Northwestern Coach Ejected for Scorched-Earth Tirade at Buzzer vs. Purdue, and Fans Loved It

An overtime thriller against Purdue left Wildcats coach Chris Collins fuming.

The Northwestern Wildcats fell just short of an upset against the No. 2 Purdue Boilermakers on Wednesday night, losing in overtime 105–96.

The teams traded baskets during the final two minutes of regulation, but star center Zach Edey was able to urge the Boilermakers into overtime, scoring the final five points for his team in the second half.

In the extra period, Edey went electric, scoring 10 points in three minutes to jump Purdue out to a lead that it refused to concede.

But as the final seconds ticked off the clock, one more show-stopping play was to be made, and it came from Wildcats coach Chris Collins, who flew into a frenzy at the officials and earned himself an extremely rare buzzer-beating ejection.

At the buzzer Chris Collins is T'd up and ejected from the game and there is time back on the clock pic.twitter.com/eGqWsdAa8n

— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) February 1, 2024

The foul added a second to the clock and allowed the Boilermakers to ultimately extend their lead to the final winning margin of nine.

It’s not hard to guess why Collins was so frustrated with the officials, as Purdue shot a whopping 46 free throws on the night compared to just eight shots from the stripe for Northwestern.

That disparity is hard to ignore, and college basketball media members and fans celebrated Collins’s display of frustration on social media.

Chris Collins going out with the heel turn to end OT in Mackey Arena. Ejected and then egging on the crowd on the way out.

— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) February 1, 2024

If you're gonna get ejected might as well put on a show. This is all time stuff from Chris Collins. Total class to give respect to Painter and Edey on his way out. Pumps up the road crowd as he heads into the tunnel too. Pure electricity.

10/10 no notes https://t.co/8d3inoYrP2

— Christian Odjakjian (@OdjHoops) February 1, 2024

Watch my GOAT work here https://t.co/X0uOhNdRtQ

— Patrick Andres (@PAndres2001) February 1, 2024

No notes. This should be in the NCAA coaches guidebook. Someone call Lou Piniella, he would be proud.https://t.co/n908j918SC

— Jack Lido (@JackLido) February 1, 2024

I love this from Collins.

Don’t think any team will want to face Northwestern in March. https://t.co/362A9UYhVD

— AI Bracketology 🏀 (@AI_Bracketology) February 1, 2024

This is a truly legendary ejection. Perhaps the best I've ever seen. https://t.co/gjZI3D5znl

— Mark Freund (@MarkFreundTV) February 1, 2024

Chris Collins with the rare: game-just-ended-AND-I-WANT-YOU-TO-EJECT-ME-ANYWAY; and the handshake with the opposing coach walking off; AND the pump-up-the-opposing-crowd-as-I-walk-to-the-locker-room.

Truly genre-shifting. Never seen anything like it.

Purdue beats Northwestern.

— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) February 1, 2024

That’s my coach https://t.co/77yQJaXHqx

— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) February 1, 2024

Northwestern won its first matchup against Purdue this season back in December, when the Boilermakers were ranked No. 1 in the country, in another overtime thriller.

If these two teams meet again come conference tournament time, be ready for some fireworks.