Purdue Boilermakers
2023-2024 Result: 34-5 record (17-3 Big 10), National Championship appearance
Projected Starting Lineup
Head Coach: Matt Painter (21st season)
Guard: Braden Smith (JR)
Guard: Flecther Loyer (JR)
Forward: Myles Colvin (SO)
Forward: Cam Heide (SO)
Forward: Trey Kaufmann-Renn (JR)
Key Additions
Gicarri Harris (4-star recruit)
Key Losses
Zach Edey
Mason Gillis
Lance Jones
Purdue will lean more heavily on its guards this season after losing back to back National Player of the Year, Zach Edey. He could’ve come back for his 5th season but opted for a lottery selection by the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA Draft. The Boilermakers also lost Mason Gillis, who was a consistent role player. After a National Championship loss last season and nothing really coming in this year for recruits, it will be up to Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer to carry Matt Painter’s squad.
It’s hard to replace 7 ‘4. Zach Edey was everything for the Boilermakers, affecting shots at the rim without even blocking them just being as big as he is. He turned players away from even wanting to take them and still averaged over 2 blocks per game. The interior defense will not have the same effect this year because Trey Kaufman-Renn is not Zach Edey. He is an undersized big who is not known for his shot-blocking. Much like we are about to talk about on the offensive end, Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer will need to be the tone-setters for the defense. They need to commit themselves to keeping the ball in front and setting an example for the rest of the team to follow because there is no longer a giant there at the rim to save poor perimeter defense. Early in the season, it may take some getting used to not having Edey there. The Purdue defense will be fine because of their coaching and leadership, but it will not be as effective as in years past.
Losing 25 points per night is hard to replace overnight. Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer will need to be spectacular this season for Purdue to get back to being anywhere near what they were last year. They are very capable, but their shooting numbers might be due in large part to all the attention being paid to Edey. It is concerning that now that they are the guys, they are going to get treated as such by opposing defenses. It will not come as easy to them as it did the last two seasons. This is where Purdue needs its other guys to step up because they lost the veteran presence of Mason Gillis and Lance Jones, so the other three starters lack real experience in high-leverage situations. Myles Colvin, Cam Heide, and Trey Kaufman-Renn will get the first shots at stepping up. Kaufman-Renn showed flashes last season in limited minutes behind Edey, so expect him to grow into a nice role this season for the Boilermakers. The depth of Purdue is in question too. They were able to get away with it by having Edey the last couple of years, but this year they did not bring one portal recruit in, so it remains to be seen whether any of their recruits are going to be ready to contribute right away. Don’t bank on it. Purdue’s offense will still be good, but it will look much different than last year in a more guard-oriented attack.
After a National Championship appearance last season, Purdue looks a lot different this season without National Player of the Year, Zach Edey. Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer will need to be great and others will need to step up, but the depth and experience of this team are concerning. They will be one of the top teams in the BIG 10 because of their all-conference and consensus conference player of the year predicted guards, but an NCAA Tournament appearance feels like their ceiling this season.