat Akron, man, more than anything,” Painter said on Big Ten Network. “Our team is getting better.”
He went on to cite the 45-26 rebounding edge Sunday night led by Trey Kaufman-Renn and Oscar Cluff, a stark contrast from when Evansville and Oakland battled or beat the Boilers on the boards.
But by the time he got back to the locker room, it was a different story.
Fletcher Loyer approached him with a commemorative game ball. Painter thanked him and the team, which then enclosed him in a circle and showered Painter with water. As big a smile as Painter could wear spread from ear to ear.
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Even though he was soaked.
And, after that, he’s surely onto Memphis, Purdue’s opponent at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Baha Mar Championship in the Bahamas.
He’ll be encouraged by the team display of Sunday’s win: Three players had double-doubles and five were in double figures. Kaufman-Renn had 17 points and 15 rebounds, Cluff had 14 and 14 and Braden Smith added 16 points and 10 assists.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Purdue basketball coach Matt Painter soaked by players after 500th career win
