No. 2 Purdue won an early-season clash between top-ranked teams, defeating No. 11 Gonzaga, 73–63, on Monday at the Maui Invitational. Zach Edey led the Boilermakers with 25 points and 14 rebounds.
However, the highlight during the ESPN2 telecast may have been an enthusiastic Boilermakers fan who made the trip to Honolulu to cheer on his team. (This year’s tournament was relocated from its usual venue in Lahaina due to the Maui wildfire recovery efforts.)
Sporting a Purdue basketball jersey without a number, a fedora decorated with gold sequins, and black and gold beads draped around his neck, the fan was irresistible to ESPN cameras as he flexed like Hulk Hogan. He wasn’t going to rip apart that jersey like Hogan did to his tank top t-shirts, though.
Check out his performance:
This Purdue fan is just fantastic. pic.twitter.com/GMw7s68MlV
— Tyler Rucker (@tyler_rucker) November 20, 2023
Firing an imaginary bow and arrow was also inspired. This fan was the warrior the Boilermakers didn’t realize they needed in the stands. Perhaps he worked with the real thing – and maybe a fire arrow – at a lūʻau after his team’s victory.
A 4–0 start for Purdue is certainly worth celebrating in style. The Boilermakers will face No. 7 Tennessee (4–0) on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. With the loss, Gonzaga drops to 2–1 to start its season and will play Syracuse on Tuesday afternoon.
