With the beginning of faculty basketball season in early November, we’ll look at the convention as an entire and Indiana’s roster over the approaching weeks.
As we speak, our workforce previews conclude with Purdue.
Beforehand: Penn State, Washington, Minnesota, USC, Northwestern, Nebraska, Iowa, Oregon, Maryland, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Michigan, UCLA, Illinois, Rutgers, Michigan State
Purdue basketball reached new heights within the 2023-24 season. The Boilermakers captured one other Large Ten title however lastly broke via within the NCAA match.
Led by nationwide participant of the 12 months Zach Edey, the Matt Painter-led program superior to the nationwide championship recreation and fell to UConn, 75-60. The Boilermakers completed 34-5 and No. 3 within the remaining KenPom rankings.
Edey is now within the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies and a brand new period for this system begins with junior guard Braden Smith main the way in which.
Smith is the one returning first-team All-Large Ten participant within the convention this season. The 6-foot guard was among the many nation’s high level guards final season. He averaged 12 factors, 7.5 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 34 minutes per recreation. Smith shot 44.1 p.c from the sphere and 43.1 p.c on 3s. All indicators level to Smith being named the league’s participant of the 12 months within the preseason.
Junior Fletcher Loyer, an elite perimeter shooter, will be part of him within the beginning Purdue backcourt. Loyer averaged double figures final season – 10.3 factors per recreation – with 2.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per recreation. He shot 44.4 p.c on 3s.
Redshirt sophomore Camden Heide and sophomore Myles Colvin will each tackle bigger roles following Lance Jones’ commencement and Ethan Morton’s switch.
Heide – a 6-foot-7 wing – can perform a little little bit of every part. He brings great power, can end performs on the rim and may knock down perimeter photographs. He averaged 3.3 factors final season in 12.4 minutes final season whereas capturing 45 p.c on 3s. Heide can defend a number of positions and can see time on the 4 in smaller lineups.
Colvin, a high 75 recruit in 2023, had a restricted function final season due to Purdue’s depth. It’ll be his flip to shine in his second season. Colvin performed simply 8.6 minutes per recreation final season however did play double-figure minutes in 4 of Purdue’s six NCAA match video games. A wing who can knock down 3s and in addition make photographs from the midrange, Colvin may begin on the three or be the primary man off the bench. Both means, Purdue will look to him for scoring.
Trey Kaufman-Renn is predicted to grow to be one in all Purdue’s featured choices offensively. Kaufman-Renn was typically the person opposing defenses selected to go away final season when sending assist at Edey. This season, he’s probably the most confirmed inside scorer on the roster. The Silver Creek product averaged 6.4 factors and 4 rebounds in 17 minutes per recreation final season. He’s anticipated to play each the 4 and the 5 this season, relying on the matchups.
Caleb Furst, a 6-foot-10 senior, ought to have extra alternative to play in his remaining season. Furst was caught behind Mason Gillis and Kaufman-Renn final season, each higher complementary gamers for Edey. The Fort Wayne native performed simply 9 minutes per recreation final season and averaged 2.2 factors and a couple of.4 rebounds.
The opposite returning Boilermakers are redshirt junior Brian Waddell and sophomore Will Berg. Each performed sparingly final season. The 6-foot-7 Waddell, a Carmel product, shot simply 16.7 p.c on 3s. The 7-foot-2 Berg performed solely 52 minutes all of final season and averaged 2.6 factors and 1.9 rebounds. With Edey shifting on, the bodily massive man can have an opportunity to carve out a extra common function as a backup.
The remainder of the Purdue rotation shall be freshmen. Purdue added 5 of them and didn’t add a single participant from the switch portal.
Up entrance, the Boilermakers added 7-foot-4 massive man Daniel Jacobsen and 6-foot-11 Raleigh Burgess. Jacobsen drew rave critiques for his play with USA Basketball’s U18 workforce within the AmeriCup. Jacobsen averaged 9.2 factors and 7 rebounds in that occasion. Jacobsen should acquire energy and placed on weight, however ought to determine into the Purdue frontcourt rotation. Burgess, a Cincinnati native, was a high 150 participant nationally however might have to attend his flip to crack the rotation.
Gicarri Harris, the son of program legend Glenn Robinson, is the highest-ranked recruit within the class. The 6-foot-3 guard led his workforce to a state championship in Georgia final season.
Purdue additionally welcomes Brownstown Central guard Jack Benter and C.J. Cox from Milton Academy in Massachusetts. The 6-foot-5 Benter scored greater than 2,500 factors in highschool. Cox is the lowest-ranked recruit within the class and had no excessive main affords earlier than the Boilermakers provided him. Given Painter’s skill to establish expertise and develop gamers, it gained’t be a shock to see Cox make an affect in West Lafayette within the years to come back.
At No. 17, Purdue is the highest-ranked Large Ten workforce in Bart Torvik’s 2024-25 season projections. Blue Ribbon faculty basketball yearbook picked the Boilermakers to complete third within the Large Ten whereas Lindy’s Sports activities faculty basketball preview journal has Purdue second within the convention.
Backside line: Edey’s manufacturing or presence can’t be changed, as he was twice named nationwide participant of the 12 months. Painter, nonetheless, has confirmed himself to be among the best coaches within the nation and can mildew his workforce round his personnel. This Purdue workforce shall be extra perimeter-oriented, however there’s no scarcity of measurement on the roster. It is going to be a shock if the Boilermakers aren’t a contender for the Large Ten title.
Quotable: “We nonetheless have three guys that, as sophomore, began on a Remaining 4 workforce. All three of these guys are juniors and really productive gamers. So, I feel we’ve got a superb place to begin. Now we have some guys who’re returning who performed on that workforce that may actually improve their roles. They need to earn that, as a result of we’ve got good freshmen which might be coming in.” – Painter to the media earlier this week.
Filed to: 2024-25 Large Ten preview, Purdue Boilermakers
