With the beginning of faculty basketball season in early November, we’ll look at the convention as a complete and Indiana’s roster over the approaching weeks.
Immediately, our staff 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 Huge Ten title however lastly broke by way of within the NCAA match.
Led by nationwide participant of the yr Zach Edey, the Matt Painter-led program superior to the nationwide championship sport and fell to UConn, 75-60. The Boilermakers completed 34-5 and No. 3 within the last 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 best way.
Smith is the one returning first-team All-Huge Ten participant within the convention this season. The 6-foot guard was among the many nation’s prime level guards final season. He averaged 12 factors, 7.5 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 34 minutes per sport. Smith shot 44.1 % from the sector 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 a part of him within the beginning Purdue backcourt. Loyer averaged double figures final season – 10.3 factors per sport – with 2.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per sport. 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 perform a little little bit of all the pieces. He brings large power, can end performs on the rim and may also knock down perimeter pictures. He averaged 3.3 factors final season in 12.4 minutes final season whereas taking pictures 45 % on 3s. Heide can defend a number of positions and can see time on the 4 in smaller lineups.
Colvin, a prime 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 sport 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 likewise make pictures from the midrange, Colvin might 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 change into one among 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 sport 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 last 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 sport 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 can 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 staff within the AmeriCup. Jacobsen averaged 9.2 factors and 7 rebounds in that occasion. Jacobsen should acquire power and placed on weight, however ought to determine into the Purdue frontcourt rotation. Burgess, a Cincinnati native, was a prime 150 participant nationally however could 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 staff 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 provides earlier than the Boilermakers provided him. Given Painter’s capacity to determine expertise and develop gamers, it received’t be a shock to see Cox make an impression in West Lafayette within the years to return.
At No. 17, Purdue is the highest-ranked Huge Ten staff in Bart Torvik’s 2024-25 season projections. Blue Ribbon school basketball yearbook picked the Boilermakers to complete third within the Huge 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 top-of-the-line coaches within the nation and can mould his staff round his personnel. This Purdue staff can be extra perimeter-oriented, however there’s no scarcity of measurement on the roster. Will probably be a shock if the Boilermakers aren’t a contender for the Huge Ten title.
Quotable: “We nonetheless have three guys that, as sophomore, began on a Closing 4 staff. All three of these guys are juniors and really productive gamers. So, I feel we have now a very good place to start out. We have now some guys who’re returning who performed on that staff that may actually improve their roles. They should earn that, as a result of we have now good freshmen which might be coming in.” – Painter to the media earlier this week.
Filed to: 2024-25 Huge Ten preview, Purdue Boilermakers
