Purdue Preview Capsule
By The Associated Press=
Purdue
Last season: 26-9, lost in Big Ten Tournament championship, lost to Arkansas-Little Rock in first round of NCAA Tournament.
Nickname: Boilermakers.
Coach: Matt Painter
Conference: Big Ten.
Who’s gone: C A.J. Hammons, G Rapheal Davis, G Johnny Hill.
Who’s back: The Boilermakers still have one of the league’s biggest and most talented front lines with 7-foot-2 junior Isaac Haas, 6-9 sophomore Caleb Swanigan and 6-8 junior Vince Edwards. Swanigan and Edwards both declared for the NBA draft before returning. Guards Ryan Cline and Dakota Mathias could give Purdue the consistent 3-point shooters they need, and guard P.J. Thompson should be the top ball-handler.
Who’s new: G Spike Albrecht, a graduate transfer from Michigan, could help solidify Purdue’s backcourt. Freshman guard Carsen Edwards is a capable scorer who could make an immediate impact. F Basil Smotherman isn’t a true newcomer, but the junior is expected to play a prominent role in his fourth season in the program after redshirting last season.
The Skinny: Purdue will no longer rely on size alone to get through the rugged conference. The Boilermakers also have depth and experience to propel them toward their first conference crown since 2009-10. To do that, Painter must figure out a way to avoid the turnovers that proved so costly too many times last season. If they can, Purdue could be in the Big Ten’s top tier.
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Online:
AP College Basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org
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