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.
Right now, our group 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 by way of within the NCAA event.
Led by nationwide participant of the yr 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 % from the sphere and 43.1 % on 3s. All indicators level to Smith being named the league’s participant of the yr 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 % 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 do some little bit of every little thing. He brings great vitality, can end performs on the rim and also can knock down perimeter photographs. He averaged 3.3 factors final season in 12.4 minutes final season whereas capturing 45 % 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 position 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 event 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 approach, Purdue will look to him for scoring.
Trey Kaufman-Renn is predicted to turn out to be considered one of Purdue’s featured choices offensively. Kaufman-Renn was typically the person opposing defenses selected to depart final season when sending assist at Edey. This season, he’s essentially 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 % 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 large man may have an opportunity to carve out a extra common position 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 large man Daniel Jacobsen and 6-foot-11 Raleigh Burgess. Jacobsen drew rave evaluations for his play with USA Basketball’s U18 group within the AmeriCup. Jacobsen averaged 9.2 factors and 7 rebounds in that occasion. Jacobsen should achieve 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 group 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 presents earlier than the Boilermakers supplied him. Given Painter’s potential to establish expertise and develop gamers, it received’t be a shock to see Cox make an impression in West Lafayette within the years to come back.
At No. 17, Purdue is the highest-ranked Large Ten group in Bart Torvik’s 2024-25 season projections. Blue Ribbon school basketball yearbook picked the Boilermakers to complete third within the Large Ten whereas Lindy’s Sports activities school 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 yr. Painter, nevertheless, has confirmed himself to be the most effective coaches within the nation and can mildew his group round his personnel. This Purdue group shall be extra perimeter-oriented, however there’s no scarcity of measurement on the roster. It will likely 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 Last 4 group. All three of these guys are juniors and really productive gamers. So, I believe we now have a superb place to start out. We have now some guys who’re returning who performed on that group that may actually improve their roles. They should earn that, as a result of we now have good freshmen which are coming in.” – Painter to the media earlier this week.
Filed to: 2024-25 Large Ten preview, Purdue Boilermakers
