Purdue’s Smith sets Division I career assists record in rout of Queens University in NCAA Tournament

Braden Smith led Purdue to a 104-71 victory over Queens University in the NCAA Tournament, scoring 26 points and becoming the Division I career leader in assists. Purdue, a No. 2 seed, took control with two 10-0 runs and maintained a strong lead throughout the game. Smith broke the assist record with his 1,077th assist, surpassing Duke’s Bobby Hurley. He finished with eight assists and shot 63% from the field. Trey Kaufman-Renn added 25 points and nine rebounds for Purdue. Queens University, a small school from North Carolina, made its first NCAA Tournament appearance after winning the Atlantic Sun tournament. Purdue aims for its third consecutive trip to the round of 16, with Coach Matt Painter nearing his 500th win. The Boilermakers will face either Miami or Missouri next. QUESTION: How might achieving a significant milestone, like Braden Smith’s assist record, impact a player’s confidence and future performance?