To our Boiler Nation:
I want to speak directly to you — the fans who bleed Old Gold & Black, who fill Mackey Arena, who make our program what it is. Yesterday’s 78-65 loss to Kentucky stung. It was not the result we came here for. But I’m here to tell you: this team is ready. We are together. And we will use this as fuel.
From the moment I arrived at Purdue, this program has been built on something bigger than wins and losses: a culture, a family, a shared belief. When I announced I was staying for another season, I said, “Purdue has given me everything – memories, challenges, growth, and a family.” Yesterday reminded all of us of the “challenges” part of that deal — and that’s OK. Because we didn’t come here to coast. We came here to fight, to build, to prove something.
I know many of you came into the game hoping we’d send a statement. And maybe the score didn’t reflect the story you hoped to see. But what you need to know is this: our work doesn’t start or end with one game. It’s about process. It’s about growth. It’s about the moments before the lights turn on, and the commitment in the locker-room when the lights go off.
Yes, we got exposed in certain areas yesterday. We missed shots we want to make. We gave up rebounds we can’t afford to. We let momentum slip. But here’s the truth: when you’re chasing something great, you’ll have occasions where things don’t go your way. What matters is how you respond. That’s what I promise you: we will respond. We will get better. And we will honour you — the best fans in the country — by playing the kind of basketball you expect from Purdue.
To the fans who travelled, to those who stayed up late, to the ones inside Mackey Arena giving every bit of energy, to those who watch from home or follow on the road: you mean everything. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again — when shots aren’t falling and the team is not flowing, your support is the extra spark. It lifts us. It carries us. It makes the difference.
This season isn’t defined by a preseason loss. It’s defined by what comes next. And what comes next is a team full of guys who care, who understand what it means to don the Old Gold & Black, who are committed to the mission. I know the haters will point to yesterday. The doubters will say we’re not ready. But they don’t see what I see: a locker-room that still believes, a coaching staff that demands greatness, a fan-base that will never waver.
So yes — Boiler Nation — thank you for being patient. Thank you for believing. Thank you for showing up. I promise you: we’re ready. We’re locked in. We’re working. And we’re hungry. For every rebound, every assist, every defensive stop and every shot that falls — we will fight for it.
As your senior guard, I accept responsibility. I will hold myself accountable. I will lead by example. But I can’t do it alone. This team needs you. You give us the voice. You give us the energy. You give us the push when we need it most. And I guarantee: when the time comes, we will deliver.
Let yesterday be our wake-up call. Let it remind us that nothing is given. Let it drive us. Let it unify us. And let it make the moments ahead that much sweeter. Because we’re not here to just participate. We’re here to compete. To win. And to leave a legacy.
To the seniors, the bigs, the guards, the newcomers — I’ve got your back. To Coach Painter and his staff — thank you for trusting me to finish this season with this family. To Boiler Nation — I will never take your love and your support for granted. Let’s keep this journey going.
Let’s make this new season unforgettable. Let’s make our mark. Let’s run it back — one more time.
Hammer down.
Braden
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