National title or bust for Purdue? Matt Painter says 'true'
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – For our debut with On3, we released The Field of 68’s College Basketball Preseason Top 25.
The No. 1 team on that list?
And rightfully so. This season, Matt Painter’s team is loaded and headlined by returning All-Americans Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn, as well as four-year starter Fletcher Loyer.
Those three know what it takes to win and have seen it first hand on a run to the title game with Zach Edey in 2024. And while the Boilermakers didn’t have the same success last year, they were close, falling to Houston in the Sweet Sixteen by a possession.
This offseason, Painter went shopping with a purpose to address Purdue’s flaws, adding size with South Dakota State transfer Oscar Cluff and playmaking with international guard Omer Mayer. Daniel Jacobsen is back and healthy, while Gicarri Harris and CJ Cox are ready for breakout sophomore campaigns. Painter was intentional about every addition, and he heads into the 2025-26 season with the best roster in the country.
“It’s a national title or bust for Purdue this season.” That’s the narrative that our Rob Dauster has been pushing all summer long, but is it something that Painter agrees with?
True or false?
“True,” Painter said.
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Two years ago when Painter walked off the court against UConn, he was unsure if he’d ever have another bite of the apple. This team may be his best chance, and Painter is making sure his squad knows it. Last season, Painter said he didn’t do a good job of selling his team that they could make a Final Four. This year, “national champs” is written on the white board in the locker room.
“After every practice, we kind of look at that,” Kaufman-Renn said. “Each of us looks at it and goes, ‘Did we do our best to compete for that today?’ So that’s a good thing that we’re doing this year.”
Competitive practices have always been a formula for success under Painter. But unlike past years – where having a guy like Smith or Edey on one team would mean domination – it’s a different feeling with this group. Purdue has elite depth, and because of that, Painter is able to split the practice teams evenly.
“Now, you look over at the other team that has to run for losing, you’re like, ‘That team right there would go to the NCAA Tournament,’” Painter said. “So that I think is what’s got to drive us. That competitive spirit from two teams every single day in practice.”
The Boilermakers know their talent runs deep, but it will be the daily approach that ultimately determines how far they go. The message from Painter has sunk in. It’s Purdue’s year to do something special.
“You have to have something to work towards,” Loyer said. “That’s what we want to do, we want to hang a banner. If you’re not striving for that, you’re not really pushing yourself. I wouldn’t say it’s national championship or bust, but it’s what we’re working toward and what we’re going to be satisfied with in the end.”
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