Jaden Ivey and the Purdue Boilermakers went into their March Madness game against the Saint Peter's Peacocks as the favorites. But after Friday night's 67-64 loss and Ivey's underwhelming performance, Twitter unleashed on the Purdue star.
While the Peacocks are reading praise on social media, one of the top prospects in the NBA draft and his Boilermakers teammates will see plenty of trolling on Twitter.
Ivey entered the NCAA Tournament as one of the top guards, but he may need to guard his eyes against social media for the next few nights. At least until another player has an underwhelming performance, and Twitter goes after that player.
Some felt Ivey no-showed against the Peacocks, suggesting his attention was pulled in another direction. His final statistical line of nine points on 4-for-12 shooting, including 1-for-6 from 3-point range, with two assists, eight rebounds and six turnovers, fueled the speculation. He averages 17.6 points per game.
Purdue's Jaden Ivey's future in the NBA
While Jaden Ivey's draft stock may not tank as severely as some Twitter users believe, comparisons to Ayo Dosunmu and 2022 Russell Westbrook are a harsh way to end his collegiate career. The Purdue guard will hope everything he has already put on video and his draft combine and workouts remove any doubts.
Ivey struggled against the No. 15-seeded Peacocks (22-11), but his overall NCAA Tournament performance had enough highlights to keep his draft stock from plummeting. In the second round, he was critical to the No. 3-seeded Purdue Boilermakers (29-8) eliminating the Texas Longhorns.
Still, Ivey's recent play did not mean much to Twitter users reacting to his play Friday. Some fans may be unhappy if their team drafts Ivey, because they will remember this performance.
Ivey's college career is likely over. However, the sting of the loss and his performance could spark Ivey and teammate Zach Edey to return.
Whether Ivey and Edey are at Purdue or in the NBA next season, this game will be a memorable part of their legacies. Only time and Twitter will tell how memorable.
Purdue, ranked 10th in the final poll of the regular season, last made a Final Four in 1980. Saint Peter's, meanwhile, is the first No. 15 seed to reach the Elite Eight. The Peacocks had never won an NCAA Tournament game in three previous appearances.
Dawn Staley, Geno Auriemma, or Kim Mulkey - who is NCAAW's highest-paid coach? Find out here