FISHERS, Ind. — Boilermakers are one step closer to the Final Four after Friday’s win over Gonzaga ignited celebrations in living rooms and bars around Indiana.
“I think they want to redeem themselves after last year and so far they’ve done that,” Purdue alum and fan Christine Lizardi said before the game. “We’re just so excited because Purdue has had a great year. We’re excited about the whole team.”
March Madness has treated them well this time around, after last year’s unexpected early exit from the tournament.
“This is our year,” Purdue alum and fan Matthew Kraus said before the game. “Last year we suffered a little bit, but this year we got two guards that are matured and this is going to be our year for the final four. Been waiting since 1980.”
On game days, fans and alumni have been flocking to bars like MashCraft Fishers decked out in their best black and gold.
“It has been wall-to-wall. We’re hoping for the same tonight and going forward,” MashCraft Fishers General Manager David Halt said.
General manager David Halt got his wish for the game against Gonzaga as every seat in the house was eventually filled by a Boilermaker.
“To be in a room of like-minded folks who are just kind of pushing for the same goal is really exciting,” Halt said.
The Purdue Alumni of Indianapolis group has been organizing watch parties like this one along the way.
“For us, it’s days of yore,” Kelsey Habig with the Purdue Alumni of Indianapolis said. “That special feeling of the place where you went to school, the place where you found yourself, became an adult and kind-of launched you into the rest of your life. I think even just a couple hours of being around each other kind-of brings you right back.”
Beyond titles like Boilermaker or Hoosier, everyone in the room considered each other family.
“There are people that I see here at these events that once basketball season’s over, I don’t see them until November,” Habig added. “Then we come right back and pick up right where we left off.”
It’s obvious that this is bigger than basketball.
“At the end of the day, it’s a game. Whether we win or lose, basketball games, football games, whatever it may be – we’re all still really proud to be Boilermakers,” Habig said. “But my goodness, winning is way more fun than not.”
Thankfully, the party’s not over yet for MashCraft.
“Traditionally we are closed on Easter Sunday but we’re absolutely committed to the Purdue experience so we’ll be open an hour and a half before the game,” Halt said.
