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Big Ten Basketball Media Day: Purdue news and notes from Chicago

On3 imageby: Brian Neubert10/09/25brianneubert
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Matt Painter at Sept. 17, 2025 practice (Chad Krockover)

ROSEMONT, Ill. — Thursday, the Big Ten moves its stuff across the street while 18 men’s basketball programs send delegations to the shadows of O’Hare for Big Ten media day.

Purdue will be repped by Coach Matt Painter and seniors Braden Smith, Trey Kaufman-Renn and Fletcher Loyer. See the full list of attendees here.

Stay tuned here throughout the day for news, notes, video and more from Chicago.

BIG TEN COMMISSIONER TONT PETITTI ON BASKETBALL SCHEDULING

WIth one season now in the books balancing scheduling in a coast-to-coast league while trying to accommodate a variety of broadcast partners, commissioner Tony Petitti says scheduling protocols are under ongoing evaluation and the due for significant investment to come.

Teams from the coasts have endured travel challenges, but so have Midwest-based teams playing on short turnarounds following extensive travel. For one example, Purdue played on a Tuesday night after its Thursdsay-Saturday Washington-Oregon swing last season, because Peacock needed a Tuesday night event, whereas Wednesday would have been a more logical turnaround.

PURDUE COACH MATT PAINTER BREAKOUT INTERVIEW

PURDUE’S BRADEN SMITH AND TREY KAUFMAN-RENN AT MIC

PURDUE TABBED AS THE PRESEASON FRONTRUNNER

Again, Purdue has been voted the preseason team to beat in the Big Ten.

More: Big Ten basketball writers poll results

BRADEN SMITH NAMED PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR

As expected, Purdue’s Braden Smith has been voted the Big Ten’s preseason player of the year, as voted on by media members.

Smith, a consensus All-American last season and the Big Ten’s reigning player of the year, was also the preseason favorite a year ago at this time. He won the award at the end of the year after averaging 15.8 points and 8.7 assists, his closest competition in the POY race coming from teammate Trey Kaufman-Renn, who now joins Smith as preseason All-Big Ten pick on the 10-man list.

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The two Boilermaker seniors are joined as preseason all-conference picks by the following:
Bennett Stirtz Iowa
Yaxel Lendeborg Michigan
Nick Martinelli Northwestern
Bruce Thornton Ohio State
Nate Bittle Oregon
Jackson Shelstad, Jr., G, Oregon
Donovan Dent UCLA
John Blackwell, Wisconsin

More: Big Ten basketball writers poll results

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